A career in the company provides an extremely high degree of job satisfaction and
also good rewards financially. A company secretary has important roles in drafting
the objectives, policies and strategies of the company. This makes the position
of a company secretary very critical for the smooth functioning of the company.
A company Secretary is not just accountable inside the organization but also outside
it. This job provides innumerable exciting career prospects with unending challenging
situations.
The Company Secretary Professional
The CS is an internal legal expert and a compliance officer for the company. He
has to be an expert in corporate laws, corporate governance and securities laws
and capital market. A CS becomes the chief advisor to the board of director on corporate
governance. This makes him responsible for all regulatory compliances for the company.
He is referred to as the corporate planner and strategic manager. As a legal advisor
they have to provide advice and assistance to the company in case of any legal matter.
They are the ones who are responsible in putting together the both short term and
long term corporate goals of the company. In addition a CS also has to keep an eye
on the expansion strategy of the company and take care of the collaborations, mergers
and takeovers.
Company Secretary Course Details and Examinations
The Institute of Company Secretary of India (ICSI) is the only recognized professional
body in India to develop and regulate profession of Company Secretary. If you have
a good judgmental quality, legal aptitude, interest in current affairs and good
administrative ability, then company Secretary is the most apt career for you. Totally,
there are three qualifying stages to become a company secretary. These are the foundation
stage, the intermediate stage and the final stage. Anyone can join the foundation
course after getting the 10+2 certificate and then move on to the intermediate level
of the course. Alternatively, after graduation, post-graduation or any other professional
qualification one can seek admission directly into the intermediate stage. After
the completion of the intermediate the student can further complete the final stage.
Career Opportunities in Company Secretary
A qualified Company Secretary can find good positions in private as well as public
sectors, financial institutions and banks. Openings can be looked for in stock exchange,
company law boards, the Department of Company affairs and many other government
departments. There is a mandatory requirement for the appointment of a company secretary
in listed companies and certain other classes of companies. Company Secretaries
are recruited from the Grade I to Grade IV in the accounts branch. Almost every
organization that has the presence of a board, federation, authority, council or
other associations finds it necessary to appoint a qualified Company Secretary in
key administrative positions.
Company Secretary Salary and Job Security
The Company Secretary job role guarantees great career along with a good pay package.
A budding and qualified CS can hope to start his career with an average CTC of 4-5
lakhs per annum. However Experience and expertise always adds to these positions
and Company Secretaries in higher positions are seen to be one of the highest paid
professionals of the company.