THE WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF SPECTACL E MAKERS
JOB DESCRIPTION
THE CLERK
The role of Clerk is a key executive position, and involves working as part of a small, busy
team in a diverse and responsible role. The principal purpose of the Company is to support
educational and charitable activities related to its historical and contemporary business and
trade links.
Essential Skills: Excellent administration and organisational abilities, eye for detail.
 Ability to see & plan ahead, and identify activities and procedures that could respond
to change.
 Flexible mind set, able to react to short notice change in priorities, and changes to
directives.
 Financially & IT literate.
 Good communication skills; both written and oral (some public speaking).
 Proven senior level management skills; ability to lead a small team consisting of an
Administrator and a Ceremonial Beadle.
 Confident public persona, acts decisively and with authority.
 Comfortable with ceremonial duties.
 Strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to deal with people at all levels and with all
skills levels, naturally inclusive, friendly and receptive. Not easily offended.
 Warm and social, enjoying lunches, dinners and social events.
 “Completer/finisher”
 Experience in supporting committees.
Key elements of the role: Managing the activities of the Company on a day-to-day basis.
 Keeping abreast of all business and operational activities of the Livery and actively
supporting strategic decision-making, and the resulting implementation of outcomes
and agreed directions.
 Providing continuity as custodian of the Company’s history and traditions and keeper
of all corporate records.
 Acting as the Master’s confidant/adviser/personal assistant.
 Supervising the Qualification and Awarding Body activity of the Company including
liaison with any Education Partner(s) and with the Responsible Officer. Ensuring
compliance with OFQUAL and other regulatory bodies.*
 Organizing and running all Company functions (i.e. the annual Livery Dinner, four
Court lunches a year , the annual Awards Ceremony ,the annual Court Dinner , the
Annual Service of Remembrance, Thanksgiving and Rededication , the Gregorie
Dinner , Moots and certain other Company and Society events).
 Providing advice to the Wardens, members of the Court and Committee Chairmen.
 Processing applications for Company membership as Freemen and Liverymen.
 Attending and supporting external/industry functions with the Master, Wardens and
members of the Court/Livery.
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Secretary of the Court and all its individual committees (Master and Wardens,
Finance, Qualifications, Bursaries and Membership), including preparation of
agendas, papers and minutes.
Working to maintain the approved structure of the Court, Livery and all related
entities.
Company Secretary of the WCSM Education Trust.
Secretary to the trustees of the Spectacle Makers’ Charity, collating grant requests and
arranging for the payment of approved grants.
Secretary to the Committee of the Spectacle Makers’ Society, advising members
when formulating their annual programme of events.
Liaison with the Archivist and managing periodic updates of the Company’s history.
Control and run the “The Clerk’s shop”.
Management of the website, ensuring that it is kept up to date and is a useful source of
information for Freemen, Liverymen and the public.
Communication with the membership including acting as Editor of From the Master
and Wardens, the Company’s internal newsletter (two issues a year).
External facing activities: Actively engaging with the City of London Corporation (Guildhall and Mansion
House) and its officers.
 Actively engaging with other City Livery Companies, maintaining relationships,
fellowships and reputation within the Liveries.
 Maintaining good and strong relationships with the Apothecaries’ Society, landlord of
the Company’s offices.
 Maintaining good relationships with all the optical bodies.
Administrative functions: Managing the “WCSM Office”, including the building, facilities, the Administrator
and the part-time Beadle.
 Overseeing the maintenance of the membership records, the receipt of quarterage and
producing the biennial Livery List.
 Overseeing the maintenance of the financial records, accounting systems and controls,
preparation of quarterly and annual accounts, management of cash flow and control of
income and expenditure.
 Oversight of the development of the IT applications and systems utilised by the
Company, and the work of external IT consultants.
 Oversight of all material publicizing and promoting any aspect of the Company’s
activities, including maintaining and developing the website.
 Ensuring compliance with all legal and regulatory matters pertaining to the Company
and its entities.
 Dealing with insurance brokers, bankers, investment managers, auditors and other
advisers.
*The Company’s education programme is under review and the training and examination
functions may be transferred to a third party. This job description has been drawn up to
reflect the fact that if that happens the Company’s role will be limited to that of Awarding
Body. There will be a transitional period over the next year or so which will require the Clerk
to oversee the provision of some training and the conduct of examinations.
12 February 2015