Company Secretary

Company Secretary is a professional course administered by The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) under the Company Secretaries Act, 1980 to develop and regulate the profession of Company Secretaries in India. According to the Companies Act, companies with a paid up capital of Rs 50 lakh are required to appoint a Company Secretary. Company Secretary course gives you knowledge and understanding of the modern practice in corporate financial and legal affair. To become a Company Secretary, the candidate need to pass the Foundation Programme, Executive Programme, and Professional Programme that were earlier respectively known as Foundation Examination, Intermediate Examination and Final examination conducted by the institute and further, they need to undergo practical training to become eligible for the membership as a Company Secretary.

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 and regulatory agencies. He is a compliance officer of the company as well as Corporate Planner and Strategic Manager. Apart from carrying out these functions he also looks after finance, accounts, legal, personnel and administrative functions. Company Secretary is required to handle matters related to central/state sales tax, excise laws, labour laws and corporate law.  

Company Secretaryship course is divided into three stages- Foundation Programme, Executive Programme and Professional Programme. This course is a mixture of postal tuition, optional coaching classes and regular examinations at specified centers. Candidates who have passed senior secondary (10+2) can apply for the Foundation Programme. Graduates, post-graduates (excluding Fine arts) and those who have 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 Executive Programme without doing the Foundation course. Candidates who have passed the Executive Programme can apply for the Final course. Registration for each examination should be done at least nine months before the month in which the examination is held. The examinations are usually held in June and December every year. Study material is provided to the students at the time of admission.

In recent times, the rapid corporatisation has increased the demand for Company Secretary's in corporate functions.

Course and Exam details

Company Secretaryship course is divided into three sections. Foundation, Executive, and Professional Programme. After the final exam the candidate has to undergo practical training.

Foundation Programme : 

Duration of the Foundation Course is 8 months excluding the months of admission and the examination. Students are required to pass the Foundation examination within 3 years from the date of their admission. Candidates who have passed senior secondary (10+2) or equivalent recognized by Central Government can apply for the Foundation course. Registration for Foundation course is open through out the year. The exams for the Foundation course are held in December and June. To appear for the exams in December, candidates should apply for the exam before March 31st of the same year. Similarly to appear for the June exam, candidates should apply before 30th September of previous year. i.e the Registration for each examination should be done at least nine months before the month in which the examination is held.

Subjects : 

English and Business Communication (FCEBC)

Economics and Statistics

Financial Accounting (FCFA)

Elements of Business Laws and Management (FERBAM)

Executive Programme : Candidates who have passed the Foundation course, and are not less than 17 years of age can apply for to be an Executive Programme student. Graduates, post-graduates (excluding Fine arts) and those who have passed the 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 Executive programme without doing the Foundation course. Executive Programme consists of two modules. Candidates should register before 28th February to appear for the examination held in December in the same year and in order to appear for the examination in June they should register before August 31st of previous year. 

Subjects : 

Module I

General and Commercial Laws (IGCL)

Company Accounts and Cost & Management Accounting (ICA&CMA)

Tax Laws (ITL) 

Module II

Company Law (ICL)

Economic, Labour Laws

Securities Laws and Compliances

A candidate can get exemption for some individual papers on the basis of qualification. They should have obtained fifty percent or more in the aggregate in the examination - 

1.Company Accounts and Cost & Management Accounting (ICA&CMA) - Master of Corporate Secretaryship/M.Com./M.B.A (with Accountancy as one of the subjects at B.A (C.S)/B.Com. level with full paper in Cost Accounting/Management Accounting/Financial Management at Master of Corporate Secretaryship/M.Com./M.B.A. level and must have secured fifty per cent marks in the subject concerned of a recognised university is exempted from this subject .

2. General and Commercial Laws (IGCL) - A degree in Law or Master of Corporate Secretaryship is exempted from this subject.

3. Tax Laws(ITL) - Master of Corporate Secretaryship is exempted from this subject.

A Candidate who has passed the Final examination of the ICWAI is eligible to seek exemption from the following papers of Intermediate examination under a reciprocal arrangement existing at present between the two Institutes- Company Accounts and Cost & Management Accounting (ICA&CMA), Tax Laws (ITL) in the intermediate level. Financial, Treasury and Forex Management, Direct and Indirect Taxation - Law and Practice in the final level.

Final Programme : A candidate should register for the Professional Programme at least nine months prior to the examination commences. Last date for enrolment applications for the final examination is 25th March (with late fee of Rs. 100, till 9th April) for June examination and 25th September (with late fee of Rs. 100, till 10th October) for December examination.

Subjects:

Module I

Company Secretarial Practice

Drafting, Appearances and Pleadings

Module II

Financial, Treasury and Forex Management

Corporate Restructuring & Insolvency 

Module III

Strategic Management, Alliances and International Trade

Advanced Tax Laws and Practice

Module IV

Due Diligence and Corporate Compliance Management

Governance, Business Ethics and Sustainability

Training : A candidate who has finished Professional Programme of the Institute is required to possess the practical experience and undergo the practical training. The objectives of training is to apprise the students with the functioning of the Corporate Sector and to create a cadre of professional Company Secretaries having a sound theoretical base and practical exposure to serve trade and industry effectively, both as a part of the management team as well as independent practicing professionals. Students who do not possess the specified practical experience are required to undergo on the job training for a period of fifteen months in recognized companies or under a Company Secretary in Practice duly approved for the purpose. The students should have to undergo 15 days training with the registrar of companies, Stock exchange, Financial or banking institution. After passing the Professional programme and completion of other training requirements there will be 15 days long Secretarial Modular Training Programme (SMTP). How ever students may be excused from undergoing training depending up on the practical experience they are having.

