Career As a Company Secretary

One of the most coveted paths to developing a prosperous career is pursuing the course of Company Secretary (CS). In addition to being prestigious and lucrative, career as a Company Secretary (CS) brings in a high degree of job satisfaction.

Qualified Company Secretaries can choose to be either in Employment or can take a Certificate of Practice and become an independent Practicing Company Secretary, providing their service in multiple sectors like Corporates, Banks, PSU and Institutions. 

The Companies Act 2013 has conferred a special status of Key Managerial Personnel (KMP) onto Company Secretaries in an organization, bracketing them along with MD, CEO, Manager, Whole-time director(s) and CFO. The Companies Act 2013, also mandates Secretarial Audit by a Practicing Company Secretary, thereby making the role of CS more expansive and inclusive in both, employment as well as in practice  

Under the SEBI (LODR) Regulations, 2014 (Listing Regulations), a Company Secretary has to be mandatorily appointed as Compliance Officer, except for units of Mutual Funds listed on Stock Exchanges.

Besides the core areas, Company Secretaries have a wide array of opportunities available in Risk management and Mitigation, ESG, Valuation, Insolvency, Social Audit, Mergers and Acquisitions, Alternate Dispute Resolution, Representation Services, etc., making it an ideal career choice for young aspirants.

The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI)

The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI), is the only Professional Body in the country that bestows the Company Secretary membership onto students pursuing the CS course in India. Constituted under the Company Secretaries Act, 1980, the ICSI works under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India, to regulate and develop the profession of Company Secretaries in India.

With more than 75,000 members and around 2,00,000 students, the ICSI has the largest membership and student base of Company Secretaries in the world. As a proactive body, focusing on providing top-quality education, the ICSI aligned its Company Secretary Course syllabus with the New Education Policy and has accelerated its teaching methodology to build professionals with a clear and focused approach. 

Headquartered in New Delhi and Noida, The ICSI has four Regional Offices in New Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata and Mumbai, 3 Centres for Corporate Governance, Research and Training at Navi Mumbai, Hyderabad and Kolkata, 73 Chapter Offices spread all over India and 6 Overseas Centres in Australia, Canada, Singapore, UAE, UK and USA.

How to become a Company Secretary 

Registration & Examination:

There are 3 stages to becoming a Company Secretary:

1. CSEET - Students from any stream (except for fine arts) can enroll and pursue the Company Secretary Course by taking the Company Secretary Executive Entrance Test (CSEET). 
2. Executive Programme - On clearing CSEET, students can then register into the Company Secretary Executive Programme. Graduates/Postgraduates from a recognized University/Institution, and Final Pass Students of ICAI/ICMAI are however exempted from CSEET.
3. Professional Programme – After clearing the CS Executive Programme, students can enrol in the final stage i.e., the CS Professional Programme.

The entire registration process is online and the study material is dispatched to the students’ registered addresses. Examinations are held twice in a year in June and December at around 200 examination centres across the length and breadth of the country and at Overseas Centre in Dubai. 

Training: 

All training programmes in the CS Course have been designed to develop the core competencies and managerial/leadership skills of the Company Secretary Students. There are two stages of training in the CS Course: 

1. Executive passed students are required to undergo 1-month Executive Development Programme (15 days online and 15 days classroom mode) and 21-month practical training with Industry/ PCS (after completing Executive Programme)
2. Professional passed students are required to undergo 1-month residential Corporate Leader Development Programme (Exemption is granted if candidate possess practical experience)

The Institute provides various scholarships/ financial assistance to the meritorious or economically backward students. In line with the Government’s Nation Building initiatives, the ICSI introduced a Fee Waiver/ Concession Scheme for Defense Personnel, Paramilitary Forces Personnel of the country and for their family members. Students from Jammu Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, and the North-eastern States of the Country can also avail the benefit of fee concession scheme.

Placement:

In addition to mandatory legal requirements, Company Secretaries are placed as key functionaries in the corporate pyramid, offering guidance on corporate governance, strategic management, and project planning. They support the Board in adopting policies that drive sustainable growth and create long-term value for the organization. 

The ICSI organizes regular placement drives at its Regional and Chapter Offices to facilitate placement of fresher Company Secretaries in variety of roles and capacities with Regulators, Reputed Companies and with Practicing Company Secretaries at attractive packages.

Recognitions

With the University Grants Commission (UGC) recognizing Company Secretary Qualification as equivalent to Post Graduate Degree, the CS course has become more prominent amongst the students.

The ICSI has MoUs with a number of Universities in India, that consider Company Secretary Qualification as equivalent to Post Graduate Degree for pursuing PhD in these Universities. The list is available at https://www.icsi.edu/member/universities-recognising-cs-phd/ 

International Associations 

The ICSI has inked MoU with Chartered Governance Institute (CGI), formerly known as ICSA, to provide reciprocal exemptions, in subjects and training, to each other’s members. The MoU has been extended to all 9 divisions, in 9 different countries, of the CGI, for the benefit of members.

The ICSI has inked another MoU with Chartered Institute of Securities and Investment (CISI) to offer the CISI qualification to ICSI students and members at 50% discount. 

Besides this, the ICSI has been able to obtain an equivalence for its Executive & Professional Programmes with Bachelors’ and Masters’ degree respectively, in UK & UAE, through UK ENIC (formerly known as UK NARIC), UK’s National Agency that gives advice and provides guidance on vocational, academic and professional qualifications in over 190 countries all across. 

Conclusion

With a rich legacy in India and growing global recognition, the Company Secretary profession is becoming a preferred career option for those passionate about law, governance, compliance, and strategic management.  Company Secretaries as Integrated Corporate Managers, are demonstrating their ability to manage a wide range of tasks across all functional domains, beyond their core competencies. 

For more information on registration and course details, visit www.icsi.edu.