Introduction
The Company Secretary (CS) course equips candidates with the knowledge and skills required to advise companies on legal, financial, and governance issues. ICSI oversees the training and regulation of Company Secretaries in India in accordance with the Company Secretaries Act of 1980.
The course provides Company Secretaryship training via Distance Learning, enabling students to attain qualifications as Company Secretaries. It is a 3-year professional course that educates students on managing a company’s legal responsibilities, including tax compliance and record-keeping.
The CS Exam now equals a postgraduate degree under the new UGC guidelines.
Career Scope in Company Secretary Course
Career opportunities for Company Secretaries are diverse and abundant. They have the opportunity to work in a wide range of sectors, such as corporate houses, banks, financial institutions, government agencies, and regulatory bodies. In addition, they can also work as consultants or start their own practice to serve multiple clients.
In today’s competitive business environment, the demand for qualified Company Secretaries is high. Companies are constantly looking for professionals who can provide strategic advice and ensure that their operations run smoothly and efficiently while complying with legal and regulatory requirements.
Role & Responsibilities of Company Secretary
The Company Secretary plays a crucial role in maintaining a company’s legal compliance and adherence to regulations. Some key responsibilities of a Company Secretary are:
- The Company Secretary (CS) is responsible for overseeing the company’s tax returns, financial reporting to the Board of Directors, record-keeping, and ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
- Preparation of necessary documents for the issuance of securities and securing required approvals in collaboration with Lead Managers.
- They are authorised to verify documents for organisations including companies, secretarial auditors, and share transfer agents.
- The Company Secretary also contributes to the development of a corporate and social sustainability framework.
- Guiding corporate governance, compliance with laws and regulations, and adherence to guidelines.
- Provides tax advisory services for businesses on Income Tax, Excise and Customs laws, Service Tax, and VAT.
Employment Scope Career Options for Company Secretary
Company Secretaries have a wide range of employment opportunities available to them as they are required in almost every industry, be it corporate companies, stock exchanges, financial auditing firms, government, or regulatory bodies.
A Company Secretary can offer services in various areas such as Financial Management, Foreign Collaborations and Joint Ventures, Capital Market and Investor Relations, Corporate Restructuring, Corporate Advisory Services, etc.
Some of the top companies that recruit Company Secretaries are HCL Technologies Ltd, Punjab National Bank, Indian Railway Finance Corporation Ltd, Omaxe Ltd, Trinity Reinsurance Brokers Ltd, etc.
Career Scope for Company Secretary in Govt & PSU Sector
Company Secretaries have diverse job prospects in government and public sector organisations. They can work in various departments such as finance, legal, corporate affairs, and compliance. Some of the top organisations where Company Secretaries can find employment in the government sector include:
- Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI),
- Gujarat Agro Industries Corporation Limited (GAIC),
- Air India,
- Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC),
- Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), etc
Employment in the government or PSU sector as a Company Secretary offers job stability, potential for career advancement, and the opportunity to impact the creation of national policies and regulations. Company Secretaries in this sector play a critical role in legal compliance, strategic advisory, and organisational governance.
Salary Range
The salary range for Company Secretaries is influenced by factors such as experience, industry, and location. The average starting salary for a Company Secretary is approximately around Rs 4 to 6 lakhs per annum. With experience and expertise, this figure can increase significantly, depending on the individual’s performance and the organisation they work for.
How to Become a Company Secretary?
Candidates must have at least a class 10+2 qualification to be eligible for the Company Secretary course.
The admission process for the Company Secretary course varies across all three levels. The initial step in the CS admission process involves registering for the CSEET exam. Candidates are required to complete the online application and submit the corresponding fee by the deadline. The course material is sent after the candidate’s application has been approved.
To pass the Foundation / Executive / Professional examination, a candidate must achieve a minimum of 40 percent in each paper and 50 percent overall in all subjects in one sitting.
In addition, students need to complete the Practical Training for about 15 months, which can be started after passing the Executive Programme.
Upon passing the Professional Examination and completing the required training, an individual can become an Associate Member of the ICSI and may use the designation ACS after their name, signifying their status as an Associate Company Secretary.
Key Skill Sets Required to Become Company Secretary
Becoming a Company Secretary requires a combination of education, training, and professional skills.
It requires good analytical skills, acute observation, and a focus on detail. In addition, strong interpersonal skills, teamwork abilities, efficient time management, expertise in corporate law, precise planning skills, and proficiency in both spoken and written English are equally important.
Eligibility Criteria
Students must fulfil below eligibility criteria to pursue certification as a Company Secretary.
- The minimum qualification required to enrol in the first level (Foundation Programme or CSEET) of the Company Secretary course is passing Class 12 in any stream (excluding Fine Arts) from a recognised university or equivalent.
- The candidate interested in pursuing CS after graduation will need to complete two levels: Executive Programme and Professional Programme.
- Individuals who have completed graduation, post-graduation (excluding Fine Arts), or have passed the Foundation level of CA and Cost Accounting course by ICWAI are eligible to directly enrol in the CS Executive level.
Company Secretary Course Level
The Company Secretary course consists of three levels that students must complete to become a certified Company Secretary.
The duration of the course ranges from 3 to 5 years, depending on the speed at which students pass their exams. The educational path includes taking the CSEET exam, which is held four times a year.
The exams are held twice a year, in June and December.
June Session:
- The deadline to apply for all modules in the June session is August 31st.
- Registration for one module must be completed by November 30 of the previous year.
