Description
A company secretary (CS) takes care of the company — from its incorporation till it winds up. He/she has to ensure a company’s legal and regulatory compliance, and provide interface between the company and its stakeholders.
The CS has to face new challenges everyday. They have to conduct board meetings and ensure their smooth functioning. They have to keep all information up to date.
Requirements
The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) conducts the company secretary programme in the country. After passing Class 12 in science, commerce or arts, excluding fine arts, you can enroll for the company secretary programme conducted through distance mode in three stages — foundation (eight-month), exee cutive and professional. Graduates in any discipline, except fine arts, need to do only the last two levels. After clearing the executive or professional course, one completes 16 months of training in a company or under an experienced and practising company secretary. Those with specified work experience can take partial or full waiver from the training. One has to then complete training in a specialised agency and a secretarial modular training programme. After the professional course and training, one becomes an associate member of ICSI.
Job Prospects
These corporate professionals can take up a job or practise on their own. Under the Companies Act, 1956, a company with a paid-up share capital of Rs. 5 crore or more is required to appoint a full-time company secretary registered with the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) and so does company wishing to list on a stock exchange.
Pros and cons
There is opportunity to work with the company’s top management. You begin to get recognition from day one. You have the responsibility to ensure that the company follows ethical practices. On the other hand it is a highly stressful job, which at times could leave y.ou with hardly any time for yourself.
