CAREER AS COMPANY SECRETARY

INTRODUCTION
The post of a Company Secretary is considered a respectable one in the hierarchy & this is one of the most important posts a person handles. This is because, in this position, one acts as the mediator between the company & its Board of Directors, government, shareholders & regulatory authorities. The job of a company secretary is to ensure that the Board procedures are strictly followed & regularly revised. Company Secretary is the conscience seeker of a company. He or she guides the Chairman & the Directors on how to make the best use of their responsibilities under various laws.
A Company Secretary has been recognized 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 administration and personnel areas in addition to his own secretary’s duties and responsibilities.
The Company Secretaries (C.S.) have emerged as indispensable adjunctments, to the Indian Corporate Sector due to their thorough knowledge base in areas such as corporate laws, capital market operations, stock exchange and trading etc. They have contributed significantly to the growth of Indian Corporate Sector by rendering effective secretarial, legal and management assistance to the small, medium sized companies and other business establishments.

NATURE OF WORK
Company Secretary has been recognized by various enactments as the Principal Officer of the company. He not only meets the legal requirements and ensures statutory compliances by the company but also by virtue of his integrated knowledge of multiple disciplines of law, management, finance and corporate governance, facts as an interdisciplinary corporate manager and inhouse legal counsel for giving advice and guidance to the company on legal aspects of business, which basically concern areas such as production, sales, marketing and administration.
His role starts from the very moments where the idea of formation of a company is conceived. However, his responsibilities may vary from company to company. A Company Secretary’s work involves mainly the following:
I.       To act as an agent of the Management, policy forming and exercising of powers of the company visits with the Directors. The Secretary is the medium to carry out the instructions and order of the Board. He represents the Board to the share holders, staff and outsiders in their dealing with the company.
II.    To act as a registrar for the company looking after the secretarial functions.
III. To act as a Chief Executive, assuming full responsibilities and control of the company’s operation.
A Company Secretary’s service is very much important for a company’s management. The work of a company secretary covers a wide variety of functions, he acts as a vital link between the Company, the Board of Directors, shareholders & governmental & regulatory agencies. He is a compliance officer of the company as well as Corporate Planner & Strategic Manager. Apart from carrying out these functions he also looks after finance, accounts, legal, personnel & administrative functions. Company Secretary is required to handle matters related to central/state sales tax, excise laws, labour laws & corporate law.
Their other responsibilities include incorporation, managing public issues, act as internal legal advisor & representative, process inter-corporate loans & investments, maintain company’s records, take care of company’s tax planning, tax management, tax returns, explore expansion opportunities, arrange collaborations, amalgamations, joint ventures within & outside India etc. They are required to understand relevant aspects of law, update themselves with the changes to ensure proper compliance of legislations. The job also involves arranging company meetings, collecting & compiling information & recording the decisions.

CONDITIONS OF WORK
•         It is essentially an office-based job, combining a vast amount of documentation with a good deal of discussion in committees and meetings.
•         The work of a secretary is basically of an assistant. He/She manages all office work, receive phone calls, takes messages and carries out the bosses instructions.

HOURS OF WORK
An average day normally entails working from 9am to 5pm, with minimal breaks in between. Most work is done in ones assigned office.

HEALTH AND/OR ACCIDENT HAZARDS, IF ANY
Working on computer and/or sitting for long time can raise physical problems

EARNINGS
A budding & meritorious Company Secretary can hope to start his career with a monthly remuneration of Rs. 20,000 - Rs.25,000. However, for an ordinary candidate, a monthly salary of Rs. 10, 000 is almost guaranteed

EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS & TRAINING
Company Secretary is a professional course administered by The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) under the Company Secretaries Act, 1980 to develop & regulate the profession of Company Secretaries in India.
Candidates who have passed senior secondary (10+2) from any stream can apply for the foundation course. Graduates, post-graduates (excluding fine arts) & who passed final exam of ICWAI or ICAI or of 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.
To become a company secretary, the candidate need to pass the Foundation, Intermediate, & Final course conducted by the institute & further, they need to undergo practical training to become eligible for the membership as a Company Secretary.
Registration for each examination should be done at least nine months before the month in which the examination is held.

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES REQUIRED
In essence, excellent command over English, both written & oral is important for a company secretary. At the same time ability to understand, analyze complex & technical issues & exercise accordingly with tact & intelligence are other essentials. It is the moral responsibility of the company secretary to be loyal to his organization on knowing their top level plans & important secrets

Bearing a moral character is important. Diplomacy should be followed in understanding the company strategies & policies of the company. Intellectual, Loyal, sophisticated, loyal & meticulous individuals become successful company secretary.

High level organizational skills, Flair for Administration, Integrity and sound judgment with the ability to act with the authority for the good of the company, Good Communication skills, Understanding of figures and Information Technology are also essential.


METHODS OF ENTERING THE JOB
  • Through Campus placement or off campus placement
  • Advertisements in different newspapers and job search sites

TYPICAL PLACES OF EMPLOYMENT/SELF EMPLOYMENT
A freshly qualified candidate is appointed as a Company Secretary, or Assistant Company Secretary or at an Administrative position depending upon the size of the Company. Openings are also available in Public Sector Undertakings, Govt. of India, State Government, Stock Exchanges, Nationalized Banks etc.
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 company and wider its fields of activity, the better the emoluments earned by the CS. Private consultancy jobs are a very lucrative option.

TRAINING INSTITUTES
  • The Institute Of Company Secretaries Of India, ‘ICSI HOUSE’ 22, Institutional Area, Lodi Road, New Delhi – 110 003, Ph. 24617321-24, 2464431-32 (STD 011) Fax: 91-11-24626727, E-mail: info@icsi-india.com. Website: www.icsi.edu
  • NORTHERN INDIA REGIONAL OFFICE OF THE ICSI, ICSI-NIRC Building, PlotNo.4, Prasad Nagar Institutional Area, Rajendra Place, New Delhi- 11 005 Ph: 25763090, 25767190 (STD 011) Fax: 91-11-5772662 E-mail: icsinirc@nde,vsnl.net.in

SOURCES OF FURTHER INFORMATION

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CAREER AS COMPANY SECRETARY

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