The role of the Company Secretary is that of an advisor to the management of the company with regard to legal and business matters. It is a statutory requirement that all companies with a paid up share capital of a minimum of Rs 50 lakhs are required to appoint a Company Secretary. Company secretaries carry out a vast range of services for the company, depending largely on the size of the
organization, and the nature of its activities. 

Some of the major services are: 

Incorporation of the company, management of the public issue, processing of applications for management appointments, remunerations, inter-corporate investments and loans, conducting of meetings of the Board of Directors, maintenance of records, registers and minutes of meetings. 

A Company Secretary also handles all matters concerning corporate law, central/state sales tax and excise laws, and labor laws. 

Obtaining of institutional finance, project approvals, permits or licenses under FERA (Foreign Exchange Regulation Act), advising on requirements relating to the MRTP Act
(Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Act) with reference to certain trade practices, are also other areas that a Company Secretary would be expected to handle. 

A Company Secretary can arrange for the promotion, formation and incorporation of a new company or the amalgamation, reorganization or winding up of companies. 

The company secretary also acts as the authorized representative of a company with regard to filing, registering, presenting, attesting or verifying any document on behalf of the company. 

In addition the company secretary acts as share transfer agent, issues house shares, acts as stockbroker, secretarial auditor, consultant or advisor on management, legal or procedural matters falling under the Companies Act 1956, and various other corporate laws. 

As the authorized official of the company the Company Secretary signs the annual returns of the company.

Main Areas

Most qualified company secretaries find full-time jobs in companies with a paid up share capital of Rs 50 lakhs and above, and those seeking listing on the stock exchange. Other areas for qualified company secretaries include:

· Senior posts with the Government of India, and on the panel of bodies such as the Bureau of Public Enterprises, State Government financial institutions, and stock exchanges.

· Grade I to IV in the Accounts branch of the Central Government Law services of the Department of Company Affairs.

· Specialists in the fields of finance, law, accounts and merchant banking of nationalized banks.

· In academics, as lecturers in universities.

An experienced Company Secretary, by virtue of expertise and academic background is suited to become a member of the board or the governing body of any organization. Many senior members have become chairmen, managing directors, and whole time directors in several reputed companies.