Why Appointing a Corporate Secretary is Crucial for Your Singapore Business

Running a business in Singapore offers tremendous opportunities. The country is globally recognised for its ease of doing business, investor-friendly environment, and transparent regulations. However, these advantages come with clear compliance obligations—and one of the most important is the statutory requirement to appoint a Corporate Secretary.

In this article, we’ll walk you through why engaging a qualified Corporate Secretary matters, what duties they handle, and how you can simplify compliance while keeping your operations focused on growth.

What Is a Corporate Secretary?

Under the Companies Act, every Singapore-incorporated company must appoint a Corporate Secretary within 6 months of incorporation. This individual or service provider is responsible for ensuring your business meets its legal and regulatory obligations.

The Corporate Secretary plays a critical governance role, acting as the bridge between directors, shareholders, and regulatory bodies such as the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA).

Key Responsibilities of a Corporate Secretary

A competent Corporate Secretary helps you stay compliant by managing the following core duties:

• Statutory Compliance
  
  
  • Maintaining your company’s registers and records
    
    
  • Filing annual returns and updates with ACRA
    
    
  • Preparing board resolutions and AGM documents
    
    
• Governance Support
  
  
  • Advising directors on their statutory duties
    
    
  • Ensuring proper conduct of meetings
    
    
  • Safeguarding corporate records
    
    
• Liaison with Authorities
  
  
  • Acting as the main point of contact with regulators
    
    
  • Submitting necessary filings accurately and on time
    
    

Failing to meet these obligations can lead to penalties, reputational damage, or even involuntary striking off of your company.

Benefits of Outsourcing Your Corporate Secretarial Services

Many small and medium enterprises choose to outsource this role rather than hiring a full-time in-house secretary. Here’s why:

✅ Expertise You Can Rely On
Professional firms stay up to date on regulatory changes and best practices, reducing your risk of non-compliance.

✅ Cost Efficiency
Outsourcing allows you to access experienced support without the overhead of a full-time hire.

✅ Peace of Mind
You can focus on growing your business, knowing your statutory obligations are handled diligently.

✅ Scalability
As your company expands, your secretarial needs evolve—professional service providers can adapt with you.

How JWC Accounts & HR Simplifies Compliance

At JWC Accounts & HR, we understand that compliance isn’t just about ticking boxes—it’s about protecting your business and building trust with stakeholders. Our Corporate Secretary services cover:

• Company incorporation and structuring
  
  
• Routine ACRA filings and statutory registers
  
  
• AGM and EGM preparation
  
  
• Share allotments and transfers
  
  
• Advisory on compliance matters
  
  

Whether you are setting up a new venture or streamlining your current processes, our experienced team provides timely, responsive support at every stage.

Special Promotion: Professional Stationery Package with Gogoprint

As part of our commitment to helping you build a credible and professional image, JWC Accounts & HR is partnering with Gogoprint.

When you set up your company with us, you can access an exclusive branding package at a special rate:

🎁 Gogoprint Business Starter Kit:

• 5 boxes of custom name cards
  
  
• 1,000 pieces of branded letterhead
  
  
• 500 branded envelopes
  💰 All for just $240 (Original price: $265.80)
  
  

This package makes it easy to launch your company with consistent, professional materials that reinforce your brand from day one.

Ready to Get Started?

Setting up your company and staying compliant doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Let our team guide you with end-to-end Corporate Secretary services and a seamless incorporation experience.

Visit JWC Accounts & HR today to learn more about our packages and start building your business on a strong foundation.