As defined in the Company Secretaries Act, 1980, a ‘Company Secretary’ (CS) is a member of India’s Institute of Company Secretaries. To earn an ICSI membership, candidates are required to complete a comprehensive 3-level company secretary course. Usually, CS plays a vital role in a company’s financial and legal management
COMPANY SECRETARY CAREER PROSPECTS AND OPPORTUNITIES
CS professionals have a bright future. It is one of the prestigious job profiles in the field of Commerce and Accounting. After completing the course, candidates can make a career in stock exchange, company affairs departments, financial auditing firms, law boards and various government departments.
Company Secretary course opens various avenues for an individual. A trained and certified Company Secretary can work as an independent advisor to a firm for procedures of loans, taxes, partnerships, government licenses, registrations, etc. or join a company secretary firm to render services to its clients.
Key responsibilities of a Company Secretary include:
Keep the company's records
Maintain company's tax returns
Advise the Board of Directors of their legal obligations for compliance with statutory legislations
Important link between the company and its board of directors, shareholders, regulatory authorities, government, and other stakeholders
Ensure that the procedures are followeed and regularly reviewed
Guiding the Chairman and the Directors on their responsibilities under various laws
Advising on good governance and compliance of norms as prescribed under various Corporate, Securities and other Business Laws and regulations and guidelines made thereunder
Assists in developing a corporate and social sustainability framework
Responsible for secretarial compliance audit and certification services
Representing the company before the law board, consumer forums, tax tribunals, securities appellate tribunal, registrars, etc.
Advising on arbitration, negotiation and conciliation in commercial disputes between parties and drafting the agreement
Advisory services to companies on tax management and tax planning under Income Tax, Excise and Customs laws, Service Tax and VAT, etc.
Providing advice in issues of shares and other securities in India and abroad
Drafting of prospectus/offer for sale/letter of offer/other documents related to issue of securities.
Obtaining various approvals in association with lead managers.
Company Secretary as an independent professional can render services in the following areas:
Legal
Secretarial and Corporate Governance
Corporate Restructuring
Foreign Collaboration
Joint Venture
Arbitration and Conciliation
Financial Management
Project Planning
Capital Market and Investor Relations
Due Diligence
Corporate Advisory Services
Company Secretary
The profiles that candidates get after completing the course are given below -
Assistance to the Board of Directors
Company Registrar
Legal Advisor
Corporate Policymaker
Chief Administrative Officer
Principal Secretary
Corporate Planning
Chairman, Managing Director
Administrative Assistant
Administrative Secretary
Investor Capital Market Relationd
Contents Coordinator
Duration
Eight months Study Period for each level
Three levels of exams
Minimum CS program duration
10+2 - 3.5 years | Graduates - 2.5 years |
Eligibility
Students with 10+2 can start with the foundation program
Those who have completed either foundation level or are graduates can opt for the executive program.
To pursue the professional program, it is mandatory to complete the executive program
Exam Ladder
After passing 10+2 (except Fine Arts students), candidates must complete the foundation program. The minimum duration for the program is eight months, but it must be completed within three years of registration. Aspirants can take the exams only after the completion of nine months from the date of registration
Those who have cleared the foundation program or are graduates (except in Fine Arts) can enroll for the executive program.
The minimum duration is one year and must be completed within five years of registration for the program. The executive program consists of two modules, and students can sit for exams of both modules after completing a minimum of 9 months of study course
Only those who have completed the executive program can enroll in the professional program. The minimum program duration is one year, but it must be completed within five years from the date of registration for the executive program.
Registration Procedure
Foundation
31st March for appearing in December Examination in the same year
30th September for June Examination next year
Executive
28th February for appearing in both modules in December Exams in the same year
31st May for appearing in single module in December Examination in the same year
31st August for appearing in both modules in June Exam in the next year
30th November for appearing in single module in June Examination in the next year
Professional
30th November for both modules in June Examination in the next year
31st January for single module in June of the same year
31st May for both modules in December of the same year
31st July for single module in December of the same year
Registrations Fees
Foundation Level - INR 4,500/-
Executive Level -
Commerce Graduate: INR 9,000/-
Foundation passed of ICAI/CMA: INR 12,500/-
Non-commerce student: INR 10,000/-
CS Foundation passed student:INR 8,500/-
Professional Level - INR 12,000
Examination
Examination is conducted twice a year in June and December.
Medium of Examination
The Institute allows facility to students to appear in examination in English as well as in Hindi.
(Except Business Communication subject of Foundation Program)
Qualifying Marks
A candidate is declared to have passed the Foundation / Executive / Professional examination, if he/she secures at one sitting a minimum of 40% marks in each paper and 50% marks in the aggregate of all subjects.
Examination fees
Foundation: Rs. 1200/-
Executive: Rs. 1200/- per module
Professional: Rs. 1200/- per module
Syllabus
CS Foundation
(4 papers)
Paper 1: Business Environment & Laws
Paper 2: Business Management, Ethics & Entrepreneurship
Paper 3: Business Economics
Paper 4: Fundamentals of Accounting and Auditing
CS Executive
(2 Modules * 4 papers= 8 Papers)
Paper 1: Jurisprudence, Interpretation and General Laws
Paper 2: Company Law
Paper 3: Setting up of Business Entities and Closure
Paper 4: Tax Law
Paper 5: Corporate & Management Accounting
Paper 6: Securities Laws & Capital Markets
Paper 7: Economic, Business & Commercial Laws
Paper 8: Financial and Strategic Management
CS Professional
(3 Modules * 3 papers= 9 Papers)
Paper 1: Governance, risk management, compliances & ethics
Paper 2: Advanced Tax Laws
Paper 3: Drafting, pleadings & appearance
Paper 4: Secretarial Audit
Paper 5: Corporate Restructuring
Paper 6: Resolution of Corporate Dispute
Paper 7: Corporate Funding & Listings in stock exchange
Paper 8: Multidisciplinary Case Studies
Paper 9: Electives (1 out of the below 8 subjects)
9.1- Banking law and practice
9.2- Insurance law and practice
9.3- Intellectual Property Rights- Laws & Practice
9.4- Forensic Audit
9.5- Direct Tax Law & Practice
9.6- Labour Laws & Practice
9.7- Valuations & Business Modelling
9.8- Insolvency - Law & Practie
Training
Oral Coaching: As part of the formal education requirements, 30 lectures of 2 hours duration for each subject are mandatory for the foundation program. For the executive program, 35 classes of 2 hours for each subject are compulsory. For the professional program, 40 lectures of 2 hours for each professional program topic are mandatory.
Other short-term training programs: After completion of the executive program, students are required to complete.
EDP: Students also have to undergo an Executive Development Program (EDP) of 8 days after completing the executive program and before the 15 months training.
Fifteen months Management Training (including PDP): After passing the executive program, candidates are required to undergo 15 months of management training under a company secretary in practice or with a company. This training includes 25 hours of Professional Development Programme (PDP).
Training programs (SIP), Compulsory Computer Training: Within six months of registering for the executive program, candidates must complete a 7-day Student Induction Programme (SIP). Additionally, students have to complete a 70-hour compulsory computer training program to enroll for the executive program exams, including two days of induction, three days of e-governance, five days of skill development, and five days of entrepreneurship development.
15 Days Specialized Training: Candidates are required to undergo 15 days of training in a specialized agency such as the Office of the Registrar of Companies (ROC), stock exchange, financial or banking institutions, or a management consultancy firm. This training is only undertaken after passing the professional program examination and completing the SIP, EDP, and a 15 months training program.
MSOP: There are 15 days of Management Skills Orientation Programme (MSOP) after the professional program and 15 months of training.