We have seen many times when a student completed their Secondary Education, often confuse to be selecting which Career or Course they should select and make their long term career through that selection. As same students confusing in the case of every specific field of education whether they come from in science or commerce or arts stream. We are here with some questions to clear your some doubts and guidance about Company Secretary Career in India.
Q: Do you think a Commerce student at 10+2/Graduate is excited to become a Company Secretary?
A: In the recent internal assessment,
it was found that first-hand information is available to class 12/Graduation students about CS as a profession. They know it is not a secondary one. Students have started choosing a career in CS, especially girls students. Currently more than 40% of our students are female. This is because a CS works in a corporate environment instead of going to factory site and also, is free from initial articleship.
Q: What is the Importance of a Company Secretary in an organization?
A: A Company Secretary (CS) is one of the most vital professional in an organization. Who acts as link between the Board and various stake holders. He or She connects the Board with employees, share holders, deposit holders, bank, Institutions, stock exchanges, regulatory bodies an authorities, Central and State Governments and they society at large.
Q: What is the status of Company Secretary in organization today?
A: In a large corporate, the decision making take place essentially through a CS whether in terms of a marketing strategies or production strategies. Market policies cannot be in conflict with the competition law while the production strategies should be aligned with the government policies. A CS also forms a part of all commercial decisions, apart corporate matters related to organization like raising funds from the banks and capital markets, mergers, acquisitions, de-mergers, cross-border mergers, arbitrations, intellectual property rights, all legal matters and more importantly the governance issues. After the recent corporate mis-governance incidences, a CS is sought after by the industry to have advice on how to upgrade their governance practices, improve their disclosure, enhance transparency and bench mark their current practices with the global ones. He is a conscious keeper of the corporate entity and touches its roots. On the other hand, the smaller corporate are yet to realize the importance of a CS.
Q: Do Company Secretaries have opportunities in the government sector also?
A: Those government companies which are listed on the Stock Exchange or having a paid up capital of Rs. 5 crore or more appoint a CS. Moreover, government sector is also now focusing on availing services of professionals. If you see posts of regional directors of registrar of companies, a large number of them are either CS or other finance professionals and this trend is to multiply.
Q: What are the challenges for a practicing CS?
A: As a Practicing CS, one has to maintain very high standards of services to the client. They have to provide a competent, timely and cost effective advice. The way economics is growing, companies are looking forward to a CS advice as one the major element that bothers the Board is the risk of loosing reputation. Today one has to think twice before joining a company’s board as he needs to be doubly sure whether a company is fully compliant with all the law, rules regulations. A smaller company feels that it can’t recruit a fulltime CS, so they avail the services of a practicing CS.
