Last Updated On 19 Mar, 2021
The recent disturbances in the corporate world have shaken the confidence of business professionals particularly shareholders. At present, there is a massive demand for displaying corporate transparency and credibility by organisations in managing their internal affairs. Most companies are carving to retain the confidence of stakeholders. The top management of the organisations are busy with managing the general working, they hardly get time to mingle with stakeholders and retain/ gain their confidence. In order to tackle that, the organisations/ companies hire qualified and skilled professionals as Company Secretaries. A company secretary plays a vital role in the smooth functioning of a corporate entity. One can confidently believe that a career as company secretary is not only exciting but also rewarding.
A student aspiring to become a company secretary must clear three stages after Class 12. The three stages involved in becoming company secretary include Foundation, Intermediate and Final. Institute of Company Secretaries in India (ICSI) offer ICSI Foundation, Intermediate and Final.
Subjects Combination: Candidates with any stream in Class 12 with zeal to excel in the field are eligible to take up Company Secretary Career.
Eligibility: -
Check out the different capacities in which a Company Secretary can work. The job profiles of a Company Secretary include the following:
Company Registrar: A company registrar is regarded as an important component of a company/organisation’s hierarchy.
Legal Advisor: A legal advisor assists the company in case of any legal dispute or issue. Legal advisors also make sure that the company complies with the bureaucratic and statutory directives, securities and corporate laws.
Chief Administrative Officer: A chief administrative officer monitors the general administrative activities of the company. These officers are also responsible for safeguarding all legal and other confidential documents of the company.
Corporate Planner: Corporate planner keeps a discerning eye on the expansion opportunities of the company. These officials also take care of mergers, joint ventures, collaborations and takeovers within the company or outside.
Principal Secretary: The responsibility of a principal secretary is to manage all aspects of corporate meetings like board meetings, annual general meetings, meeting with private and government delegations and important clients.
Corporate Policymaker: The responsibility of a corporate policymaker is to plan short term and long term corporate policies of a company. These policymakers also advise the company board when current policies are brought up for review from time to time.
Member of Board of Directors: Sometimes, company secretaries take the responsibility of one of the members of the board of directors of a company to provide secretarial and expert advice.
Miscellaneous Responsibilities: Apart from roles mentioned above, company secretaries are also required for tax management of a company, filing of tax and assessment of tax.
A qualified company secretary is capable of finding a job in the public and private sectors, financial institutions and banks. Company secretaries are also required in company law boards, various government departments, Department of Company Affairs etc. Top organisations offer attractive pay packages to company secretaries.
Company secretaries can also set up their own consultancy after obtaining a certificate of practice. Companies with a paid up share of Rs. 10 lakh to Rs. 2 crores are required to hire/ employ the services of practicing company secretaries for issuing corporate compliance certificates.
Since company secretaries have immense knowledge of a wide range of subjects, they can take up the position of a lecturer/ visiting faculty in different academic institutes.
As per Companies Act 1956, any company with a paid-up share capital of Rs. 2 crores must appoint a full-time company secretary. Therefore, the employment scope for company secretaries in India is vast and diversified. During the course, students must take up an internship in companies with a share capital of Rs. 10 lakh to Rs. 2 crores.
Company Secretary in diverse sectors earns a satisfactory salary. Most companies pay more for highly skilled and experienced Company Secretary. The average salary structure of Company Secretary is detailed below.
Job Profile | Starting Salary per annum (in INR) | Mid Level Salary per annum (in INR) | Senior Level Salary per annum (In INR) |
Company Secretary | Rs. 3,00,000 | Rs. 6,00,000 | Rs. 9,00,000 – 12,00,000 |
Legal Advisor | Rs. 3,00,000 | Rs. 4,00,000 – 5,00,000 | Rs. 10,00,000 |
Principal Secretary | Rs. 3,00,000 | Rs. 6,00,000 | Rs. 9,00,000 – 12,00,000 |
Note: The above figures are an estimate and may vary from individual to individual and company to company.
Company Secretary and future aspirants can refer some of the books listed below to enhance knowledge.