Maria Clemente has built a career that spans insolvency law, ASX compliance, and company secretarial work. In this interview, she shares her experience transitioning to an outsourced company secretary role and offers practical advice for others considering this career path.
Q: Could you share your career journey leading up to your current role at Automic?
I started as a lawyer admitted to the Supreme Court of NSW. I spent almost a decade in insolvency, conducting voluntary administrations, receiverships and liquidations. It was intense work - I didn’t just sit at my desk writing reports. You had to be out there dealing with feral situations, making employees redundant, investigating directors for malfeasance, or pursuing them for insolvent trading.
I then moved to ASX compliance for three years, where I managed a portfolio of over 70 listed entities. During that time, I built strong relationships with company secretaries, including Marika, who's now our Managing Principal at Automic. When I left ASX, I reached out to about ten company secretaries I thought were really amazing. We stayed in touch, and last December over coffee, Marika told me she was heading up the team at Automic and asked if I'd be interested in joining.
Q: What led you to pursue a career in company secretarial work?
Honestly, insolvency is a toxic space to practice in as it involves companies that are either dead or require massive surgery. There's constant hostility, and it could become incredibly draining. Moving to ASX compliance felt like a natural progression - instead of dealing with corporate failures or deaths, I could help ensure they stayed alive under robust governance and regulatory compliance.
At ASX, we were like the police force - companies would only come to us when they were in trouble. Now, as a Company Secretary, I can be more proactive. I can think ahead, anticipate issues, and help prevent problems before they happen. It's much more rewarding.
Q: How has your experience been working at Automic so far?
The culture here is personable, with strong collaboration across teams. What I particularly like is the management structure. We have Marika as head of our department, and then principals who act as team leaders. Some of these principals have been in the field for 20 years, others came from in-house roles.
This mix of experience is invaluable. If you're facing a challenging situation, there's usually someone who's seen it before and can give suggestions. Some senior team members have seen and have a precedent for almost everything. They usually have an answer or can remember how they handled a similar situation in the past.
Q: Can you describe a typical week in your role?
I am the appointed Co Sec of about 6 listed companies, mostly in health tech and technology (Saas). I also act as governance advisor to listed companies such as Site Minder, where I support the General Counsel, plus similar sized entities in various sectors.
A typical week involves preparing for meetings, following up on compliance related matters, and ensuring continuous disclosure obligations are met. For my ASX-listed clients, which are most of my portfolio, I'm constantly checking whether they have anything to announce or need guidance on announcements.
During AGM season, I'll be honest – it’s a lot. You might have or need to assist with AGMs almost every day, plus board meetings in between. We start planning two to three months ahead, having regular check-ins and making contingency plans. There is no rest and everything is dynamic, but that's part of what makes the role interesting.
Q: What do you find most rewarding about company secretarial work?
The recognition from clients who value your advice is really gratifying. I enjoy researching and staying on top of new legislation and explaining how it works, especially the gray areas. I'm a bit of a technician - I like to become an expert on things like how the new Employee Share Schemes regime works, then share that knowledge with clients.
What makes this work meaningful is that governance isn't these companies' core business. If they don't understand the legislation, it can completely derail what they're trying to achieve. When you help them navigate these challenges successfully, it's really satisfying.
I also enjoy the educational side of things. You're often teaching directors about various aspects like cybersecurity or their trading obligations. Many directors sit on multiple boards, so your advice can impact several companies at once.
Q: Why did you choose to work in an outsourced CoSec role rather than in-house?
In an in-house role, you're limited to one client - your employer. In an outsourced role, you get to work with different personalities and there's so much more to learn. The two years I spent in my previous outsourced role taught me as much as five years in-house would have.
You never know what you're going to get with each client. They might be great, they might be challenging, but that's what makes it interesting. You're experiencing eight different careers at once.
There's also interesting relationship dynamics. As a CoSec, you report to the board chair, but day-to-day you're working with executives, usually the CEO or CFO. Sometimes they don't get along, and you're caught in the middle. Learning to handle these situations is challenging but valuable.
Q: What advice would you give to someone in the middle of their CoSec career looking to accelerate their growth?
Don't go for an in-house role. I strongly recommend an outsourced position. It's great for your CV to be a named officer across multiple companies, even in an outsourced capacity.
You also build a much broader network. I've seen colleagues who impressed their boards and ultimately get invited to become non-executive directors at other companies. I would say that is a rarity when you're working in-house.
Plus, you get to see how different companies operate. If one company has great processes, you can learn from them and improve practices at your other clients. If a company's governance isn't strong, you can suggest improvements based on what you've seen work elsewhere.
Q: Is there anything else you'd like to share about your experience or the role?
This job isn't for someone who wants an easy ride. The workload can be never-ending, especially during AGM season, but the learning opportunities are incredible. We're always keeping abreast of new legal requirements and regulatory guidelines. At Automic, I'm encouraged to pursue additional credentials through the Governance Institute of Australia. I also contribute to our team's knowledge sharing through our CoSec.
Interested in a Career as an Outsourced Company Secretary?
If Maria's experience resonates with you, Automic is currently hiring experienced Company Secretaries. You'll work with diverse clients across various industries and be supported by a team of experienced professionals. Whether you're an experienced CoSec looking for your next challenge or a governance professional wanting to enter the field, we’d love to hear from you.