Choosing a right career is very important in everyone’s life. As and when you cross the school age, which is average 15 to 16 years old, parents and teachers bombard with questions like what you want to become and what you aim to achieve in your life. That age is very naive still one has to take decisions of choosing a right profession, which will help you grow in your career financially, professionally and as an individual as well.
There are three major streams which come into our mind after finishing school are science, commerce and arts. This decides one’s ability and capacity to absorb either of the 3 courses which will make their life ahead a pleasing experience.
To become Company Secretary, a commerce graduate or a graduate from any other stream (excluding fine arts) can enroll for the course of Company Secretary. The course fee is very nominal and the exams are conducted twice in a year (June & December). One can enroll right after giving HSC exams, however, he has to give an entrance exam for the same. The entrance level exam is known as Foundation course which is a multiple question based exam. There are basic subjects like Business Environment & Entrepreneurship, Business Management, Ethics and Communication, Business Economics and Fundamentals of Accounting and Auditing.
Next is intermediate or Executive program which is parted into two groups viz, Module 1 and Module 2. Module 1 includes Company Law, Cost and Management Accounting, Economic and Commercial Laws & Tax Laws and Practice whereas Module 2 has Company Accounts and Auditing Practices, Capital Markets and Securities Laws & Industrial, Labour and General Laws.
The last and final level is Professional Program, divided into 3 parts. Viz, Module 1 Advanced Company Law and Practice, Secretarial Audit, Compliance Management and Due Diligence, Corporate Restructuring, Valuation and Insolvency. Module 2 has Information Technology and Systems Audit, Financial Treasury and Forex Management, Ethics Governance and Sustainability and Module 3 has Advanced Tax Laws and Practice, Drafting Appearances and Pleadings, then there are sub parts (anyone to be selected) Banking Law and Practice, Capital Commodity and Money Market, Insurance Law and Practice, Intellectual Property Rights – Law and Practice or International Business-Laws and Practices.
After completing all the levels, one must complete the articleship or the mandatory training under a Practicing Company Secretary or one can do it in a Company which is registered under Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) for providing a training facility. After completion of the training, one attend training of 15 days under the Registrar of Companies to understand the functionalities of Ministry of Corporate Affairs and another 15 days training called as MSOP i.e. Management Skill Oriented Programme in which, all students are explored to various development programs and are given opportunity to prepare for mock Board Meeting/ Annual General Meeting, give presentations on topics related to Corporates. Then after completion of all such trainings, one needs to sit and arrange for all papers for application to become proud member of ICSI.
To become a good Company Secretary, the member shall always keep him updated about various changes in laws. One should not restrict himself with Companies Act, rather he should be aggressive to study other acts which governs industries where Company Secretaries are employed.
- It should be a part of your daily routine to check and track websites of Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Bombay Stock Exchange, National Stock Exchange, Securities and Exchange Board of India, Reserve Bank of India, IPR India (Intellectual Property Rights) and the like.
- A Company Secretary should be updated about major changes in law and should be able to guide/ advise his Company to take rational decision which will avoid any crisis for the Company. Company Secretary is the service provider of the Company/ for its clients.
- A Company Secretary should adhere to the rules & regulations specified by the Institute. After becoming Company Secretary one will enjoy the status in the Company, a reputed and very much respected job.
As a Company Secretary one gets the opportunity to directly coordinate with Managing Director, Chairman and Director level people. The top level management will seek your opinion for various legal matters and you are bound to provide them advise efficiently and effectively as well. With authority comes responsibility and as a Company Secretary you get to enjoy both but be in you dignity when you provide service to your Company/ firm or clients. Adhere to rules prescribed by ICSI and be a good member of ICSI.
