Entry Level Qualification 

12

Career Fields 

Banking & Finance

For Specially Abled 

,

Career Entrance Exam 

IBPS CLERK, IBPS PO, SBI CLERK, SBI PO

About Career 

Company Secretary (CS) is a professional qualification, and its practitioners are responsible for the efficient administration of a company, particularly with regard to ensuring compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements and for ensuring that decisions of the board of directors are implemented. Company secretaries are the company’s named representative on legal documents, and it is their responsibility to ensure that the company and its directors operate within the law. It is also their responsibility to register and communicate with shareholders, to ensure that dividends are paid and to maintain company records, such as lists of directors and shareholders, and annual accounts.

The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) is the sole recognised body in India which is involved in developing and regulating this profession. It was constituted under the Company Secretaries Act, 1980.

It is the work of the company secretary to ensure that an organization works within relevant legislation and regulations. A company secretary can be recognized as the key managerial personnel of a company whose position is mandated under the laws of the country if the company has a paid-up share capital of 10 crore rupees or more.

You have to provide guidance to company directors about how their organization should be directed, managed or controlled as per the corporate laws as well as keeping the board of members informed about all the rules and regulations governing the activities of the companies. You have to ensure that the company must act in accordance with the companies’ act while fulfilling all its duties.It is the company secretary who signs all the documents which are presented to the inside and outside stakeholders (shareholders, senior leaders, government, tax authorities etc.

Key roles and responsibilities

1. As a Company Secretary, you have to keep the maintenance of secretarial records, statutory books and registers.

2. You will be responsible for arranging the board/general meetings and preparing minutes of those meetings.

3. You will ensure that all the shareholders are paid their dividend on time.

4. You will be responsible for filing all the forms and returns on behalf of the company to all government agencies and tax authorities.

5. As a Company Secretary, you will have to advise companies on compliance of legal and procedural aspects under foreign exchange management act, SEBI Act, labour and industrial laws, environment and pollution control laws, anti-competitive practices.

6. As a company secretary, you have to represent a company before the company law board, Registrar of Company, Consumer Forums, Tax Authorities, National Company Law Tribunal.

7. It is your responsibility as a company secretary to advice on the arbitration whenever there is a dispute or a conflict arises.

8. You will help in getting loans from banks and financial institutions.

9. As a company secretary, you will be drafting all the documents related to the issue of securities.

10. You have to make the list of securities listed with the recognized stock exchange.

11. You will play a key part in raising of funds from the international market.

12.You will be advising on the legal structure of the organization.

13.As a company secretary, you are responsible for communicating all the policies to all parties including shareholders, government, regulators etc. whatever the board of directors made.

14. As a company secretary, you will be responsible for training directors and members of the senior leadership team

15. You will be responsible for keeping up to date with any regulatory or statutory changes that might affect the organization.

Career Entry Pathway 

Class 10 all subjects as per scheme of studies - Class 11-12 with any subject as per scheme of studies – CS Executive Entrance Examination - CS Executive Programme - 21 Months Practical Training - ICSI Professional Programme

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To become a Company Secretary, you have to be an Associate Member of the ICSI (The Institute of Company Secretaries of India) (ACS) . To become an ACS, you have to study the Company Secretaries (CS) course in the following 2 stages: 1) CS Executive Programme 2) CS Professional Programme You can study any subject as per scheme of studies in your higher secondary school and become eligible for The Institute of Company Secretaries of India’s CS Executive Entrance Test (CSEET). Along with the CS course, you can study for any undergraduate course in any subject. After passing the CS Executive Programme, you have to undergo a 21 months Practical Training and then you become eligible for registration for CS Professional Programme.
Class 10 all subjects as per scheme of studies - Class 11-12 with any subject as per scheme of studies – CS Foundation Programme/ ICAI Final Course/ ICMAI Final Course/ UG in any discipline/ PG in any discipline - ICSI Executive Programme - 1-month Executive Development programme and 21 Months Practical Training - ICSI Professional Programme Followed by 1-month Corporate Leadership Development Programme - Become ACS (Member of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India)

After Class 11-12 with any subject as per scheme of studies, you can finish CS Foundation Programme/ ICAI Final Course/ ICMAI Final Course/ UG in any discipline/ PG in any discipline and then you will be exempt from the CS Executive Entrance Test and you can take direct admission to CS Executive Programme Level. Complete that and then 1-month Executive Development programme & 21 Months Practical Training, followed by ICSI Professional Programme & 1-month Corporate Leadership Development Programme to become ACS or Member of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India.

Required Qualification & Competencies 

Minimum Educational Qualification required

12 th pass /appearing

After Class 12, you can follow the 1st pathway as above to appear for CS entrance test or you can complete CS Foundation Programme/ ICAI Final Course/ ICMAI Final Course/ UG in any discipline (having minimum 50% marks)/ PG in any discipline without any criteria of minimum % of marks and then try becoming a CS.

