Can You Hire a Corporate Secretary for a Temporary Job?
Yes, you can hire a corporate secretary for a temporary job in Singapore. Businesses do not always need a full-time, permanent company secretary. Depending on their situation, they can engage a temporary corporate secretary, outsourced corporate secretary, or professional corporate secretarial services provider for a specific period or particular compliance requirements.
A corporate secretary plays an important role in keeping a Singapore company compliant with the requirements of the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA). From maintaining statutory records to handling annual returns and corporate filings, their responsibilities can be essential even when a business only needs support temporarily.
Whether you need coverage while your existing secretary is unavailable, assistance during company restructuring, or short-term compliance support, hiring a professional corporate secretary in Singapore can be a practical solution.
What Is a Temporary Corporate Secretary?
A temporary corporate secretary is a qualified professional or corporate secretarial service provider engaged for a limited period rather than as a permanent employee.
For example, a company may require temporary support when:
Its existing company secretary has resigned.
The company is between permanent appointments.
A secretary is on extended leave.
The business is undergoing restructuring.
There are urgent statutory filings to complete.
The company has a one-time compliance project.
The business needs additional support during a busy period.
Directors require professional guidance for corporate documentation.
Instead of hiring a permanent employee, the company can engage an outsourced corporate secretary to manage the required responsibilities for the agreed period.
Why Would a Company Need a Temporary Corporate Secretary?
There are several situations where temporary corporate secretarial support makes sense.
1. Your Existing Company Secretary Has Resigned
Singapore companies must have a company secretary, and a vacancy should not be left unresolved. If your existing secretary resigns, hiring temporary professional support can help ensure that your company continues meeting its statutory obligations while you determine a longer-term arrangement.
2. Your Company Secretary Is Unavailable
Illness, extended leave, relocation, or other circumstances can temporarily affect your company's ability to manage corporate secretarial responsibilities.
A professional provider can offer interim support so important filings and compliance deadlines are not overlooked.
3. You Have a One-Time Corporate Project
Some businesses only require additional secretarial assistance for a specific transaction or corporate event.
This could include:
Changes to company directors
Appointment or resignation of officers
Share transfers
Allotment of shares
Changes in company particulars
Preparation of resolutions
Corporate restructuring
Maintaining statutory registers
For these situations, engaging professional corporate secretarial services in Singapore for a defined project can be more practical than hiring a full-time employee.
4. You Are Starting a New Business
New businesses often have several administrative and compliance requirements to manage at the same time.
If you are incorporating a company in Singapore, a professional company secretary in Singapore can help you understand the ongoing compliance responsibilities after incorporation.
A temporary arrangement may also give a startup time to determine whether it needs ongoing secretarial support.
What Can a Temporary Corporate Secretary Do?
The exact scope depends on the agreement between the company and the service provider. However, professional corporate secretary services in Singapore may include responsibilities such as:
Maintaining Statutory Records
A company secretary can help maintain corporate registers and other statutory records required for the company.
Preparing Corporate Resolutions
Certain company decisions require formal documentation. A corporate secretary can assist with preparing board resolutions, shareholder resolutions, and related corporate documents.
Filing Changes With ACRA
When relevant company information changes, the necessary updates may need to be filed with ACRA. A professional secretary can assist with preparing and submitting the required filings.
Annual Return Compliance
Singapore companies generally have annual filing obligations. A corporate secretary can help monitor deadlines and prepare the required information for filing.
Maintaining Company Documents
Corporate secretarial professionals can help keep important company documents organised and up to date, including resolutions, registers, and other corporate records.
Supporting Directors
A company secretary can provide administrative and compliance support to directors, helping them understand and complete required corporate procedures.
Is a Temporary Corporate Secretary Different From an Outsourced Corporate Secretary?
They can be similar, but the key difference is generally the duration and purpose of the engagement.
A temporary corporate secretary is usually engaged for a defined short-term period or specific requirement.
An outsourced corporate secretary, on the other hand, may provide ongoing corporate secretarial services without being an internal employee of the company.
For example:
Option | Best For |
Temporary Corporate Secretary | Short-term or urgent requirements |
Outsourced Corporate Secretary | Ongoing compliance support |
In-House Company Secretary | Businesses requiring an internal full-time role |
Project-Based Support | Specific corporate transactions or filings |
For many small and growing businesses, outsourcing can be a flexible alternative to maintaining an internal secretarial function.
