COMPANY SECRETARY
A company secretary is a person engaged to ensure compliance of all laws affecting the working of a company for formalizing the business transactions. Therefore he is required to possess specialized knowledge of the various corporate laws and rules.
Broadly, a company secretary is required to work in a threefold capacity.
First, he is to act as an agent of the Board of directors. The company secretary is the medium to implement the decisions of the Board and give concrete shape to the policies laid down. He has to represent the Board to the shareholders, staff and outsiders in their dealings with the company.
Second, he has to look after the secretarial functions such as filing various company returns with the Registrar of Companies (ROC), registration of transfer and transmission of shares, correspondence with shareholders, registration of their instructions, etc.
Third, he may be called upon to act as a Chief Executive assuming full responsibility for the organisation and control of the company’s operations and performing such of the Board’s functions as may be delegated to him from time to time.
Being an important member of the management team, a company secretary is expected to take a coordinated view of the entire business or functioning of the company and assist the management in taking proper decisions.
Broadly, a company secretary is required to work in a threefold capacity.
First, he is to act as an agent of the Board of directors. The company secretary is the medium to implement the decisions of the Board and give concrete shape to the policies laid down. He has to represent the Board to the shareholders, staff and outsiders in their dealings with the company.
Second, he has to look after the secretarial functions such as filing various company returns with the Registrar of Companies (ROC), registration of transfer and transmission of shares, correspondence with shareholders, registration of their instructions, etc.
Third, he may be called upon to act as a Chief Executive assuming full responsibility for the organisation and control of the company’s operations and performing such of the Board’s functions as may be delegated to him from time to time.
Being an important member of the management team, a company secretary is expected to take a coordinated view of the entire business or functioning of the company and assist the management in taking proper decisions.
An ideal company secretary
An ideal company secretary should have a good knowledge of Corporate Laws, Accountancy, Economics, Statistics, Finance, Securities Laws, Taxation, Corporate Governance, Business Ethics and Sustainability, Corporate Restructuring and Insolvency, Due Diligence and Corporate Compliance Management, Strategic Management, WTO and related matters and Management and these have been included suitably in the syllabus.
An ideal company secretary should have a good knowledge of Corporate Laws, Accountancy, Economics, Statistics, Finance, Securities Laws, Taxation, Corporate Governance, Business Ethics and Sustainability, Corporate Restructuring and Insolvency, Due Diligence and Corporate Compliance Management, Strategic Management, WTO and related matters and Management and these have been included suitably in the syllabus.
COMPANY SECRETARY COURSE
Introduction of the course
A Company Secretary is a member of Institute of Company Secretaries of India. For attaining the membership, one is required to go through Company Secretary Course.
The Company Secretary course is conducted by the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI), a statutory body formed under an Act of Parliament i.e. Company Secretaries Act, 1980.
A Company Secretary is a member of Institute of Company Secretaries of India. For attaining the membership, one is required to go through Company Secretary Course.
The Company Secretary course is conducted by the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI), a statutory body formed under an Act of Parliament i.e. Company Secretaries Act, 1980.
Structure of course
This course is primarily a distance learning course, comprising three stages, viz.
(i) Foundation Programme;
(ii) Executive Programme;
(iii) Professional Programme.
Foundation Programme
The Foundation Programme has been introduced for Senior Secondary (10 + 2 or equivalent) pass students desiring to join Company Secretary Course. The Course offers an opportunity to the students passing the Senior Secondary examination in any stream or who have appeared or enrolled themselves for appearing in the examination, to decide their career at that stage and to enter early in the profession.
Executive Programme
Immediately after passing the Executive Programme examination, the candidate can get himself/herself registered for the Professional Programme.
All graduates and post-graduates (excluding fine arts) are eligible to be registered for Executive Programme
Professional Programme
Immediately after passing the Executive Programme examination, the candidate can get himself/herself registered for the Professional Programme. This is the final stage of Company Secretary Course
Training Structure
The Training Structure includes:-
This course is primarily a distance learning course, comprising three stages, viz.
(i) Foundation Programme;
(ii) Executive Programme;
(iii) Professional Programme.
Foundation Programme
The Foundation Programme has been introduced for Senior Secondary (10 + 2 or equivalent) pass students desiring to join Company Secretary Course. The Course offers an opportunity to the students passing the Senior Secondary examination in any stream or who have appeared or enrolled themselves for appearing in the examination, to decide their career at that stage and to enter early in the profession.
