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A corporate secretary is the person who makes sure the company's paperwork matches reality. In Singapore that means the registers, the filings with ACRA, the meeting records and the deadlines. The directors make decisions. The secretary records them and files what the law requires.
Checked against ACRA's secretary and registers guidance.
What does a corporate secretary do?
Day to day, the work falls into five groups.
| Duty | What it looks like |
|---|---|
| Registers | Keeps the electronic registers on Bizfile current and the private registers at the registered office |
| ACRA filings | Files officer, address and share changes, normally within 14 days of the change |
| Meetings and resolutions | Drafts notices, agendas, minutes and written resolutions |
| Deadlines | Tracks the annual return, AGM rules and other dates |
| Advice | Flags what the directors need to do to stay compliant |
The duties come from the Companies Act and from the company's own constitution. See the Companies Act guide and the constitution guide.
Which registers does the secretary maintain?
ACRA's list: the electronic registers of members, directors, secretaries, chief executives and auditors, plus the private registers of registrable controllers, nominee directors and nominee shareholders. Each has its own rules and page on this site.
Registers have deadlines: 14 days for the electronic ones, and 7 days followed by 2 business days for the controllers and nominee registers.
What filings do they handle?
Anything that changes on the ACRA record: a new director, a resigning director, a change of registered office, a share issue or transfer, a change of company name, a change to the secretary. When the company changes its constitution, a director or the secretary files the Notice of Resolution. The annual cycle is described in annual return and AGM and the filing deadlines page.
What do they do at board and shareholder meetings?
They prepare the notice, circulate papers, attend the meeting if asked and write the minutes. For a small company with two friends as directors, this often means a one-page written resolution signed by both. The paperwork is short, but it is the proof when a bank, investor or buyer later asks what was decided.
What is not the secretary's job?
A secretary is not your accountant, auditor or lawyer. They will not prepare your accounts, file your tax or advise on a dispute unless the provider offers those as separate services. They also do not carry the directors' legal duties. Directors remain responsible for the company's acts and for making sure filings are correct and on time.
Does every company need one?
Yes. The company must appoint a secretary within six months of registration, and a vacancy of more than six months can mean a fine of up to S$1,000 for the director, as ACRA states. Who qualifies is in secretary qualifications. The pricing and provider options are in our corporate secretary guide and cheapest secretary comparison.
Should you do it yourself or hire one?
You can do it yourself if you are a resident and there is a second director. The work is light in a quiet year and heavy in a year with share changes or investors. Hiring makes sense if you live abroad, if you travel, or if a missed deadline would cost more than the fee. A provider also brings a standing process: reminders, templates and a person who answers when ACRA writes.
How do you swap secretaries?
Appoint the new person, get their consent, file the change on Bizfile within 14 days and keep the registers right. See change company secretary.
Want a provider to take it on?
Use the quote form on this page and we will pass your request to suitable Singapore providers. We are an independent guide, not ACRA, and may earn a referral fee when a request becomes a client. It does not change the price you are quoted.
Sources
- ACRA, appointing directors and other key officers: https://www.acra.gov.sg/register/business/registering-different-business-structures/local-company/appointing-company-directors-other-key-officers/ (secretary rules, six months, fine, 14 days).
- ACRA, maintaining company registers: https://www.acra.gov.sg/how-to-guides/setting-up-a-local-company/maintaining-company-registers (registers a company keeps and their deadlines).
- ACRA, setting up and maintaining a RORC: https://www.acra.gov.sg/manage/companies/legal-requirements-common-offences/maintaining-local-companys-information-registers/rorc/setting-up-maintaining/ (RORC timelines).
- ACRA, notice of resolution: https://www.acra.gov.sg/manage/companies/filing-a-notice-of-resolution/filing-a-notice-of-resolution-special-resolution/ (who files).
