Secretary to the Board

Accountancy Europe

Hours
40 hours per week

About the Organisation

Accountancy Europe is a leading association representing the accountancy profession in Europe – dedicated to advancing the field of accountancy and promoting high-quality financial reporting, auditing, and ethical standards. It unites 49 professional organisations from 35 countries that represent over 1 million qualified accountants, auditors and advisors.

Accountancy Europe plays a pivotal role in shaping the regulatory and legislative landscape of accounting and finance within the European Union and beyond. The organisation actively engages with policymakers, regulators, standard-setting bodies, and other stakeholders to ensure that the interests of the profession and the broader public are effectively addressed.

Accountancy Europe operates with a mission to enhance the quality, consistency, and transparency of financial and sustainability information, thereby fostering trust and confidence in the financial markets and supporting the sustainable growth of the European economy.

Through its collaborative efforts and engagement with stakeholders, the organisation plays a vital role in building consensus and shaping the future of the accounting profession within Europe and on the global stage.

About the role

Accountancy Europe is seeking a dedicated and skilled individual to assume the role of the Secretary to the Board, with a particular focus on governance for the non-for-profit sector.

The Secretary to the Board is a senior member of the team, playing a pivotal role in ensuring the effective functioning of the Accountancy Europe Board, as well as a smooth collaboration between all governance bodies of the association.

As the Secretary to the Board, you will play a key role in supporting the organisation’s overall operational effectiveness by coordinating the relationship between the Board and other governance bodies, and ensuring compliance with good governance principles and best practices. Your commitment to the mission and values of Accountancy Europe will be essential in upholding the integrity and transparency of the organization.

Responsibilities

1. Governance and compliance

• Advise the Board on best practices in non-for-profit governance, legal compliance and risk management;
• Develop (where needed) and maintain updated governance documents, including statutes, policies, charters, and procedures, tailored to the needs of Accountancy Europe;
• Oversee and monitor compliance with the articles of association, bylaws and other governance policies and guidelines, proactively reporting potential issues to the Board;
• Support the proper application of the due process;
• Conduct regular assessments to evaluate the effectiveness of governance practices and suggest improvements to strengthen the governance framework;

2. Governance bodies meetings’ management

• Coordinate Board meetings: plan the Board calendar and prepare agendas in close cooperation with the President, Deputy-President, the CEO, and any other senior staff as relevant, circulate materials and manage logistics;
• Attend board meetings and accurately record minutes, capturing essential discussions, decisions, and action items;
• Track follow-up actions to facilitate timely completion;
• Coordinate meetings of the General Assembly of Members: plan the General Assembly calendar and prepare agendas in close cooperation with the President, Deputy-President, the CEO, and any other senior staff as relevant, circulate materials and manage logistics;
• Attend General Assembly meetings and accurately record minutes, capturing essential discussions, decisions, and action items;
• Track follow-up actions to facilitate timely completion.

3. Strategic and advisory support

• Support the Board, its President and Deputy-President in strategic planning and in implementation of the Board decisions;
• In close collaboration with other governance bodies and the association’s leadership team, provide research support and background information to inform Board discussions and decisions;

4. Record keeping

• For audit and transparency purposes, maintain accurate, organized and secure records of all Board documents: decisions, resolutions, and governance-related documents;
• Prepare official documents, such as annual reports and governance reports, in compliance with (local and international) reporting requirements;
• Collaborate with the leadership team and external support providers: lawyers, accountants, auditors, to identify and address governance-related risks unique to the non-for-profit sector;
• Assist in the development of risk mitigation strategies that align with the Accountancy Europe’s mission and objectives;

5. Nominations and governance bodies’ composition

• Develop (where needed) internal policies, rules and good practices to ensure a targeted and tailored approach to nominations to the Accountancy Europe governance bodies, in respect of Accountancy Europe’s statutes, and in collaboration with relevant internal stakeholders;
• Coordinate the process and keep track of the timelines for (re)appointment and (re) election of Accountancy Europe’s Board members;
• Coordinate and facilitate the nomination process, including submitting nominations, collecting required documentation, and communicating updates to all relevant stakeholders;

6. Governance relations and communication

• Facilitate onboarding for new board members, providing them with an in-depth understanding of the organization and its governance structure and practices;
• Ensure transparent and smooth communication across governance bodies, the Accountancy Europe team, member bodies and all relevant internal stakeholders;
• Work closely with communications team on governance related outings;

Skills, Competencies & Experience

Required Skills: 

• Strong knowledge of (non-for-profit) governance principles, regulations, compliance standards, and best practices
• Familiarity with relevant legal and regulatory frameworks governing non-for-profit organizations
• Excellent command of spoken and written English and another EU language, preferably French or Dutch
• Able to work in an international and multi-cultural setting
• Positive and solution-oriented mindset
• Exceptional organizational and time management skills with keen attention to detail
• Excellent written and verbal communication abilities, including minute-taking during board meetings, also using AI-based software tools
• Proficiency in using technology and software tools to streamline governance processes
• Ability to work collaboratively with board members, association staff, and other stakeholders
• Strong ethical values, discretion and integrity in handling governance matters

Required Experience: 

• Proven experience as a Secretary to the Board or a governance-related role, ideally in a European or international context

How to apply

• If this sounds like the right opportunity for you, please apply online.

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