December Session:
- Registration for all modules in the December session must be completed by February 28th.
- Registration for One Module must be completed by May 31 of the same year.
Now, let’s discuss in detail about the 3 levels For the Company Secretary course.
- CS Foundation
CS Foundation is the first level of the Company Secretary course. It is an 8-month course provided by ICSI and comprising of postal tuition classes and optional coaching sessions.
The exam comprises four sections covering
- Business Environment and Law,
- Business Economics,
- Business Management, Ethics and Entrepreneurship, and
- Fundamentals of Accounting and Auditing.
Each paper is graded out of 100 marks, with a total of 400 marks for all four papers. The test will consist of 250 multiple-choice questions that candidates must finish within 90 minutes. The exam is in a CBT format.
- CS Executive Course
The CS executive course covers a wide range of legal topics. This covers areas such as company law, tax law, commercial law, general law, securities law, and accounting and auditing practices.
The duration of the course is 9 months. ICSI CS Executive program registration is available year-round for the exams held in June and December.
The CSEET exam is a mandatory requirement for all students seeking registration in the Executive Programme, with a few exemptions. Also, the candidates should have completed their Class 12 examination, and the age should be above 17.
Students falling under the following categories are eligible to bypass qualifying for CSEET and can directly register for the Executive Programme:
- Students who have successfully passed the CS Foundation Programme,
- Students who have passed the final course of ICAI (The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India), and
- Students have passed the final course of ICMAI (The Institute of Cost Accountants of India).
The CS Executive course syllabus includes two modules, Module I and Module II. Each module contains 4 papers.
Module I | Company Law |
Jurisprudence, Interpretation & General Laws | |
Setting up of Business Entities and Closure | |
Tax Laws | |
Module II | Corporate & Management Accounting |
Securities Laws & Capital Markets | |
Economic, Business, and Commercial Laws | |
Financial and Strategic Management |
- CS Professional Course
The CS professional course is the final level in the CS program.
Candidates who have successfully finished both modules of the Executive CS course are eligible to enrol in the Professional Course by submitting a registration fee of Rs. 12000, in addition to Rs. 1000 for the pre-exam test.
The company secretary program spans three years, with the first two courses lasting a combined 15 months. The CS professional course has a duration of 15 months, the same as the first two courses.
The CS Professional course is divided into three modules, with each module containing three papers.
Module | Syllabus |
Module I | Advanced Tax Laws |
Drafting, Pleadings, and Appearances | |
Governance, Risk Management, Compliances, and Ethics | |
Module II | Resolution of Corporate Disputes, Non- Compliances, and Remedies |
Secretarial Audit, Compliance Management, and Due Diligence | |
Corporate Reconstructing, Insolvency, Liquidation, and Winding-up | |
Module III | Corporate Funding and Listing in Stock Exchanges |
Multidisciplinary Case Studies (The examination for this paper will be open book examination) | |
Elective(1 out of below 8 subjects) | Labour Laws and Practice |
Forensic Audit | |
Valuations and Business Modelling | |
Insurance – Law and Practice | |
Insolvency- Law and Practice | |
Banking – Law and Practice | |
Intellectual Property Rights – Laws and Practice | |
Direct Tax Laws and Practice |
Company Secretary Registration Process
After completing the CS Professional course, students must ensure their registration remains valid until they meet all the training requirements to become a member of ICSI. The continuance of CS registration is valid for one year and can be renewed by students depending on the remaining training period.
Students have the option to request ‘Continuation of Registration’ for up to five years, allowing them to complete the required training before becoming full members of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI).
Fees for Company Secretary Course
The fee for each level of the Company Secretary course varies and must be paid upon registration for that specific level. In addition to the course fee, candidates must pay an exam fee for the company secretary course. The CS Executive Entrance Test fees are INR 1000 per appearance and Rs. 1200 per module for Executive and Professional levels.
Course Fees in detail
Particulars | Fees |
CS Foundation Course Fee | INR 4,500 |
CS Executive Course Fee | INR 10,600 – INR 15,600 |
CS Professional Course Fee | INR 12,000 |
CSEET Fee | INR 1,000 |
CS Foundation Exam Fee | INR 1,200 |
CS Executive Exam Fee | INR 1,200 for each module (there are 2 modules) |
CS Professional Exam Fee | INR 1,200 for each module (there are 3 modules) |
Penalty if a candidate fails to register within the specified deadline
| Rs. 250 |
There is also a concession provided on the CSEET registration fee for candidates falling under the below categories:
Category | Fee Concession |
SC/ST | 50% |
Physically Handicapped | 50% |
Students from North Eastern States, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep & Himachal Pradesh | 50% |
Serving / Retired Personnel of Defence Services and Paramilitary Forces | 50% |
ICSI Staff and Wards / Spouse of ICSI Staff | 75% |
ICLS Officers/ Officers & Staff of MCA and affiliated offices (NCLT, SFIO and CCI) | 100% |
Students from the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh | 100% |
Wards and Widows of Martyrs and Defence Service Personnel with Permanent Disability | 100% |
Conclusion
Becoming a Company Secretary is a demanding career that requires dedication, hard work, and commitment. The course aims to provide students with the necessary knowledge and skills for success.
Understanding the registration process, exam schedules, and course syllabus is crucial for aspiring Company Secretaries to complete the program. Additionally, students should familiarise themselves with the eligibility criteria for skipping levels in the program and understand the significance of staying registered throughout the training period.