Corporate Secretary ACRA requirements – A comprehensive read

Corporate Secretary ACRA Requirements in Singapore

Every company registered in Singapore is legally required to appoint a corporate secretary who ensures full compliance with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) requirements. This article details ACRA’s requirements, the statutory duties of a corporate secretary, and how an expert Corporate Service Provider (CSP) like ours excels at meeting these responsibilities for your business.

ACRA Corporate Secretary Appointment Rules

ACRA mandates that every company must appoint a company secretary within six months of incorporation. The position cannot be left vacant for more than six months, or directors may incur penalties. The secretary must be a natural person who is ordinarily resident in Singapore, which includes Singapore Citizens, Permanent Residents, or holders of valid work passes. The sole director of a company cannot also be the company secretary, and a debarred individual (one previously restricted by ACRA) is also ineligible.

Mandatory Qualifications for Corporate Secretaries

All secretaries must possess deep knowledge of local corporate law, regulatory filing processes, and statutory compliance rules to avoid penalties and ensure operational continuity. Public company secretaries face stricter requirements, including professional memberships or relevant prior experience.

Statutory Duties and Responsibilities

There are good reasons for the mandatory requirements of a corporate secretary. A corporate secretary’s duties are comprehensive and stipulated by ACRA and the Companies Act. Without the necessary qualifications and experience, corporate secretary may struggle to ensure compliance. A corporate secretary’s key obligations include:

• Maintaining and updating the company’s registers and minute books.

• Administering, attending, and preparing minutes for director and shareholder meetings, including AGMs and EGMs.

• Ensuring prompt submissions of annual returns, changes in company officers, and constitutional amendments to ACRA.

• Monitoring statutory deadlines for filings to avoid regulatory fines.

• Advising directors and shareholders on compliance, regulatory updates, and governance best practices.

• Maintaining share registers, issuance, transfers, and keeping records of board resolutions and shareholder changes.

• Safeguarding the company seal, maintaining a registered office, and ensuring statutory records are in order.

Appointment, Removal, and Cessation Procedures

The appointment is usually made by board resolution, with the individual consent filed with ACRA via BizFile. Removal or resignation must also be officially recorded and updated with ACRA within 14 days.

Why Appoint a Professional Corporate Service Provider (CSP)

Most companies—especially owner-managed SMEs or foreign-run businesses—appoint a CSP to assist with corporate secretary duties. A CSP will appoint one of its employees to be the client’s corporate secretary on record. A highly competitive industry is good news for consumers as many companies compete on both service and pricing front. As a trusted CSP, we offer dedicated services and advice, backed by multiple years of experience and expertise in incorporation / corporate secretarial services. We offer:

• Fully compliant resident corporate secretary services, adhering to the latest ACRA rules and Companies Act updates.

• Efficient digital record-keeping and timely filing

• Proactive deadline reminders and governance advice, ensuring companies stay ahead of compliance risks.

• End-to-end management of all required board and shareholder processes, statutory registers, and ACRA filings.

• Personalised guidance for evolving business needs, from incorporation to ongoing secretarial matters.

The Value We Bring

By appointing us as your corporate secretary, company owners can focus on business growth, knowing all ACRA requirements are handled professionally and accurately. Our firm’s proven track record, strong regulatory knowledge, and commitment to client service make us the right CSP partner for any business looking for peace of mind and seamless compliance.

Most clients require more than just a corporate secretary to take care of their compliance needs. Some may require some form of business advisory assistance to spearhead their business, while other are looking for tax restructuring to improve their tax positions and efficiency.

At OakTree Accounting & Corporate Solutions, we work as a team to ensure all your business requirements are met. Unlike the bigger players, we offer more human touch, more communication and of course, a more tailored solution. A self-serve helpdesk or portal shouldn’t be something business users face. We instead invest time to ensure we understand your needs, provide personalized service and tailored advice and share with you customized solutions to improve your business.

Ready to fulfil your ACRA corporate secretary obligations with confidence? Contact us today for a no-obligation consultation and experience our commitment to your compliance success.

DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of any individuals or organizations with which the author may be affiliated, either in a professional or personal capacity, unless explicitly stated.