This week in our MHC Life Series, we hear from Roisin Monahan Murray, a Company Secretary in our Governance & Compliance team. Roisin chats about her career journey, her favourite thing about her role and a typical day for her.

Tell us a bit about you and your career journey to MHC – what inspired you to get into this career?

I started out studying law in DCU, and at the end of my second year I applied to take part in the pilot year of the new internship program for law students. I immediately jumped at the opportunity for two reasons; firstly, because I had little to no practical, in-office experience, and secondly, because who wouldn’t want another year in college? I had absolutely no idea what it was that I would be doing on a day-to-day basis, and knew very little about the role of a cosec.

After finishing my degree, I continued with my cosec training and started the master’s program in corporate governance and management which is a requirement to qualify as a company secretary. I knew that I wanted the kind of client exposure available in a top law firm, which led me to join MHC.

Favourite thing about your role?

The diversity. The range of clients we work with is hugely diverse and having the daily opportunity to gain some insight into the operations of various companies and industries is extremely beneficial in providing the best client service. In terms of network, our role gives us the chance to develop relationships with our colleagues and all departments within the firm, as well as our clients.

In cosec, there is a great mix between routine and unique tasks, guaranteeing a constant flow of interesting work.

Talk us through a typical day for you

If it’s an office day, I’ll grab a coffee and catch up with colleagues before sitting down to my desk to check my diary and emails. I will generally have some calls scheduled with clients or a board meeting to attend, particularly around this time of year. After replying to any queries, I will dedicate some time to completing minutes from any recent meetings and issuing annual compliance or ad hoc filing documentation to clients.

With constant changes occurring in terms of CRO systems or procedures, our team meets weekly to discuss any new or unusual findings.

If I wasn’t company secretary, I would be...

Maybe an interior designer, I love home décor!

What books have you read recently?

I recently read “Boy 11963” by John Cameron, which is a semi-autobiographical story of his childhood as a foster child and inmate in St Joseph’s industrial school in Artane.

What tv shows have you binge watched recently?

Love island obviously, I’m a fan of all trash tv like Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Below Deck, Keeping Up With The Kardashians, anything that doesn’t require thinking after a busy day!! I also like the odd documentary, I recently watched “Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey” which is about fundamentalist Mormons in Utah, and “Three Identical Strangers” which was about a set of identical triplets that found each other in adulthood after being adopted into separate homes as babies.