Mar 9, 2011- The job profile of a Company Secretary involves a wide variety of functions, from becoming an all important link between the Board of Directors and the Company, including shareholders and governmental and regulatory agencies, the Strategic Manager and the Corporate Planner. He has the responsibility of handling a lot of important issues of the company, besides looking after finance, legal, personnel, accounts, and administrative functions of the company he is working for. Company Secretary is required to handle matters related to sales tax, excise laws, corporate and labor laws. In this respect Company Secretary is considered one of the most important member of the management of the company. A Company Secretary professional needs to have intensive knowledge of legal aspects of taxation, accounting, auditing or financial analysis etc.
For this one should have the capacity to work hard with commitment and honesty. The qualification is attained by completing the company secretary course organized by the institute of company secretaries of India (ICSI).
Let us check below how to become a company secretary : a step-by-step guide
Educational Qualification
- The minimum eligibility required for the Foundation course for Company Secretary is 10+2 or an equivalent examination.
- Candidates who have passed the Foundation Course, and are not less than 17 years of age can apply for the Intermediate course. Graduates, post-graduates (excluding fine arts) and those who have passed final exam of Institute of cost and works accountants of india (ICWAI) or any other accountancy Institution in India or abroad recognized by the Council of the Institute can directly enroll to the intermediate course without doing foundation course.
- After passing the intermediate course a registered candidate can apply for the Final course.
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Age
There is no restriction with regard to the age of the candidate or marks secured in Senior Secondary Examination or subjects studied. However the candidates who are not less than 17 years of age can apply for the Intermediate course. But he should complete his course withing the registration period.
Process to be a Company Secretary (CS): Company Secretary Courses
To be a CS, the following steps need to be followed:
Step I: Foundation Course
- Students who have registered themselves with ICSI are required to pass the Foundation Examination within 3 years from the date of admission.
- Registration for foundation course is open through out the year. The exams for the foundation course are usually held in December and June. The Registration should be done at least 9 months before the month in which the examination is held.
- The minimum duration of the course is 8 months.
Where & How to Register?
Students of Foundation course send their applications form along with the prescribed fee through Demand Draft drawn in favor of The Secretary, Institute of Company Secretary of India.
Subjects in the Foundation Course
- English and Business Communication (FCEBC)
- Financial Accounting (FCFA)
- Basic Economics and Business Environment (FCBE-BE)
- Information Systems and Quantitative Techniques (FCISQT)
- Elements of Business Laws and Management
Step 2: Intermediate Course
- The minimum duration of this course is 10 months.
- Those candidates who have passed the foundation course and are 17 years or above can apply for intermediate course. Candidates for other recognized accountancy course like ICWAI or ICAI can directly enroll to the intermediate course.
Subjects for Intermediate Course
Group I
- General and Commercial Laws (IGCL)
- Tax Laws (ITL)
- Company Accounts and Cost and Management Accounting (ICA&CMA)
- Management Information Systems and Corporate Communication (IMIS&CC)
Group II
- Company Law (ICL)
- Economic, Labour and Industrial Laws (IELIL)
- Company Secretarial Practice (ICSP)
- Securities Laws and Regulation of Financial Markets (ISLRFM)
Step 3: Final course
Successful completion of intermediate level can get admission in the Final exam after a minimum of 9 months after passing. The examinations are conducted twice a year in June and December.
Subjects for final course
Group I
- Advanced Company Law and Practice (FACLP)
- Secretarial Practice relating to Economic Laws and Drafting and Conveyancing (FSPELDC)
- Secretarial Management and Systems Audit (FSMSA)
Group II
- Financial, Treasury and Forex Management (FFTFM)
- Corporate Restructuring-Law and Practice (FCRLP)
- Banking and Insurance-Law and Practice (FBILP)
Group III
- WTO-International Trade, Joint Ventures and Foreign Collaborations (FWTO)
- Direct and Indirect Taxation-Law and Practice (FDITLP)
- Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations (FHRMIR)
Training
A successful candidate has to undergo the practical training to have a first hand experience of the functioning of the corporate sector. However those candidates who do not possess the specified practical experience are required to undergo on the job training for a period of 15 months in registered companies or under a Company Secretary in Practice duly approved for the purpose.
Prospects after becoming a Company Secretary
The employment opportunities in this field are ample in both private and public sector. Being an important member of the management of a corporate sector a Company secretary not only command high respect in the sector and society in generally but also paid well for his trustworthy services paid to the company. With experience and his ability to serve the corporate sector a Company Secretary can reach the apex of the management level like Chairman, Director or Managing Director
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