The Ultimate Guide for Company Secretary Course Guide 2024

The Job of a CS: Often overlooked?

Have you ever wondered what an orchestra would look like if the conductor did not guide it? The orchestra might be flawlessly trained, but it always needs a professional to guide it. While you may wonder what connection this example has with a CS guide, let us explain. A company secretary might be an overlooked job, but every well-governed organisation has a skilled company secretary. As a CS, you are required to not just work on the legal paperwork but even draft effective strategies. Once you step into this field, you may learn what it is like to balance law and business; undoubtedly, it is a tricky job!

As a CS, you would find the top roles, including working with listed companies, multinational corporations, financial institutions, and law firms. You would be surprised to know that over 70,000 companies are registered annually, creating a high demand for governance professionals. This indicates the growing demand for company secretaries.  From here, you can only expect it to grow steadily in demand. The Indian business landscape is also a fertile ground for more businesses to enter and grow; this also means that the job of a company secretary would become one of the most critical job roles.

Here is a guide to consider if you plan to become a company secretary. Please tell us about the course, recruiters, fees, etc.

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Who is a Company Secretary? The Corporate Maestro

A company secretary is a senior officer responsible for ensuring that an organisation and its work align with the legal rules and regulations and the governance requirements. A company secretary is a highly responsible individual who coordinates between the board of directors of a company as well as the shareholders. They also coordinate with the regulatory authorities on the organisation’s behalf.

What are the critical responsibilities of a Company Secretary? 

The key responsibilities of a company secretary begin with the regulation and supervision of the company’s work.

Additionally, these are the key responsibilities they follow:

1. Organising and maintaining the meetings between the board of directors and shareholders.

2. Maintaining the statutory books and the company records.

3. Working as an advisor for the board on governance, mergers, acquisitions, and all the legal matters concerning the organisation.

4. A company secretary also communicates with the shareholders and the regulatory bodies involved.

5. A company secretary tracks all the legal obligations and governance standards that ensure a business runs smoothly.

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What is the company secretary course?

Here are the details regarding the company secretary course:

About the Course

The company secretary course is a professional certificate course offered by the Institute of the Company Secretaries of India (ICSI). Professionals in corporate governance, company law, and business strategy teach it.

Company Secretary Course: The Structure

The course structure of a company secretary is as follows:

1. CS foundation programme : This is only for students from a non-commerce background.

2. CS Executive Programme: This is the main level for all the students.

3. CS Professional Programme: This is the final level of the courses.

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Fee Structure for the CS Programme

CS Foundation programme

1. INR 4500

CS Executive Programme

1. INR .9000 for Commerce Graduates

2. INR 12,500/- for CPT passed of ICAI / Foundation passed of ICAI-CMA

3. INR 10,000/- for Non-Commerce Students

4. INR 8,500/- for CS Foundation passed students

CS Professional Programme

1. INR 12,000/-

 Examination Fee Details 

1.     The Examination is conducted twice a year, in June and December

2.     Here is the breakdown of the Examination fee</>

• Foundation Programme: -INR 1200/-

• Executive Programme: INR 1200/- per Module

• Professional Programme: INR 1200/- per Module

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Top Recruiters to Aim for

Here are the top recruiters in the field of CS that you can aim for. The salary figures mentioned range and may differ depending on your educational qualifications, job role, and responsibilities.

Source: Ambition Box

More Details about the CS Examination

1. Medium of Examination: The institute allows you to appear in English and Hindi examinations. (Except Business Communication, subject of Foundation Programme)

2. Qualifying Marks: You would be declared to have passed the Foundation Executive or Professional examination if you secured at one sitting a minimum of 40% marks in each paper and 50% marks in the aggregate of all subjects.

3. The time limit for completing the CS Examination: You are required to complete the executive and professional examinations within the registration period. However, upon payment of the requisite fees, the validity of the registration may be renewed or extended for a further period, subject to the applicable guidelines being fulfilled.

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Syllabus: What All You Get to Study

Here is an example of a syllabus; please note it might vary based on each university.

Foundation Programme

Module 1- 4 papers 

•  Jurisprudence, Interpretation & General Laws

• Company Law

• Setting up of Business Entities and Closure

• Tax Laws

Module 2- 4 papers

• Corporate & Management Accounting

• Securities Laws & Capital Markets

• Economic, Business and Commercial Laws

• Financial and Strategic Management

Professional Programme

Module 1 

• Advanced Company Law and Practice

• Secretarial Audit, Compliance Management and Due Diligence

• Corporate Restructuring, Valuation and Insolvency

Module 2

•  Information Technology and Systems Audit

• Financial, Treasury and Forex Management

• Ethics, Governance and Sustainability

Module 3

• Advanced Tax Laws and Practice

• Drafting, Appearances and Pleadings

Electives 1 out of below five subjects

• Banking  Law and Practice

• Capital, Commodity and Money Market

• Insurance Law and Practice

• Intellectual Property Rights: Law and Practice

• International Business Laws and Practices

Your Eligibility Criteria

Here is the eligibility criteria for the different courses within the Company Secretary programme:

1. Foundation Programme: You would need a 10+2 pass or equivalent student of Arts, Science or Commerce stream (Excluding Fine Arts)

2. Executive Programme: You must graduate from any stream except fine arts.

3. Professional Programme: You can pursue this only after clearing the Executive Programme of the CS Course.

Ace Your Preparation: Top Books

Here are the top books to study as a company secretary aspirant.

• Company Law by Avtar Singh

• Taxman’s Company Law by Anil Kumar

• Securities Laws & Capital Markets by Sangeet Kedia

• Economic and Commercial Laws by CA. CS. Kalyani Karna

• Taxman’s CS Executive: Jurisprudence, Interpretation, & General Laws by NS Zad

Conclusion: Final Words

A company secretary’s job is very significant for any business organisation. You can say that the job of a company secretary has become more critical than ever before. It has opened lucrative career avenues such as finance, law, and corporate management. You can get the opportunity to work with some of the most reputed organisations, and there is an open field for you to grow further. In the future, the job role of a company secretary will be primarily determined by the complexities of the business organisations and their work. Therefore, it might get more challenging for you to enter this field, given the competition that it involves.

Additionally, it might not be easy for you to initially work as a company secretary. There might be many vital responsibilities for you to look after. However, the more challenging it gets, the more rewarding it is!

Frequently Asked Questions

Q.1 What are the top job prospects after CS?

Here are the top job prospects after CS:

1. Corporate Governance Officer

2. Compliance Officer

3. Legal Advisor

4. Company Secretary in the Government Sector

5. Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

Q.2 Which are the most important skills of a CS?

Here are the most important skills:

1. Legal Knowledge

2. Analytical Thinking

3. Corporate Governance Expertise

4. Communication Skills

5. Time Management

Q.3 What are the most challenging subjects of this course?

These are the most challenging subjects:

1. Corporate Laws

2. Securities Laws and Capital Markets

3. Taxation

4. Financial and Strategic Management

5. Governance, Risk Management, and Ethics

Q. 4 What is the difference between a CS and a CA?

A CS (company secretary) specialises in corporate governance, compliance, and legal matters, while a CA (Chartered Accountant) specialises in accounting, auditing, taxation, and financial management.

Q.5 Top colleges offering a course in CS?

1. Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI)

2. Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS), Mumbai

3. Symbiosis College of Arts and Commerce, Pune

4. Amity University, Noida

5. Christ University, Bangalore