Company secretary
in Australia.
Acclime works with boards and senior management to provide highly professional, cost effective company secretarial support and best practice corporate governance programs. This enables directors and executives to focus on strategic and operational objectives while leaving regulatory compliance and the associated risks in safe, experienced hands.
Run your business efficiently with
our company secretarial services.
Cost-effective expertise
Leverage our years of experience in the market to provide cost-effective governance and compliance expertise, which will eliminate risks and exposure while freeing up your time.
Best practice ensured
We provide a fixed point of contact with an experienced and qualified Chartered Secretary, who has the professional background to maintain a commitment to best practice in corporate governance.
Tailored advice & services
Acclime provides packages of services tailored to your specific needs. Our experts can establish, review or audit your governance framework and suggest a structure of services to suit.
Company secretarial services
Providing governance & compliance expertise when you need it.
The company secretary role is vital for ensuring compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements and that board decisions are implemented. It’s a role that requires specialist skills, including the ability to maintain company records, advise boards and management teams, and lodge company announcements and filings.
Essential company secretarial services.
Resident company secretary
Your dedicated Chartered Secretary will:
- Plan and manage Board, committee and shareholder meetings
- Attend company meetings
- Provide interim cover and support
- Prepare and lodge official forms
- Maintain statutory registers
- Arrange and maintain company insurance
- Maintain company structures and manage subsidiary registers
- Provide general governance and compliance advice
Listed company support
We support listed companies with governance and compliance services, including:
- Board meeting services
- Minutes of meetings
- Corporate governance advice
- ASX reporting and announcements
- ASIC reporting
- AGM/EGM planning,notices and support
- Board Committee services
- Share Registry communication and maintenance
- Transactional support (Prospectus)
Corporate governance advisory service
Our corporate governance advisory services flexible to meet your needs, and cover issues relevant to the structure of your business, whether it be a listed company or not. Our services include:
- Review or establish a corporate governance framework
- Review or develop and document charters, policies and procedures
- Audit existing governance and compliance practices
- Board review
The Future Generation Investment Companies, Australia’s only ASX-listed investment company with the sole purpose of donating all returns to youth-focused charitable organisations, would like to acknowledge Acclime Australia for the provision of company secretarial services on a pro-bono basis since its inception almost a decade ago. As CEO, I speak for the directors of both Boards when I reflect on the contribution the Acclime team makes to our governance practices. It’s a long-standing partnership we all value greatly.
CEO, The Future Generation companies
As a relatively new CEO in the ASX-listed public company environment, operating in the challenging bio-technology space, I have really come to appreciate and depend on the sound governance advice provided by Acclime Australia’s talented company secretarial team. More importantly, they have been there for me when I’ve needed them with exceptional turnaround time.
CEO, IDT Australia Limited
FAQ
Common questions.
The company secretary is the officer responsible for statutory compliance and board governance support under the Corporations Act 2001. Core responsibilities include maintaining statutory registers (members, directors, secretaries and option holders), preparing and lodging documents with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), organising board and committee meetings including agendas and minutes, and ensuring the company acts in accordance with its constitution.
The company secretary also serves as the primary liaison between the board, management and shareholders on compliance and governance matters. For a full overview, see our guide to company secretary roles and responsibilities in Australia.
For public companies, failing to maintain a company secretary at all times is a strict liability offence under Section 204A of the Corporations Act 2001, carrying financial penalties. ASIC filings may be missed or lodged late, statutory registers can fall out of date, board minutes may not meet legal standards, and the company may fail to act in accordance with its constitution.
For foreign-owned subsidiaries, if no qualified Australian-resident officer is appointed, the company is in breach from the point of incorporation. Directors absorb these obligations by default, increasing their personal liability exposure.
Public companies must appoint at least one company secretary at all times under Section 204A of the Corporations Act 2001. This applies to ASX-listed companies, companies limited by guarantee and all other non-proprietary entities.
Proprietary companies are not legally required to make an appointment, but many do to manage ASIC compliance, board administration and governance obligations. Without one, these responsibilities fall to the directors personally. In both cases, at least one company secretary must ordinarily reside in Australia. See our guide to corporate compliance requirements for Australian companies for a full overview of ongoing statutory obligations.
Outsourcing provides access to qualified governance support at a lower and more predictable cost than a full-time hire. The key differences worth weighing are:
- Outsourced providers typically hold Chartered Secretary qualifications and maintain current knowledge of the Corporations Act 2001, ASIC requirements and corporate governance best practice, without the overhead of training or professional development costs
- Engagements are generally fixed-fee or retainer-based, avoiding the salary, superannuation and leave obligations of a permanent appointment
- An outsourced provider eliminates the compliance gap that arises during staff transitions or unexpected vacancies
- An appointed outsourced secretary satisfies both the appointment and ordinary residency requirements under Section 204A, which is particularly relevant for foreign-owned companies without local governance staff
An in-house hire may be preferable where the volume and complexity of board activity justifies a dedicated resource.
At least one company secretary must ordinarily reside in Australia under Section 204A of the Corporations Act 2001. Ordinary residence means a settled, ongoing presence in Australia rather than a temporary stay. A foreign national living and working in Australia on a valid visa can satisfy the requirement.
Non-compliance is a strict liability offence. For foreign-owned companies without Australian-based staff, the requirement is commonly met by appointing a nominee company secretary through a professional provider, while retaining full operational control. For broader context on how this interacts with other local officer obligations, see our guide to compliance requirements for foreign subsidiaries in Australia.
When a company secretary resigns or is removed, the company must notify ASIC using Form 484 within 28 days. If the company fails to do so, the departing secretary may lodge Form 370 to notify ASIC directly.
For public companies, the position must not be left vacant. A replacement or interim appointment should be confirmed before the resignation takes effect, as failure to maintain a secretary is a strict liability offence. For proprietary companies, compliance responsibilities revert to the directors until a new appointment is made. In both cases, statutory registers, ASIC records and board documentation should be updated before handover to ensure continuity.
