How to become a Company Secretary

The Company Secretary (CS) is responsible for providing administrative support regarding the particulars of how the organization should be directed and managed in order to achieve its aims. Despite its specific name, the role of a Company Secretary is not clerical or that of an assistant. It is in fact one of the most respected and powerful jobs in the country, owning to the gravity of their job duties. A CS is appointed to take care of the company’s legal aspects, ensuring the company’s compliance with the financial and legal regulations. They are placed at the top of the organizational hierarchy and are responsible for managing the company’s statutory requirements and ensuring the execution of the decisions made by the company's Board of Directors. It is the CS who is responsible for maintaining the company’s standards of corporate governance. Being a CS means holding is a strategic position that forms the main connecting link between the company’s board of directors and its shareholders.

• Ensure that the company’s agreements, contracts, and resolutions are accurately drafted and implemented accordingly
• Ensure the company’s compliance with the legal, ethical, and regulatory requirements imposed on it
• Maintain financial record books, keeping statutory books, managing compliance audit, preserving corporate documents
• Develop and oversee the company’s systems for corporate and social sustainability that adheres to all the applicable legal and statutory requirements
• Organize board meetings, prepare agendas, take minutes of the meetings
• Collaborate with the lead managers to obtain various approvals
• Ensure that the board runs smoothly and efficiently by coordinating with the chairman
• Advising on company policies, guiding the chairman and the board regarding their responsibilities and how to discharge them
• Ensure a good flow of information between the senior management/ board and the non executive directors

Since the company secretary is responsible for managing the organization, they must have excellent judgement, reasoning, and problem-solving skills with the ability to pay careful attention to detail. They function as the representative of the company in front of the judiciary and regulatory bodies, necessitating strong presentation skills and networking abilities. Their communication skills, both verbal and written, are frequently called upon in their interactions with the senior officials of the company, government officials, and other stakeholders.

To ensure the efficiency of their work, their time management and leadership skills must be highly developed. They should have a good grasp of corporate law, finance, governance issues and business acumen. A sharp analytical mind and the capability to skillfully work with numerical information is necessary for success as a company secretary. They should be able to synthesize large amounts of information and tactfully handle confidential data.

The salary for a "Company Secretary" (CS) in India can vary based on factors such as experience, location, the size of the company, and the industry. Here are approximate figures for the minimum and maximum monthly and annual salaries for Company Secretaries in India:

• Minimum Monthly Salary: The monthly salary can be from INR 30,000 to 50,000.
• Maximum Monthly Salary: The monthly salary can be from INR INR 1,00,000 to 2,00,000 or more.
• Annual Salary: The annual salary can be from  INR 3,60,000 to 24,00,000 or more.
• Highest Paying Job and Scope: The highest paying job for a Company Secretary in India would typically be the position of "Head of Corporate Governance" or "Chief Compliance Officer" in a large corporation or a highly reputable organization. In terms of scope, the Company Secretary profession plays a crucial role in ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements for companies. As businesses grow and operate in a complex regulatory environment, the demand for skilled Company Secretaries is expected to remain steady.

Aspirants who want to become a member of the ICSI (Institute of Company Secretaries of India) has to first register. As Company Secretaries is a professional course, there are various exams and stages to be cleared.

• Foundation Program
• Executive Program
• Professional Program

• Legal, Secretarial and Corporate Governance.
• Corporate Restructuring
• Foreign Collaborations and Joint Ventures.
• Arbitration and Conciliation
• Financial Management
• Project Planning
• Foreign Jobs