Building Your Business Becoming an Owner Business Plans What Are Corporate Board Officers? Definition & Examples of Corporate Board Officers By Jean Murray Updated on November 30, 2020 In This Article View All In This Article What Are Corporate Board Officers? How Corporate Board Officers Work Types of Corporate Board Officers Requirements for Officers Photo: Getty Images / Shannon Fagan Corporate board officers are individuals who are appointed by and make decisions on behalf of the board of directors of a corporation. Learn how they function and the different types of corporate board officers, from treasurer to secretary and beyond, to better understand the management structure of a typical corporation. What Are Corporate Board Officers? Corporate board officers are agents of the board of directors of a corporation. That is, they're elected by the board of directors to execute the decisions of the board. These individuals are generally responsible for the day-to-day operation of the corporation. How Corporate Board Officers Work The management of a corporation typically comprises three categories of stakeholders: shareholders, directors, and officers. Shareholders are company owners who have traded assets for shares of stock in the corporation. These shareholders appoint directors who manage the corporation. Directors, or members of the board of directors, elect corporate board officers who manage the daily activities of the corporation. Even though a corporation is managed by its directors, and directors have the authority to make decisions for the corporation, corporate board officers make many decisions on behalf of the directors. An officer's responsibilities might encompass executing on the mission and vision of the company, enacting policies, or taking on fiduciary responsibility for the financial well-being of the corporation, for example. However, directors make some major decisions themselves, such as setting corporate policies for prices, wages, and labor relations, as well as policies for executive compensation, pension, and other retirement plans. The bylaws of a corporation establish the number of officers and the duties of each, which may be prescribed specifically by the directors if the bylaws permit it. However, several corporate board officers are generally permitted. Note Officers may also sit on the board of directors as long as doing so doesn't give the appearance of a conflict of interest. Types of Corporate Board Officers There are four major officer roles: the president, vice president, treasurer, and secretary of the board. President or Chair of the Board The president or board chairperson is responsible for the overall policy and operations of the board of directors and ensures that all appropriate actions are taken. Specifically, this individual may: Ensure that an agenda is planned for each board meeting Preside over meetings of the board of directors and the annual meeting Sign specific documents on behalf of the board of directors and the corporation, such as checks or contracts Serve as supervisor/liaison with corporate executives reporting to the board Serve as primary spokesperson for the organization Vice President or Vice-Chair of the Board The vice president or vice-chair may have no specific duties but should be able to fill the duties of the president when the president is absent. Often, the vice president has other regular duties, as determined by the board in its corporate bylaws or on an ad-hoc basis. They may, for example: Ensure that meetings and other activities run smoothlyChair ad-hoc committees Corporate Board Treasurer The treasurer of the board of directors has primary responsibility for the financial well-being of the corporation but does not take day-to-day responsibility. Included in the board treasurer's responsibilities are the duties to: Create, implement, and review financial policies for the corporationReview the cash flow and investment activities of the corporation to ensure they're properly managedEnsure that sufficient taxes are paidCreate and maintain the corporation's annual budget for each fiscal (financial) yearOversee the annual financial audit of the corporation (if public) and other audits of corporate records and finances.Chair the board's finance committee. Note The treasurer's position is regarded as the most time-consuming officer role. Corporate Board Secretary The secretary of the board of directors has the overall responsibility to create and maintain corporate records and other important corporate documents. They may have the responsibility to: Record minutes of all board meetings and minutes of all committees as needed. Keep records of all policies approved by the board. Maintain a calendar of corporate events, such as the date of the annual meeting and budget approval dates. Maintain records of shareholders and the stock record book Keep all records in a safe place and make sure all documents are in good order in case of audits Maintain the corporate seal, if one exists Requirements for Corporate Board Officers Officers must at all times act in the best interests of the corporation and carry out their duties with prudence, honesty, good faith, and fairness. If they adhere to these standards, they can generally expect not to be held liable for actions they take as an officer or the failure to take action. That said, officers may be liable for non-compliance with anti-fraud and disclosure requirements under federal securities laws, namely the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. If corporate board officers are sued during the course of their employment, so-called "indemnification" provisions established by state law or a corporation's articles of incorporation or bylaws may serve as financial protection for officers against expenses and liabilities for lawsuits. Note Indemnification may not be available to officers the corporation itself filed suit against or to officers who improperly benefited from their misconduct. Key Takeaways Corporate board officers are appointed by and make decisions on behalf of the board of directors of a corporation. They make up one of three tiers of management at a corporation, with the others being shareholders and directors. Officers are responsible for the day-to-day operation of a corporation. The main officer roles are president, vice president, treasurer, and secretary. Officers should act in good faith to minimize their liability, but indemnification may financially protect them from lawsuits. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources The Balance uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Score. "Directors and Officers: Understanding the Roles of Corporate Management." Accessed Nov. 30, 2020. Wolters Kluwer. "Powers & Duties of Corporation Directors & Officers." Accessed Nov. 30, 2020. Iowa State University. "The Role of the Board of Directors." Accessed Nov. 30, 2020. Legal Center for Nonprofits, Inc. "Your Nonprofit Board: Do You Know Your Officers’ Duties?" Accessed Nov. 30, 2020. Wisconsin Historical Society. "Officer Roles and Responsibilities on Your Nonprofit Board." Accessed Nov. 30, 2020.