Secretarial Retainer & Compliance Management
We act as an extended compliance and governance function for companies by managing recurring secretarial obligations, compliance calendars, board processes, statutory records, and regulatory tracking on an ongoing basis.
Suitable for
Private companies requiring ongoing secretarial and governance support.
Regulatory coverage
Companies Act, 2013 / Secretarial Standards / ROC compliance framework / Corporate governance requirements
Engagement type
Ongoing compliance and governance support
Typical deliverables
Annual compliance calendar; Compliance tracking dashboard support
How this mandate is understood in practice.
Many growing businesses require continuous compliance supervision but may not maintain a full in-house secretarial function.
Our secretarial retainer model provides structured governance support, recurring compliance monitoring, board assistance, statutory record management, and ongoing advisory throughout the year.
Compliance discipline protects governance credibility.
Compliance failures often arise from missed timelines, fragmented responsibilities, and lack of ongoing monitoring rather than lack of intent.
A structured retainer model helps management maintain visibility over statutory obligations, governance actions, regulatory deadlines, and board-level responsibilities.
Who needs this
Private companies requiring ongoing secretarial and governance support.
Growing businesses seeking outsourced compliance management.
Promoter-driven organizations without dedicated internal compliance teams.
Companies managing recurring board, ROC, FEMA, CSR, or governance obligations.
Initial work areas
Compliance calendar creation and monitoring.
Board and shareholder meeting support.
Regulatory deadline tracking and reminders.
Secretarial governance advisory throughout the year.
Maintenance guidance for statutory records and registers.
Periodic compliance review and reporting support.
What this service typically covers.
Compliance Calendar Management
Creation of annual compliance calendars.
Tracking of recurring statutory obligations.
Regulatory deadline monitoring and alerts.
Periodic compliance status review.
Board & Governance Support
Support for board meetings and governance processes.
Resolution and approval documentation assistance.
Meeting planning and compliance coordination.
Governance record support.
Regulatory Compliance Monitoring
Monitoring of Companies Act obligations.
Tracking of recurring ROC compliance requirements.
Support for governance-related filings.
Regulatory documentation management.
Management Advisory Support
Ongoing compliance guidance for management.
Governance risk identification support.
Compliance readiness discussions.
Periodic advisory interactions with stakeholders.
Regulatory coverage
Companies Act, 2013
Secretarial Standards
ROC compliance framework
Corporate governance requirements
Regulatory Matrix
Coordinated touchpoints across governance frameworks.
MCA
SEBI
FEMA
CSR
NCLT
RBI
Laws, regulations, and governance touchpoints.
Companies Act Governance Framework
Board governance responsibilities.
Recurring compliance management requirements.
Statutory record maintenance obligations.
Director and management compliance responsibilities.
Secretarial & Governance Standards
Board meeting governance practices.
Documentation and record management expectations.
Governance process discipline.
Compliance monitoring and escalation framework.
Risk areas that usually create pressure for boards, management teams, and compliance owners.
Missed compliance deadlines due to lack of centralized tracking.
Fragmented ownership of governance responsibilities.
Inadequate board documentation and record maintenance.
Lack of visibility into upcoming regulatory obligations.
Deliverables
Annual compliance calendar
Compliance tracking dashboard support
Periodic compliance review reports
Board governance support
Secretarial advisory assistance
Ongoing compliance management support
A structured sequence from mandate framing to execution.
Step 1
Review current governance and compliance position.
Step 2
Create compliance tracking framework.
Step 3
Monitor recurring obligations and milestones.
Step 4
Support management and governance processes throughout the year.
Step 5
Provide periodic compliance status visibility and advisory support.
Connected mandates often reviewed alongside this service.
Annual ROC Filing
Annual ROC filing and corporate compliance management support covering financial statement filings, annual returns, governance documentation and recurring Companies Act compliance obligations.
Secretarial Audit
Independent secretarial audit support for companies requiring governance, statutory, board process, filing, register, disclosure, and compliance review under Section 204 of the Companies Act, 2013.
Corporate Governance Advisory
Board-level governance advisory covering governance framework design, board effectiveness, committee governance, director responsibilities, governance controls, SEBI and Companies Act governance requirements, risk oversight, ESG governance, and governance maturity enhancement.
Board & General Meeting Support
Structured support for board meetings, shareholder meetings, notices, agendas, resolutions, minutes, and statutory governance documentation.
FAQs
How is a secretarial retainer different from one-time compliance support?
A retainer engagement provides continuous monitoring, advisory support, governance oversight, and compliance management throughout the year rather than assistance on a single assignment.
Can the retainer cover board meeting support?
Yes. Board governance, meeting support, compliance tracking, and documentation assistance can form part of the engagement scope.
Is the retainer suitable for startups and growing businesses?
Yes. Many growing businesses use outsourced secretarial retainers to establish governance discipline before building an internal compliance team.
Can compliance calendars be customized?
Yes. Compliance calendars are generally aligned with the company's structure, operations, industry requirements, and recurring obligations.