Executive Programme
Immediately after passing the Executive Programme examination, the candidate can get himself/herself registered for the Professional Programme.
All graduates and post-graduates (excluding fine arts) are eligible to be registered for Executive Programme
Professional Programme
Immediately after passing the Executive Programme examination, the candidate can get himself/herself registered for the Professional Programme. This is the final stage of Company Secretary Course
Training Structure
The Training Structure includes:-
- Student Induction Programme (SIP) for 7 days,
- Executive Development Programme (EDP) for 8 days,
- Practical training for 15 months whether with a Company Secretary in Practice or in a Company,
- Special training for 15 days in a specialized agency such as the Office of the Registrar of Companies, stock exchange, financial or banking institution or management consultancy firm,
- Professional Development Programmes (PDP) for 25 hours,
- Management Skills Orientation Programme (MSOP) for 15 days.
« a Company Secretary in Practice [Article Training (AT)], or
« a Company [Management Training (MT)] to be completed by the students.
« the Registrar of Companies, or
« stock exchange, or
« financial or banking institution, or
« management consultancy firm.
Membership Certificate
After going through the student is required to apply for the Certificate of Membership to the ICSI. On receiving the Certificate of Membership such student is called the "Member of ICSI" and “COMPANY SECRETARY”.
Company Secretary - Course Structure [At a Glance]
There are two entry levels for this course:-
A student pursuing the course after 10 + 2/Senior Secondary/intermediate has to start at the Foundation Programme level.
A student starting the pursuit after graduation (10 + 2 + 3) can start at the Executive Programme Level directly.
FP - Foundation Programme
[4 papers of 100 mark each.]
↓
EP - Executive Programme
[2 modules of 3 papers of 100 mark each.]
[Compulsory Computer training]
[SIP - Student Induction Programme for 7 days]
↓
PP - Professional Programme
[4 modules of 2 papers of 100 mark each.]
↓
Pre Membership Training
EDP - Executive Development Programme for 8 days
AT/MT - Practical training for 15 months whether AT or MT (+) 15 days Special Training
PDP - Professional Development Programmes for 25 hours
MSOP - Management Skills Orientation Programme for 15 days
↓
Membership of ICSI
Opportunities to Company Secretary [Job or Practice]
Company Secretary in Employment [Job]
Companies are required to employ Company Secretaries to comply with the legal requirements.
1. Every company with a paid up share capital of Rs 5 crore is statutorily required to appoint a company secretary in employment.
2. Every company having its Shares listed on stock exchanges are required to appoint a company secretary in employment.
Membership of The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) has been recognized for appointment to various superior posts and services under the Central Government.
Company Secretary in Practice
The following opportunities are also available to practicing Company Secretaries:-
1. Every company having a paid up share capital of Rs. 10 lacs or more has to obtain a Compliance Certificate from the secretary in whole time practice as to whether the company has complied with all the provisions of the Companies Act.
2. Practicing Company Secretaries have been authorized to issue Certificate regarding compliance of conditions of Corporate Governanance as stipulated in the Clause 49 of the Listing Agreement.
3. The annual return of a listed company is compulsorily required to be signed by a practicing company secretary.
5. A company secretary in practice is recognised to attest documents under:-
- Companies Act, 1956
- The Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 (SEBI)
- The Securities Contracts (Regulations) Act, 1956 (SCRA)
- Depositories Act, 1996
- Further Academic Pursuits for Company Secretaries
- Courses Conducted by Universities
For commencing the practice, a company secretary is required to obtain the “Certificate of Practice” form ICSI by applying in the prescribed manner with the prescribed fees.
INSTITUTE OF COMPANY SECRETARIES OF INDIA (ICSI)
About ICSI
The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) is constituted under an Act of Parliament i.e. the Company Secretaries Act, 1980. ICSI is the only recognized professional body in India to develop and regulate the profession of Company Secretaries in India.
The Institute of company Secretaries of India (ICSI) has:-
« Headquarter - New Delhi
« Four Regional offices - New Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata and Mumbai
« Regional Chapters in so many cities.
The affairs of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) are managed by a Council. Such Council consists:-
« fifteen elected members, and
« five nominees of the Central Government.
Website links for ICSI
1. Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI)
DISCLAIMER
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