COMPANY SECRETARY

A company secretary has been recognised by various enactments as one of the principal officers of the company. The knowledge and training acquired by him makes him versatile to carry out various functions in finance, accounts, legal, administrative and personnel areas in addition to his own secretarial duties and responsibilities. In fact, his role starts from the very moment when the idea of formation of a company is conceived.
In India there is a legal requirement that every company having a paid-up share capital of not less than Rs 50 lacs must appoint a company secretary who should be a member of the ICSI.Companies with lesser paid-up share capital or other corporate bodies and commercial and industrial organisation also appoint the members of the ICSI in view of their utility and professional acumen.
THE INSTITUTE:-
The Institute of company secretaries of India was constructed under the Company Secretaryship Act, 1980 to develop and regulate the profession of company secretary in India. The Institute of Company Secretaries offers the following courses.:-
COURSES/TRAINING:-
FOUNDATION COURSE:-
Professionalism studies towards becoming a company secretary can commence right after completion of the +2 level of education through the foundation course. This course covers four papers in business communication, business laws and management, Principles of accountancy, economics and statistics. The foundation course is covered in eight months after which students have to clear the foundation examination. The Institute conducts examination by registering students and imparting coaching through distance education as well as optional oral classes for the company secretaryship course.
IMPOTANT DATES:-
Enrollment for foundation course is open throughout the year. For appearing in June examination, enroll by 30th September and for appearing in December examination, enroll by 31st March.
EXEMTION FROM FOUNDATION COURSE:-
All graduates in any discipline(other than Fine arts) and persons who have passed the final examination of ICWAI will however be eligible to seek exemption from foundation course of the company secretaryship.
WHAT AFTER PASSING CS FOUNDATION COURSE:-
The programme after this stage is divided in to two parts –Intermediate and final.
INTERMEDIATE COUSE:-
The intermediate course is of nine months duration. Subjects in the intermediate course include management and industrial laws, tax laws, general laws general laws and procedures Cost and management Accounting, economic and other legislation, company law and practice and theory and practice of company accounts.
B.A./B.Sc/B.Com students of any discipline excluding fine arts are eligible. Those who have passed foundation course examination can seek direct registration to the Intermediate course of company Secretaryship.
FINAL COUSE:-
A student is admitted to the final examination only after a minimum period of nine calender months has elapsed since his passing the Intermediate examination. He will however be eligible to appear in only one group of the final examination held following
the session of examination in which he completes Intermediate examination, subject to completion of coaching.
The final course includes subjects such as financial management, management control and information, corporate tax management related to indirect and direct taxes, secretarial and management audit and corporate laws and practice.
PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE ANDTTRAINING:-
A candidate who has passed the final examination of the institute is required to possess practical
Experience of 2-3 years and also undergo four months practical training including 15 days secretarial training programmes designed by the Institute and organised by the Institute and its Regional counsels and chapter for becoming eligible to seek associate membership of the Institute candidates not possessing the requisite practical experience are required to undergo management training for a period of 15 months or apprenticeship for a period of one year on full time basis and two years on part-time basis under a full time practising company secretary or in a firm of practising company secretaries.
MEMBERSHIP OF THE ICSI:-
Only after the aforementioned conditions have been fulfilled a candidate becomes eligible for admission to Associate membership of the ICSI.
The course is conducted under a system of compulsory postal tuition against payment of requisite fees. The necessary study material is provided to the student by the ICSI.
Institutes address:-
The Institute of company secretaries of India ICSI House, 22 Institutional Area, Lodi Road, New Delhi-110003,Telex-31-62164 ICSI IN (STD 011) faxz-91-11-4626727.
PLACEMENTS/PROSPECTS:-
Qualified company secretaries can find well paid positions in the private sector and public corporate sector, Banks and financial institutions, stock exchanges, the Department of company affairs, company law boards and Government departments. The larger the co9mpany and wider its fields of activity, the better the emoluments earned by the CS. Private consultancy jobs are a very lucrative option. ACS could also become an adviser to a single company or to may companies.
Liberalisation and globalisation have given a massive boost to corporate activity and a long with it the openings for company secretaries continue to grow. In the present age of mergers acquisitions and tie-ups this profession looks forward to rich