How Long Can You Hire a Temporary Corporate Secretary?
There is no single standard duration for every business. The engagement can depend on the company's requirements and the service provider's terms.
A company might require support for:
A few weeks
One or several months
The period between two permanent appointments
A specific corporate transaction
A particular compliance project
The important consideration is ensuring that the company continues to meet its applicable legal and regulatory obligations during the temporary period.
What Should You Check Before Hiring a Temporary Corporate Secretary?
Choosing the right provider is important because corporate secretarial work involves regulatory and compliance responsibilities.
Before hiring a temporary corporate secretary, consider the following:
1. Professional Experience
Look for a provider with experience handling Singapore company compliance and corporate secretarial matters.
2. Understanding of ACRA Requirements
Your service provider should understand the relevant filing procedures and corporate compliance requirements applicable to Singapore companies.
3. Scope of Services
Clarify exactly what is included in the temporary engagement. Ask whether the service covers filings, resolutions, statutory registers, annual returns, and other required tasks.
4. Availability
If you need temporary support because of an urgent vacancy or deadline, confirm that the provider can take over the required responsibilities within your timeframe.
5. Pricing
Temporary and outsourced arrangements can vary depending on the complexity and duration of the engagement. Ask for a clear breakdown of the professional fees and any additional charges before proceeding.
How Much Does a Temporary Corporate Secretary Cost in Singapore?
The cost depends on factors such as the duration of the engagement, the company's requirements, the number of corporate actions involved, and the services included.
A basic engagement for routine compliance may cost less than a package involving multiple corporate transactions, urgent filings, or extensive documentation.
Rather than choosing a provider based solely on the cheapest price, businesses should consider the scope of corporate secretarial services in Singapore, experience, responsiveness, and compliance support included in the package.
Can You Hire a Corporate Secretary Only When You Need One?
Yes. Businesses can engage professional corporate secretarial providers based on their specific requirements.
However, Singapore companies should ensure that they meet the applicable requirements for maintaining a company secretary. A temporary arrangement should not be viewed simply as occasional administrative assistance if the company has an ongoing statutory requirement for a company secretary.
For this reason, it is advisable to discuss your circumstances with a professional corporate secretarial services provider before deciding on a temporary arrangement.
Temporary vs Permanent Corporate Secretary: Which Is Better?
The right option depends on your company's situation.
A temporary corporate secretary may be suitable if you are dealing with a short-term vacancy, a specific project, or an immediate compliance requirement.
A permanent or ongoing corporate secretary in Singapore may be more suitable if your company requires continuous assistance with statutory compliance, annual filings, corporate records, and board documentation.
For small businesses, startups, and companies without an internal corporate administration team, an outsourced arrangement can provide ongoing support without the need to employ a full-time secretary.
Why Outsource Corporate Secretarial Services?
Outsourcing can offer several advantages.
Cost efficiency: You may avoid the salary and overhead costs associated with employing a full-time employee.
Flexibility: You can select services according to your company's requirements.
Professional support: Experienced corporate secretarial providers handle compliance-related administrative work regularly.
Deadline management: Professional providers can help monitor important filing deadlines.
Scalability: Your services can potentially be adjusted as your business grows or your corporate requirements change.
This makes outsourced corporate secretary services in Singapore particularly useful for startups, SMEs, foreign-owned businesses, and companies without an internal compliance team.
Final Thoughts
So, can you hire a corporate secretary for a temporary job? Yes. A temporary or outsourced corporate secretary can be a practical solution when your company needs short-term compliance assistance, is waiting to appoint a permanent secretary, or requires support for a specific corporate project.
However, because company secretarial responsibilities are closely connected to corporate compliance, it is important to choose an experienced professional who understands Singapore's regulatory requirements.
If you need temporary assistance or ongoing corporate secretarial services in Singapore, working with a professional provider can help your company manage its corporate compliance responsibilities more efficiently.
Need Corporate Secretarial Support in Singapore?
Tianlong provides professional corporate secretary services in Singapore to help businesses manage corporate compliance and statutory requirements. Contact Tianlong to discuss the right solution for your business.