What is Company Secretary
Company Secretary (CS) is offered by the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI), set up under the Company Secretaries Act, 1980 to regulate the profession of company secretaries in India. The CS course consists of two stages - CS Executive followed by the CS Professional course.
To get admission into the CS executive programme (first level), candidates need to qualify in the national-level Company Secretary Executive Entrance test (CSEET). A direct admission route is also available to eligible candidates. They must clear all the stages of a CS course to be called a Company Secretary.
It must be noted that the Company Secretary course earlier had three levels but from June 2021, the CS foundation course which was the first level is to be discontinued. Candidates must complete the Company Secretary course to be eligible to practise as a company secretary.
Qualified company secretaries may become legal advisors, corporate policymakers, planners, etc. in notable firms across India and abroad. Candidates after completing the course can opt for various career options apart from a traditional Company Secretary they can become a Business Consultant, Operations Manager, and Investment Banker.
Highlights: Company Secretary
Particulars | Values |
---|---|
Course Name | Company Secretary |
Level and CS course duration | CS programme comprises two levels:
|
Company Secretary eligibility Criteria | CS Executive:
CS Professional:
|
Company Secretary Job profiles | Legal Advisor, Business Consultant, Operations Manager, and Investment Banker. |
CS Learning mode | Class room or postal coaching. |
CS Registration valid until | 3 to 5 years |
Education opportunities after CS course | PhD in Commerce, Management and Law |
Compulsory training duration for CS course | 15 months |
Admission criteria | Through CSEET at the entry level (exemptions as per guidelines) |
Eligibility Criteria (UG & PG) of Company Secretary
Company Secretary eligibility criteria include the educational and formal qualifications needed to pursue different levels of the course. The eligibility criteria for an executive and a professional course are different. Candidates who wish to pursue the Company Secretary course will need to fulfil the minimum eligibility criteria mentioned below:
Eligibility Criteria for CS Executive Programme
The eligibility criteria for a CS Executive include entrance examination and direct admission. Candidates wishing to pursue a CS Executive course must meet the eligibility requirements of the course. Mentioned below are the eligibility requirements for the CS Executive course in detail.
- Candidates must have completed their class 12th in any discipline to be eligible for the course.
- They must clear the CSEET exam or have passed the CS Foundation exam.
Eligibility Criteria for CS Professional Programme
Candidates after completing the CS Executive course can apply for the CS Professional course. Students are advised to visit the official website of ICSI to check the eligibility requirements for a CS professional course. Mentioned below are the eligibility requirements for a CS Professional course.
Students will be admitted to the CS Professional course if they have registered themselves for the Professional Programme at least 9 months before the commencement of the CS Professional exam.
Top Entrance Exams for CS Courses
CSEET: The CS Executive Entrance Test is a national-level entrance examination conducted by the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI). The mode of the exam is online and is conducted four-times in a year. The duration of the exam is 2 hours 15 minutes.
Scope of Company Secretary in India and Abroad
Company Secretary courses open up a wide range of prospects for students to pursue higher studies or directly venture into the corporate sector. CS qualified students can pursue a PhD in Commerce / Management / Law, etc. Prospects in India are immense in areas like Certification Services, Valuation, Insolvency & Bankruptcy, GST, Intellectual Property Rights, Representation Services and Mediation and Conciliation.
Course Fees Company Secretary
Minimum Fees | Maximum Fees | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Private | Government | Private | Government | |
PG |
Course Subjects
ICSI has mandated a specific syllabus for CS courses that are taught to all students enrolling in the course. The Company Secretary syllabus has subjects like company laws, corporate laws, business laws, financial management, and risk management. The detailed Company Secretary course syllabus is available on the ICSI website for all levels of students.
CS Executive Syllabus
The CS Executive programme is a 9-month course, the programme consists of two modules which include subjects such as Jurisprudence, Interpretation and General Laws, Company Laws, Capital Markets and Securities Laws, and Tax Laws and Practice. Mentioned below are all the papers that are conducted in the CS Executive course.
Jurisprudence, Interpretation & General Laws | Company Law & Practice |
Setting Up of Business, Industrial & Labour Laws | Corporate Accounting and Financial Management |
Capital Market & Securities Laws | Economic, Commercial and Intellectual Property Laws |
Tax Laws & Practice | - |
CS Professional Syllabus
Students who have successfully cleared the CS Executive programme, includes subjects such as Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)- Principles and Practice, Corporate Restructuring, Valuation and Insolvency. Mentioned below are the papers which are included in the CS Professional programme.
Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) – Principles & Practice | Drafting, Pleadings and Appearances |
Compliance Management, Audit & Due Diligence | Elective 1 |
Strategic Management & Corporate Finance | Corporate Restructuring, Valuation and Insolvency |
Elective 2 | - |
Careers in Company Secretary
The company secretaryship course opens a broad range of career options for candidates. A certified company secretary holds high-level positions as he/she acts as the main legal and compliance officer of his/her firm. Company secretaries can render their services in areas such as corporate governance, law advisory, financial markets, and management.
Job Profile | Job Description |
---|---|
Company Registrar | Company Registrars are professionals who manage the regulation of companies, their shareholders, and directors and administer government reporting of several matters including the annual filing of legal documents. |
Legal Advisors are professionals who assist the company in any legal disputes as well as make sure that the company complies with all bureaucratic and statutory directives, securities, and corporate laws. | |
Chief Administrative Officers monitor the general administrative activities of the company and safeguard all legal and other confidential documents of the company. | |
Corporate Planner | Corporate Planners carefully manage and plan the expansion opportunities of the company along with taking care of mergers, joint ventures, collaborations, and takeovers within the company or outside. |
Upcoming trends
The role of a Company Secretary has undergone significant transformation in the upcoming years, several trends and professions are shaping the profession of Company Secretaries. The Company Secretaries must be aware of these trends and topics. Mentioned below are the Upcoming Trends and Topics in the field of Company Secretaries.
- Technology Integration
- Implication of Remote Work
- Globalisation
- Enhanced Soft Skills
- Artificial Intelligence
Job Profiles and Top Recruiters
A company secretary acts as a vital connection between a company and its top managerial staff including the board of directors, shareholders, and government. They make sure that all legal procedures are followed by the Board members. Mentioned below are the top recruiters in the field:
Top Recruiters:
- Indian Railway Finance Corporation Limited
- HCL Technologies Limited
- Punjab National Bank
- KPMG
- Deloitte
- PWC
Average Salary
Students after completing the CS course can apply for various job profiles, they must know the salary of some of the popular career options that are available after completing the Company Secretary course. Mentioned below are the career options in the field of Company Secretary and their average salaries.
Job Profiles | Average Salary |
---|---|
Company Secretary | Rs. 8.8 LPA |
Legal Advisor | Rs. 5.9 LPA |
Chief Administrative Officer | Rs. 13.4 LPA |
Corporate Planner | Rs. 16 LPA |
Source: Ambition Box
Required Skillset for Company Secretary
A candidate should have a certain set of skills and knowledge to successfully work as a Company secretary. These skills play an important role in helping the candidates perform well in their academics as well as in their future career options. Mentioned below are some of the top skills required in the field of CS.
- Time Management
- Planning Skills
- Good Communication
- Attention to Detail
- Financial and Analytical Skills
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Question: What are the career options available after getting the Company Secretary title.
Answer :
The career options after completing the Company Secretary programme are Legal Advisor, Chief Administrative Officer, Corporate Planner, and Company Secretary.
Question: What are the levels of a Company Secretary programme?
Answer :
The levels of a Company Secretary course depend on the institute, the two levels include Executive and Professional.
Question: What is the entrance exam required in the field of Company Secretary?
Answer :
Students must appear and crack the CSEET exam which is the CS Executive Entrance Test, after clearing the CSEET exam students will be eligible to pursue the CS Executive course.
Question: Can I do a CS course along with my BCom?
Answer :
Yes, BCom students can apply directly for CS executive programmes.
Question: Is Math a compulsory subject for a CS course?
Answer :
No, Math is not a compulsory subject for a student pursuing a CS course.
Question: What will be the first step to become a CS?
Answer :
Candidates that have passed Class 12th examinations can apply for the CS executive entrance test to take admission in the ICSI course.
Question: What is the role of a Company secretary in a company?
Answer :
A CS or company secretary is responsible for ensuring that the company complies with the statutory and legal requirements and the decisions of the board of directors are implemented properly. Overall, a company secretary ensures efficient administration of a firm.
Question: Is there any age limit for pursuing a Company Secretary (CS) course?
Answer :
No, there is no age limit for pursuing the CS course.