UGC has recently recognised the CA/CS/ICWA Qualifications as equivalent to Postgraduate Degree.

The Curriculum for CS Executive Entrance Test which is held on a single day consists of 2 parts :

Computer-Based MCQ Test : Duration: 120 Minutes on the following Subjects:

1. Business Communication;

2. Legal Aptitude & logical Reasoning

3. Economic and Business Environment &

4. Current Affairs

Viva Voce: Duration: 15 Minutes on “Presentation and Communication Skills”

1. An aggregate of 50% and minimum 40% marks in each subject will be the qualifying criteria.

2. The duration of the test shall be 135 minutes (120 Minutes for MCQ test and 15 minutes for Viva Voce).

There will be no negative marking.

CS Foundation Programme/ ICAI Final Course/ ICMAI Final Course/ UG / PG students (as in pathway 2 above) are exempt from CS Executive Entrance Test but have to pay an exemption fee of Rs 5000.

Competencies Required

Interests

1. Enterprising: You should have interests for Enterprising Occupations. Enterprising occupations involve taking initiatives, initiating actions, and planning to achieve goals, often business goals. These involve gathering resources and leading people to get things done. These require decision making, risk taking and action orientation.

2. Investigative: You should have interests for Investigative Occupations. Investigative occupations involve working with ideas and quite a lot of thinking, often abstract or conceptual thinking. These involve learning about facts and figures; involve use of data analysis, assessment of situations, decision making and problem solving.

Abilities

1. Abstract Reasoning: The ability to understand ideas which are not expressed in words or numbers; the ability to understand concepts which are not clearly expressed verbally or otherwise.

2. Articulation: The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.

3. Deductive Reasoning: The ability to apply general rules and common logic to specific problems to produce answers that are logical and make sense. For example, understanding the reasons behind an event or a situation using general rules and common logic.

4. Inductive Reasoning: The ability to combine pieces of information from various sources, concepts, and theories to form general rules or conclusions. For example, analysing various events or situations to come out with a set of rules or conclusions.

5. Memorization: The ability to remember information such as words, numbers, pictures, and procedures.

6. Mental Stamina: The ability to sustain prolonged mental effort.

7. Oral Comprehension: The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

8. Oral Expression: The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

9. Problem Sensitivity: The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.

10. Selective Attention: The ability to concentrate on a task over a long period of time without being distracted.

11. Speed of Closure: The ability to quickly make sense of, combine, and organize information into meaningful patterns.

12. Verbal Reasoning: The ability to think and reason with words; the ability to reason out ideas expressed in words.

13. Written Comprehension: The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

14. Written Expression: The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

Knowledge

1. English Language: Knowledge about English grammar, words, spelling, sentence construction, using English to communicate with others, reading in English, etc.

2. Law: Knowledge of laws, legal codes, legal procedures, regulations, Government orders, etc.

Skills

1. Active Learning: Focused and continuous learning from various sources of information, observation and otherwise for application in getting work done.

2. Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, understanding the points being made by others, asking questions, etc.

3. Communication in English: Skills in communicating effectively in writing as well as verbally with others in English language.

4. Critical Thinking: Skills in analysis of complex situations, using of logic and reasoning to understand the situations and take appropriate actions or make interpretations and inferences.

5. Judgment and Decision Making: Skills in considering pros and cons of various decision alternatives; considering costs and benefits; taking appropriate and suitable decisions.

6. Negotiation: Skills in bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.

7. Problem Solving: Skills in analysis and understanding of problems, evaluating various options to solve the problems and using the best option to solve the problems.

8. Public Speaking: Talking effectively to a large group of people or an audience or addressing public at large in different settings such as conferences, seminars, meetings, etc.

9. Reading Comprehension: Skills in understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

10. Writing: Skills in communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the readers.

Personality

1. You are always or mostly organised in your day-to-day life and activities.

2. You are always or mostly careful about your actions and behaviour.

3. You are always or mostly disciplined in your action and behaviour.

4. You are always calm or generally remain calm in most situations.

5. You can always act independently or could do so in most situations.

6. You are helpful to others sometimes.

7. You don't trust others easily.

8. You are always practical or in most situations.

9. You are always or mostly dependent on others or on set rules and procedures.

Career - Job Opportunities & Profiles 

Companies Hire a Company Secretary for the following:

1. Mobilising Resources from Capital Market through IPOs, FPO’s

2. Mobilising Global Resources through FDI, ECB, ADR/GDRs

3. Managing Corporate Restructuring

4. Project Planning & Execution, Regulatory Interface

5. Managing Joint Ventures and Foreign Collaborations within and beyond India

6. Treasury & Financial Management including Loan Syndication, Taxation, Project Finance

7. Ensuring Due Diligence and Compliances of all the laws applicable to company

8. Initiating Best Practices in Corporate Governance ,Corporate disclosure and reporting
Or also for the following:

9. Corporate Social Responsibility

10. CS also plays role as an Integrated Corporate Managers and capable of undertaking wide gamut of work in all the functional areas in addition to their core area of Legal and Corporate Compliance Management.

