A career as a Company Secretary

For all you aspiring Company Secretaries, here are the answers to all the FAQ’s in your mind regarding the course.

FAQ1. Who is a CS?

The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI), states that a company secretary is:

1. An in-house legal expert; a compliance officer of the Company.
2. An expert in corporate laws, securities laws & capital market and corporate governance.
3. Chief advisor to the board of directors on best practices in corporate governance.
4. Responsible for all regulatory compliances of company.
5. Corporate planner and strategic manager.

With such a huge criteria served by a company secretary, we can list out Corporate Governance and Secretarial Services, Corporate Laws Advisory and Representation Services, Financial Market Services and Management Services as the fields of expertise for a company secretary.

FAQ2. Who conducts the course in India?

In India it is the ICSI, or the institute of company secretaries of India that is the premier national professional body set up to regulate and develop the profession of Company Secretaries.

FAQ3. What is the eligibility for the course?

• For a candidate to be eligible for this exam, he should have cleared 10+2 exams. Provisional registration is also allowed for students of 10+2 awaiting their results.
• Students who have cleared CA-CPT or have cleared CMA Foundation Exams or students who have a Master’s degree in any discipline other than Fine Arts are exempt from appearing CS Foundation Exams

FAQ4. What are the different levels in the course?

1. Foundation Programme:  which is of eight months duration can be pursued by 10+2 pass or equivalent students of Arts, Science or Commerce stream. (Excluding Fine Arts).
2. Executive Programme: can be pursued by a Graduate of all streams except Fine Arts.
3. Professional Programme: can be pursued only after clearing the Executive Programme of CS Course.

FAQ5. What will be my subjects in these three levels?

1. Foundation Programme:
2. Executive Programme:

•  English and Business Communication
• Economics and Statistics
• Financial Accounting
• Elements of Business Laws and Management

Module I

• Paper 1 : General and Commercial Laws (EC – GCL)
• Paper 2 : Company Accounts, Cost & Management Accounting (EC – CA&CMA)
• Paper 3 : Tax Laws (EC – TL)

Module II

• Paper 4 : Company Law (EC – CL)
• Paper 5 : Economic and Labour Laws (EC – ELL)
• Paper 6 : Securities Laws and Compliances (EC – SLC)

1. Professional Programme:

Module I

• Paper 1 : Company Secretarial Practice
• Paper 2 : Drafting, Appearances & Pleadings

Module II

Paper 3: Financial, Treasury and Forex Management

• Paper 4 : Corporate Restructuring & Insolvency

Module III

• Paper 5 : Strategic Management, Alliances & International Trade
• Paper 6 : Advanced Tax Laws & Practice

Module IV

• Paper 7 : Due Diligence and Corporate Compliance Management
• Paper 8 : Governance, Business Ethics and Sustainability

FAQ6. When do I register for the course?

 Admission to the CS course is open throughout the year.  Examinations are held twice a year in June & December.

Registration Dates:

For the Foundation Programme: 31st March for appearing in December Examination in the same year or 30th September for June Examination next year.

For Executive Programme:

• 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.

For Professional Programme: A student is admitted to the Professional examination only after a minimum period of nine calendar months has elapsed since his passing the Executive examination.

FAQ7. What are the course fees?

1. Foundation Programme:  Rs.4500/-
2. Executive Programme:

• Rs.9000/- for Commerce Graduates / CPT passed of ICAI / Foundation passed of ICAI-CMA,
• Rs 10,000/- for Non Commerce Students,
• Rs 8,500/- for CS Foundation passed students

3.  Professional Programme: Rs.12,000/-

FAQ8. What kinds of personality traits are required for a CS?

A career as a company secretary is strictly for dedicated people who have the ability to pay meticulous attention to detail. Company secretaries must be able to communicate effectively with people from all other departments of a particular company to ensure that the company practices are both legally and financially acceptable.

Company secretaries are generally very organized individuals who enjoy working with numbers. The job also involves constantly familiarizing oneself with the latest relevant laws so that they can perform their job to the best of their ability.

FAQ9. What are the employment options available, after completing the course?

A qualified Company Secretary has openings in Employment and as Practicing Independent Professional. Company Secretaries in Practice also render services in the following areas:

1. Legal, Secretarial and Corporate Governance
2. Corporate Restructuring
3. Foreign Collaborations and Joint Ventures
4. Arbitration and Conciliation
5. Financial Management
6. Project Planning
7. Capital Market and Investor Relations
8. Due Diligence
9. Corporate Advisory Services

FAQ10. How much can I expect to earn as a CS?

In India, the monthly starting salary can be anywhere between Rs. 28,000 and Rs. 40,000. Here, too, there is a lot of room for increments as experience and a renowned employer can boost the salary of a company secretary to Rs. 100,000 per month.

Company secretaries generally also receive several non-monetary benefits including holidays with pay, insurance, and access to credit for housing and transport as well as sick leaves.

FAQ11. What kind of Professional life will I have as a CS?

Company secretaries generally work office jobs from 9am to 5pm. While most company secretaries do not leave the office much, some are required to travel from the head office of the firm they work at to all divisions to see that no day to day operations are contradicting the law.

Company secretaries generally do not work overtime as in most cases; their daily tasks can be completed within the timeframe. This is perhaps because they work on long term goals, rather than meeting aims instantly.

Company secretaries, particularly in India, have stressful professional lives because of the nontransparent nature of legislation. There is a fine line between legal and illegal, a line that it is often difficult to spot. As a result, company secretaries must constantly be on top of their game and learning while working is an essential part of life in this career.

FAQ12. What sort of problems will I face?

The biggest downside is probably the large number of applicants within the field. Because of its perks, positions of company secretaries are very competitive and actually becoming a company secretary is not that easy.

Moreover, the job can get very monotonous since it entails paying very close attention to details that would go unnoticed by most others. Also, since it involves a generalized set of tasks, company secretaries often find themselves alienated from the larger corporation.

• Top 10 reasons why you should take up this course:

1. 10+2 pass or equivalent / Graduate can join.
2. Cost Effective.
3. Distance Learning – anywhere in the world.
4. 24×7 study through e-learning.
5. Flexibility in the schedules – Registration valid for 3 to 5 years.
6. Excellent career opportunities for CS professional.
7. Offers Self Employment and Job Opportunities.
8. Direct Access to Top Management / Board Room.
9. Good remuneration and growth opportunities.
10. Opportunities across various sectors at all locations.