A company secretary’s role in a company is very important. Apart from acting as a link between the board of the organization and the various stakeholders, government and other regulatory authorities, he/she also carry out all the duties like maintaining records, endorsing legal requirements, responding to board correspondences, communicating with various officials and much more. It is no denying the fact that, a company secretary performs a complex, multifaceted and essential roles in any organization.
Before selecting a company secretary, the company should list down the requirements it needs for such a role. A person who applies for the position should:
• Have complete knowledge and experience of company procedures
• Be systematic, well organized and impartial
• Have knowledge of roles and responsibilities he/she has towards the organization
• Be aware of the recent changes in the industry
• Possess a qualification as required
• Represent the company or other members of the company before the Company Law board or such authorities
• Register and file documents on behalf of the company
• Advise on ethical governance practices and corporate compliances
The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) conducts the CS program in India. After 10+2 in science, commerce or arts, excluding fine arts, a candidate can enroll for the Company Secretary program in three stages
• Foundation Course
• Executive Course
• Professional Course
A proficient and experienced company secretary should possess the following skills which are important for personal as well as professional growth:
• Good communication skills
• Methodical and decision-making ability
• Strong reasoning ability & problem-solving skills
• Good with statistics
• Ability to work on and grasp company annual reports
• Must have a good understanding of the global market
Apart from being the mediator between the board and the shareholders, a company secretary also communicates with the outside world on the company’s behalf. The company secretary makes sure that everyone is informed about the meetings and where they take place, keeping all the records for future reference. In addition to that, the company secretary takes care of notifying event of changes in shareholding patterns, directorship etc. He/she handles all the important correspondence that happens between the board and its members.
Many organizations also have confusion between choosing a part time company secretary or an external secretary. Before you choose to be hired as an employee or work independently, you must understand the pros and cons. As a company secretary, you’ll get a chance to rub shoulders with the company’s top management. You’ll get a lot of exposure to various external agencies and regulatory authorities. A company secretary gets a broader view of taxation, general management and finance. Not forgetting the compensation part, company secretaries get fantastic salaries, providing the fact that you do a good job for your company. However, you should not forget that this can be a very demanding job, the company secretary has a lot of things to do apart from just formulating and implementing strategies and adhering to various practice.
An organization looking for a good company secretary need not go far to find one. Secretarial firms have started taking advantage of the internet in promoting their professional services. Company Secretarial services can now be found online providing an array of services. They provide their details on their websites which can give you an idea of their level of professionalism and past records with other clients.
A company secretary is one among the most important professionals in an organization. Before choosing a company secretary, an organization should look into all details of how can he/she can be a valuable addition to the firm/company. You can contact him for consultation about the Scope of Company Secretary.
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