Trainee Governance Consultant

About Us Counterculture is a creative firm serious about effective governance. Our partners provide clients with specialist professional services across strategy, finance, law, management, creative, governance and capital projects. We are consultants, accountants, solicitors, curators, project managers and fundraisers (we’re also musicians, artists, historians, writers). Our Company Secretarial team provides expert advice to boards and senior managers to ensure the efficient, effective and compliant running of board governance. Our team of governance professionals have a range of experience across charities, education, arts and cultural bodies. The company secretarial team is led by Richard Whitmill, an experienced governance professional, Fellow of the Chartered Governance Institute and prize winner for the highest overall mark on the Institute’s Qualifying Programme in 2024/25. With a client base primarily in higher education, the CoSec team sits within the HE team at Counterculture, led by James Coe who is a nationally recognised expert in higher education. Our students’ union team is led by Phil Benton who is a vastly experienced students’ union leader. Together, they run the fastest growing part of Counterculture’s portfolio and hold a client base which spans all kinds of universities and students’ unions. Role Context Counterculture’s company secretarial offer is rapidly expanding. We work with a range of clients offering outsourced governance and company secretarial solutions. This includes retained offers where we give ongoing support to boards and committees, strategic governance advice and the maintenance of key statutory records. It also includes one-off projects such as training, governance reviews, advice on incorporations and charity registrations. As our work expands we now need additional capacity to grow our practice area. We’re looking for someone who is interested in entering the governance profession to support this work, acting for a range of clients to support their governance. As well as on the job experience, we will support the successful candidate to undertake the Chartered Governance Qualifying Programme. This rigorous programme equips professionals with essential expertise in corporate governance, company secretarial practice and board support. Roles and Responsibilities: The role holder will work closely with an experienced governance team, providing effective governance and administrative support.  This will include support to a range of existing clients, primarily in the students’ union and charity sectors. As the post develops there will be an opportunity to support other areas of Counterculture’s practice and client base on governance related matters. Duties Support a range of clients with the following: Support the effective planning of board and committee meetings including preparation of meeting agendas, board packs and action tracking. Attend board and committee meetings, producing accurate and timely minutes. Manage governance calendars, statutory records and filings with Companies House and the Charity Commission. Support the development of key governance policies and procedures. Support the team in the delivery of governance reviews and reviews of board effectiveness Support one-off projects such company and charity formation, delivery of AGMs and constitutional reviews. Learning The role holder will be supported and funded to undertake the Chartered Governance Institute Qualifying Programme. They will also receive personal mentoring from Richard Whitmill, a CGI prize winner and tutor on the qualifying programme. They will be given reasonable time off to prepare for examinations and be expected to undertake sufficient private study to prepare for examinations. The role holder will be expected to undertake at least one examination per sitting (two modules per year). Accountability The role will be line managed by Richard Whitmill, Partner. Skills and Experience The post would suit a junior governance professional looking to develop their career, or a person with board exposure looking for a career change (e.g. Executive Assistant, someone who has served as a trustee). Essential An interest in and commitment to the highest standards of good governance. Excellent organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities to deadline. Proactive, organised and detail-oriented. Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Confident working with senior stakeholders and handling confidential information. Excellent IT skills and an ability to use Microsoft 365 and board portals. Team player with the ability to work collaboratively Commitment to learning and development and to meet learning expectations (see above). Desirable Experience in governance either in a staff, officer or volunteer role (e.g. previous governance role, executive assistant, students’ union sabbatical officer, volunteer trustee). An understanding of our primary client base in students’ union