Company Secretary (CS)
A professional qualification in corporate governance, company law and regulatory compliance.
Description
The Company Secretary (CS) qualification, governed by the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI), is a professional course focused on corporate governance, company law, secretarial practice and regulatory compliance.
The course is structured in three stages — CS Foundation, CS Executive and CS Professional — combined with practical training. Students learn corporate law, securities law, governance, ethics, tax and management, preparing them to advise boards and ensure companies comply with legal and regulatory requirements.
A CS is a key advisor to the board of directors and is legally required for certain companies. CS professionals work in corporate houses, consulting firms, regulatory bodies and independent practice.
Entrance Exams
CS Foundation
ICSI
Entry-level exam with papers on business environment, law, economics and management. Held twice a year.
CS Executive
ICSI
Second stage covering company law, tax, accounting and capital markets; requires practical training.
CS Professional
ICSI
Final stage with advanced papers on governance, drafting, secretarial audit and strategic management.
Job Roles
Company Secretary
Advises the board on governance, compliance and legal matters; ensures regulatory filings.
Compliance Officer
Monitors and ensures the company complies with corporate and securities laws.
Corporate Legal Advisor
Guides companies on mergers, acquisitions, restructuring and regulatory issues.
Secretarial Auditor
Conducts secretarial audits to verify corporate compliance and governance.
Independent Practitioner
Runs a practice offering CS, compliance and advisory services to multiple companies.
Salary
Fresher (post-qualification)
Corporate houses and listed companies pay at the higher end.
Mid-level (3–6 yrs post-qualification)
Compliance and governance roles in large firms pay well.
Senior (7+ yrs / Head of Secretarial)
Senior CS professionals in large corporates earn significantly more.
Top Colleges / Institutes
- ICSI (national body, exam-based — no college admission)
- Top commerce colleges for base education: SRCC (Delhi), St. Xavier’s (Kolkata/Mumbai), Christ (Bengaluru)
- Coaching: ICSI modules, SuperProfs, Takshila Learning