Career Opportunities in Company Secretaries
Company Secretariship is a well remunerated career option due to its versatile nature. There are ample career opportunities for Company Secretaries. A Company Secretary can aspire to get employment opportunities in government accounts as well as in law departments. The role of company secretary works as an advisor to the management regarding complex legal, regulatory as well as business and financial matters.
Company secretary plays a crucial role in the decision-making process in the corporate world. With the growing demand for specialists in every field of the corporate sector, it has s led to the requirement of professionals who can perform specialized skills with near perfection in their respective fields. So a company secretary is one such professional who is responsible for efficient management of the corporate sector.
The career opportunities for a qualified Company Secretary are increasing as the economy is growing and new and more companies are entering the market. Company secretary is the principal officer of a company senior officer of the management. A company secretary having over 15 years of experience, he will have the opportunity to reach the positions of Member of Company Law Board or National Company Law Appellate Tribunal.
Since the work as a Company Secretary covers a wide variety of functions the candidate who seeks a career as company secretary need to have an excellent command over English language in both written and verbal, the ability to understand, analyse complex and technical issues, intelligence to get associated with the top level management and a moral responsibility.
The Government of India has recognized company secretary profession as a qualification for the appointment at higher level designations. Starting a career in company secretary the candidate needs to obtain the Certificate of Practice from the Institute of Company Secretaries of India((ICSI) which is a professional course administered under the Company Secretaries Act.
Once a candidate gets the certificate, personal practice can be started. Company Secretary course gives you knowledge and understanding of the modern practice in corporate financial and legal affair. The Company Secretary course is divided into three stages as Foundation Programmer, Executive Programme and Professional Programme.
The Foundation Course is of 8 months that can be joined after 10+2 examination.
After completing the foundation course, the candidate can enroll to the Intermediate Course, which is of 9 months. All gradates, post-gradutes who are pursuing ICWAI or ICAI or of any other accountancy Institution in India or abroad recognized by the Council of the Institute are exempted from passing the foundation examination and can directly enroll in the intermediate course
On successfully completing the Intermediate Examination, students qualify to appear for the Final Examination which can be pursued after 18 months of enrolling in the course and having undergone. In the Final examination the candidates required to undergo practical training.
All these courses such as Foundation, Intermediate and the Final examinations conducted by the Institute gives the eligibility as Associate Members of ICSI. Students completing their education in this field can further go for making a career in research. They can also work as lecturers in Commerce Faculty.
Most of the qualified company secretaries can find well-paid positions in the public sector and corporate sector, banks and financial institutions, stock exchanges, company law boards and government departments.