It is not now mandatory that an Australian company formally appoint a Company Secretary however Shelfcom always recommends that one be appointed so as to clearly define the responsibilities of the officers of the company.

If a Company Secretary is not appointed his/her duties and obligations are then assumed by the Directors and not all Directors may want those obligations placed upon them.

In general terms the Secretary’s functions are administrative in nature. They are not of a managerial nature. The Secretary’s role is to:

• Act as the executive officer to the Board of Directors
• Carry out various duties on behalf of the Board at its direction.
• Act as the administrative officer of the Company.
• Maintain the Statutory Registers and Minute Book of the Company
• Ensure compliance with the Companies Act, 2001 by lodging with the ASIC all prescribed Form, should the circumstances of the company change such as issuing and transferring shares, changing Directors and Registered Office etc.
• Ensure compliance with any other statutory requirements that effect the company.

Shelfcom is able to provide a Company Secretary (Its Managing Director is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and has been a professional Secretary for over thirty-three years) for client companies.

We usually do so for companies owned by overseas interests as they entrust us to ensure that their company is in compliance at all times. This role is conducted in conjunction with the provision of the Registered Office of the companies.

We can however also act as Company Secretary and provide a company’s Registered Office for Australian clients who are unable or unwilling to accept the responsibilities of the role.

Our fees are $385.00 p.a. (including GST) for acting as Company Secretary and $165.00 p.a. (including GST) for providing a company’s Registered Office. These fees cover the acceptance of the position and responsibilities involved. Work actually carried out on the company’s behalf is charged at our scale fees, currently $175.00 per hour or $250.00 per hour (plus 10% GST) depending upon the nature and complexity of the services we are being asked to provide.

We have a set scale of fees for common services provided, such as the changing of Directors, transferring and issuing shares etc and a quotation can be provided in advance for other services that may be requested.