Personal Assistant

Job title: PA & Assistant Company Secretary

Ben is the automotive industry charity dedicated to individuals who have worked in or work in the automotive industry and their family dependants. We are committed to provide health and wellbeing support for life to empower our automotive family to live their best life and be there for those who are struggling or in crisis.

Job Overview

The PA & Assistant Company Secretary will help to ensure that Ben operates within its charity regulatory framework and adheres to best practice in charity governance. This role will be a central administrative and secretarial point of contact for the CEO primarily, liaising and providing support to Ben’s Board of Trustees, maintaining governance documentation, ensuring compliance with relevant legislation supporting the overall governance framework and administration requirements and statutory obligations of the charity.

Key Responsibilities

PA to the CEO

• Diary Management: Proactively manage the CEO’s calendar, schedule meetings, and prioritise appointments.
• Correspondence Handling: Screen and manage email, telephone, and other correspondence on behalf of the CEO, ensuring timely responses.
• Meeting Support: Organise and coordinate internal and external meetings, including preparation of agendas, presentations, and minutes.
• Administration Support: Provide ad hoc administrative support to the CEO and wider senior leadership team when necessary (including support for personal and credit card expenses).
• Travel Arrangements: Book travel, accommodation, and logistics for the CEO and senior management team as required.
• Documentation & Filing: Maintain confidential files, documents, and records, ensuring they are well-organised and accessible.
• Liaison: Act as the first point of contact between the CEO and stakeholders, both internally and externally.
• Project Support: Assist with special projects and ad hoc tasks as requested by the CEO.

Assistant Company Secretary

• Board Support: Assist with the organisation of Board and Committee meetings, including preparation of agendas, distribution of board packs, and taking accurate minutes.
• Governance: Support the Company Secretary in ensuring that the charity complies with its governing documents, legal requirements, and regulatory obligations (e.g., Charity Commission, Companies House).
• Document Management: Maintain statutory records such as the charity’s register of trustees, members, and other company documents.
• Filing & Compliance: Support the filing of statutory returns, annual reports, and other regulatory submissions.
• Policy Monitoring: Help to monitor governance policies and procedures, ensuring that they are updated in line with best practices and legal developments.
• Trustee Liaison: Provide administrative support to trustees, ensuring they are informed and prepared for meetings.

• Event Coordination: Assist in organizing charity events, fundraising activities, and other organizational initiatives.

Person Specification

Essential Skills & Experience

• Proven experience as a PA or Executive Assistant, preferably within a charity or non-profit organization.
• Knowledge or experience of charity governance, legal compliance, or secretarial duties.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to multitask and prioritize a varied workload.
• High degree of professionalism, integrity, and confidentiality.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint).
• Strong minute-taking and document preparation abilities.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a team environment.

Desirable Skills & Experience

• Previous experience as an Assistant Company Secretary or knowledge of corporate governance.
• Understanding of UK charity law and governance standards.
• Qualification in business administration, legal studies, or related field.

Personal Attributes

• Proactive and self-motivated with a keen eye for detail.
• Diplomatic and professional when dealing with internal and external stakeholders.
• A positive, ‘can-do’ attitude with flexibility to adapt to changing priorities.
• Commitment to the mission and values of the charity.