More business but less reward for company secretaries

Private practitioners' profit may have passed the 1 million mark this year, but lawyers at the top of companies earn only one-fifth of this amount.

A survey by niche recruitment consultants Beament Leslie Thomas revealed that company secretaries at FTSE 100 businesses earn between 91,000 and 173,000, with higher salaries of more than 200,000 paid to those more heavily involved in main board decision-making.

Jon Moores, a consultant in the company secretary arm CSS, said that most FTSE 100 company secretaries are commercial lawyers, who may also head the legal function.

This gives them access to the board.

FTSE 250 companies, with fewer lawyer company secretaries, pay between 65,000 and 102,000.

Mr Moores said dot-coms are often keen to hire lawyers to take them through an initial public offering.

A deputy company secretary earns around 64,000 in the FTSE 100, and 56,000 in the FTSE 250.

Anne Mizzi