Eligibility

The Company Secretary Course conducted by The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) has three sections -Foundation, Executive, and Professional.

The minimum eligibility required for the Foundation course for Company Secretary is 10+2 or an equivalent examination. Candidates who have enrolled for the 10+2 examination can apply with the proof of passing the examination within 6 months. Candidates who have passed the Foundation Course, and are not less than 17 years of age can apply for the Executive programme. Graduates, post-graduates (excluding Fine arts) and those who have 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 Executive programme without passing the Foundation Examination. A registered student is required to complete the Intermediate and the Final examination within the registration period. After passing the Executive Programme examination, a registered candidate can apply for the Professional Programme.

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

Job Prospects and Work Area

Exposure to detailed study and practical training in various fields adds to versatility of a company secretary. Company secretary has a great scope of employment in Private companies, consulting firms, financial institutions, banks, Department of company affairs and other regulatory bodies. A qualified company secretary is competent enough to take up wide range of responsibilities in legal, secretarial, finance, accounts, personnel and administrative departments of companies and are involved in major decisions such as formulating long and short term corporate policies and programmes. Their other responsibilities include incorporation, managing public issues, act as internal legal advisor and representative, process inter-corporate loans and 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 and 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 and compiling information and recording the decisions. 

Nowadays, they are even foraying in capital markets and financial services industry. Their assistance in administration, management, planning and general running of the company makes them the company's chief administrator.

Institutes

Head Office :

The Institute of Company Secretaries of India, 

ICSI House, 22, Institutional Area, Lodi Road, New Delhi 110003.

Phone-(011) 51504444, 24617321-24, 24644431-32

Fax-(011)24626727

E-mail - Contact Us 

Website - www.icsi.edu

The Institute has four Regional Councils and several Chapters under their jurisdiction

Eastern Region

ICSI-EIRC House

3-A, Ahiripukur,Ist Lane, Near Beck Nursing Home, Kolkata -700019 

Ph.-033-22816541, 22816542, 22832973 

Fax-033-22816542

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Ph.- 0657 -2225643, 2231384

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H/o Shri Gopal Prasad Singh, Rajapurpul, Near River View Petrol Pump, Dujra, Patna -800001 

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ICSI-NIRC Building

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C-59 Butler Plaza, Civil Lines, Bareilly (UP)

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Ph.-01462- 257917 

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10/54 Amar Bhawan, Punjabi Gali, Bhopal Ganj, Bhilwara -311001

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GGDSD College, Sector - 32-C, Chandigarh

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Raj Chambers, Hind Samachar Street, Jalandhar

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Ph.-0191-2475148

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C/o S S Surana & Co., Rai Bahadur Plaza, Jodhpur 342 001

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118/90 "Gumti Plaza”, Kanpur 208 012

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SCO-11B, 2nd Floor,Gurudwara Saheedan Pherumam, G T Road, Near Dholewal Chowk, Ludhiana -141003

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368/14 Gobindpuri Road, Professor Colony, Yamuna Nagar -135001

Ph: 01732-227541 

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ICSI-SIRC House

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Chapters under Southern Region » Bangalore

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Ph: 0836-2743784 

» Hyderabad (An ISO 9001:2000 Chapter)

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Ph.-0891-2533516 

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ICSI-WIRC House

13 Jolly Maker chambers, No.II (Ist Floor, Nariman Point, Mumbai -400021

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Maneklal Mills Complex, S-2, B Tower Chinubhai Towers, Opp. Handloom House, Ashram Road, Ahmedabad -380009

Ph.-079-6589343

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Ph : 0755-2577139 

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» Dombivli

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Ph :0251- 2445423 

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Ph.-0834-2435033 

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1st Floor, Govind Kunj, Sanjay Complex, Jayendra Ganj, Gwalior 474 009

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B/1-2-3 Ashray Apartment, 2/1 Manoramganj, Indore -452001

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» Nagpur

276 Crystal Plaza, Central Bazar Road, Ramdaspeth Lokmat Square, Nagpur -440010

Ph 0712-2541176 

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» Nashik (Satellite)

2nd floor, Prasanna Archade Near Hotel Mazda, Old Agra Road, Nasik -422002

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» Navi Mumbai

Sai Chambers, 20/ 3rd floor, Sec-11, CBD Belapur, Navi Mumbai -400614

Ph.-27561202,27576728

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» Pune

23 Mukund Nagar Corner of Lane No.1, Above Dr Joshi Hospital, Gupte Market, Pune -411037

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» Raipur

C/o Agrawal Mahendra & Co, 224 Rishabh Complex, M G Road, Raipur -492001

Ph : 2536441, 5031441 (STD CODE : 0771)

Fax : 0771 - 2536574

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» Rajkot

513, Star Plaza, Opp. Hotel Ravi, Phulchhab Chowk, Rajkot -360001

Ph.-(0281) 477516

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» Surat

B-209, Tirupati Plaza, Near Collectors Office, Athwagate, Surat -395001

Ph.- 0261-2472467 

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» Thane

C/o Ravi Kumar & Associates, Building No 41A, Flat No 1, Brindavan, Vaishali CHSL, Brindavan Society, Thane(W) -400061

Ph.-022-25435033

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» Vadodara

Office No.1 (2nd Floor), Stop-N-Shop Plaza, Offtel Tower-II, R C Dutt Road, Vadodara -390007

Ph.- 02652331498 

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» Centre for Corporate Research & Training (CCRT)

Plot No. 101, Sector 15, Institutional Area, CBD Belapur, Navi Mumbai-400 614

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