Saturday, September 10, 2011

Company Secretary

The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) is a premier National Professional body established by Act of Parliament to develop and regulate the Profession of Company Secretaries.

ICSI imparts training in Company Secretaryship by Distance Learning (by correspondence) enabling students to qualify as Company Secretaries. The Institute provides “Course Material” for all the subjects at the time of Registration. There is also provision for Optional Oral Coaching classes.

Career as a Company Secretary is not only prestigious and financially rewarding but also carries with it a high level of job satisfaction.

3 Stages to become a Company Secretary
The student who would like to join the Course after 10+2 has to undergo three stages to pursue the Company Secretaries Course i.e.
  • Foundation Programme
  • Executive Programme
  • Professional Programme
In addition, the student has to undergo Practical Training for about 15 months which a student may opt to start after passing the Executive Programme.

The Student who would like to join the Course after passing the Graduation has to undergo two stages of the Company Secretaryship i.e.
  • Executive Programme
  • Professional Programme
Besides, the student has to undergo Practical Training for about 15 months.

Who is Eligible?
  • Foundation Programme which is of eight months duration can be pursued by 10+2 pass students of Arts, Science or Commerce stream.
  • Executive Programme can be pursued by a Graduate of all streams except Fine Arts.
  • Professional Programme can be pursued only after clearing the Executive Programme of CS Course.
Training:
A Student has to undergo 15 months Management Training in Companies sponsored by the Institute after passing the Executive or Professional Programme or under the guidance of a Company Secretary in Practice.

After qualifying Professional Examination and on successful completion of training a candidate is admitted as an Associate Member of the ICSI and can use the letters ACS after his/her name i.e. Associate Company Secretary.

Admission
Admission to the CS Course is open throughout the year. Examinations are held twice a year in June & December.

Cut off dates for admission to CS course:

For Foundation Programme
  • 31st March for appearing in December Examination in the same year
  • 30th September for June Examination next year
For Executive Programme
  • 28th February for December Exams in the same year
  • 31st August for June Exam next year
CS Prospectus can be obtained from any of the offices of the Institute across India and
  • Cost of Prospectus for Foundation Programme:
    Rs. 200/- by cash payment
    Rs. 250/- by Post or courier
  • Cost of Prospectus for the Executive Programme:
    Rs. 300/- by cash payment
    Rs.350/- by Post or courier
Payment Option:
The payment can be sent to the Headquarters by demand draft drawn in favour of ‘The Institute of Company Secretaries of India’ payable at New Delhi OR by cash across the counter from the Headquarters, Regional Offices & a few of the Chapters.

Fee Structure for CS Course
  • The fee for CS Foundation Programme is - Rs. 3600/-
  • The fee for Executive Programme -
    Rs. 7000/- for Commerce Graduates -
    Rs. 7750/- for Non Commerce Students
ICSI offices across India
The ICSI has its Headquarters at ICSI House 22 Institutional Area Lodi Road New Delhi and Regional offices at Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai & New Delhi and 69 Chapters located in various cities in India.

ICSI has 66 Examination Centres scattered all over India including one overseas centre at Dubai.

The CS Course is:
  • Recognized by the various Universities for admission to PhD Course
  • Appointment of Lecturers in Commerce & Management
SUBJECTS FOR CS
There are 4 papers in CS Foundation Programme
  • English and Business Communication
  • Economics and Statistics
  • Financial Accounting
  • Elements of Business Laws and Management
There are 6 papers divided into 2 Modules in CS Executive Programme Module I
  • General and Commercial Laws
  • Company Accounts, Cost and Management Accounting
  • Tax Laws
Module II
  • Company Law
  • Economic and Labour Laws
  • Securities Laws and Compliances
There are 8 papers divided into 4 Modules in CS Professional Programme 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
Role of a Company Secretary
By virtue of integrated knowledge of multiple disciplines of law, management, finance and corporate governance, a Company Secretary is the vital link between the company, its Board of Directors, Shareholders, Government and other Agencies.

The Company Secretary is:
  • An in-house legal expert; a compliance officer of the Company.
  • An expert in corporate laws, securities laws & capital market and corporate governance
  • Chief advisor to the board of directors on best practices in corporate governance
  • Responsible for all regulatory compliances of company
  • Corporate planner and strategic manager
Employment Prospects
A qualified company secretary has openings in Employment and as Practising
Independent Professional
  • Companies with a paid up share capital of Rs.2 crores or more are compulsorily required to appoint a whole time Company Secretary who is a Member of ICSI
  • All companies seeking listing on Stock Exchange are required to appoint a whole time company secretary
  • Membership of the Institute is recognized for appointment to superior posts and services under Central Government.
Self-Employment/Practicing Company Secretaries
  • After obtaining a ‘Certificate of Practice’ from the Institute, Members of the Institute can go in for Independent Practice.
  • Every company having a paid-up share capital of Rs. Ten Lakhs or more but less than Rs. Two Crores is required to engage the services of a Secretary in Whole-Time Practice for issue of Compliance Certificate.
  • Pursuant to Clause 49 of the Listing Agreement, Practising Company Secretaries have been authorized to issue Certificate regarding compliance of conditions of Corporate Governance as stipulated in the Clause.
Placement
The Institute and its offices maintain the database of the members / students desirous of employment. The Institute also assists the members and students for Placement. Campus interviews are also conducted for assisting the students to get employment. Vacancies for the post of Company Secretaries received by the Institute are placed on ICSI Website for reference.

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