The Companies Act, 2013, in fact, recognizes Company Secretaries as advisors to the Board on the affairs of the Company and all matters to ensure good Corporate Governance.

As a qualified Company Secretary, you may get a work opportunity in:

1. A firm run by a company secretary or a few company secretaries.

2. A chartered accountancy firm run by one or more Chartered Accountants.

3. A law firm/solicitor firm.

4. A company which has a paid-up share capital of more than Rs. 10 crore.

5. A consulting firm which offers company secretarial services to various companies.

You may also practice as an independent Company Secretary offering your services to various companies. But before going independent, it is advisable that you work for 5-8 years with a firm.

Work environment

The work of the company secretary is mainly office based. In fulltime, job, they would typically work standard office hours. As a Company Secretary, you will generally work at normal hours though sometimes it becomes necessary to work longer hours to accommodate lengthy meetings and to complete reports and to meet the deadlines.

Career Growth

1. When you start your career as a management trainee, you may become a senior manager or Assistant General Manager.

2. When you start your career as a trainee company secretary, with work experience you will become Company Secretary and then Senior CS/ Regulatory Compliance Manager. Alternatively, you may also go into the advisory side and become finance advisor or legal advisor. Some of you may also become compliance expert, legal head consultant.

Salary Offered  

1. At the entry level as a management trainee or assistant company secretary, with a work experience of 0-2 years, your basic salary will lie between Rs. 10,000 – 1,00,000 per month. Mostly those who have an additional qualification like CA or an MBA from a premier institution get the higher side of the salaries.

2. At the junior level after gaining the experience of 2-6 years you can expect you're earning to be Rs. 20,000 to 2, 00,000 per month.

3. A company secretary with mid-career experience of 6-12 years would earn between Rs.40, 000 to 3, 00,000 per month.

4. If you have experience of more than 12 years you can expect your salary to be anything between Rs. 75,000 to 5, 00,000 or even per month.

Monthly Earnings In Indian Rupee

1. Entry level: 0 - 2 years of work experience

2. Junior Level: From 1 to 12 years of work experience

3. Mid-Level: From 5 to 20+ years of work experience

4. Senior Level: From 10 to 25+ years of work experience (there could be exceptions in some high-end technical, financial, engineering, creative, management, sports, and other careers; also in the near future, people will reach these levels much faster in many careers and in some careers, these levels will have no meaning as those careers will be completely tech skill driven such as even now, there is almost no level in a Cyber Security Expert’s job)

Famous Personalities 

Not Available

Work Activities 

1. Addressing grievances and resolving conflicts: Handling complaints and grievance to resolve; resolving conflicts among co-workers or others at the workplace or outside in relation to your work.

2. Analysing and interpreting data and information: Analysis of data and information to find facts, trends, reasons behind situations, etc.; interpretation of data to aid in decision making.

3. Assessing and determining compliance with standards, laws, rules and guidelines: Using relevant information, auditing information, processes and systems to determine whether organisations or people are complying with standards, laws, rules and guidelines.

4. Communicating with co-workers and others: Communicating with people in writing, verbally or otherwise inside your workplace and various other people who have professional relationships with your place of work including vendors, government officials, etc. or with people at large.

5. Decision making and problem solving: Analysis of data and information; evaluation of alternative decisions and results of decisions; taking the right decisions and solving problems.

6. Getting Information and learning: Observing, hearing, reading, using computers, or otherwise obtaining information and learning from it.

7. Inspecting situations, events, and people: Inspecting situations, events and people to understand the reasons and causes for the situation or events to happen; inspecting people to understand reasons behind their behaviour and actions.

8. Negotiating: Negotiating terms, conditions, costs, prices and about other issues.

9. Organising, planning and prioritising tasks: Planning and organising tasks in order to achieve work goals; prioritising tasks to achieve goals and making the best use of the time available.

10. Providing advices and consultation to others: Giving advices or consultation to others about various issues, conceptual matters, know-hows, scientific matters, products or services.

11. Updating and using relevant knowledge: Keeping updated with the latest knowledge relevant to your fields of work and use of the relevant knowledge in getting things done.

12. Using computers for work: Using computers for day-to-day office work; using computer software for various applications in day-to-day professional work; entering data and process information; for writing.