1. Introduction : Company Secretary possess an important post in the company. He has to do administration in the company such that the provisions of the Company Act is followed. During the functional duties, he has to keep the contact with various parties and do correspondence, do contracts with traders who provides material. For this he must have knowledge of various law and dominance over language.
2. Qualification of Secretary Secretary must have knowledge of various things. These qualifications is not inbuilt, he has to achieve it through education. That is why it is said that, “Secretary is not born, but he is made.” A Secretary must have following qualifications
(1) Educational qualifications
(2) Knowledge of accounting
(3) Knowledge of office administration.
(4) Knowledge of meeting managements
(5) Knowledge of various Acts
(6) Knowledge of economic and political affairs
(7) Knowledge of Current Issues
(8) Excellent command over English and other languages.
(9) Knowledge of public relations
(10) Knowledge of computer and other electronic gadgets.
(1) Educational qualifications : Secretary must have minimum graduation level degree. Moreover degree of law helps him to prepare contracts, legal documents. If the company does trading with the foreign country then knowledge of foreign language i also essential.
(2) Knowledge of accounting : The books of accounts must be prepared as per rules and regulation of the company act in time. These are the responsibilities of the company secretary. Even though the secretary is not expert in accounting but he should have basic knowledge of daily accounts of books keeping and final accounts.
(3) Knowledge of office administration : The secretary must have ability and knowledge of distribution and co-ordination of work between different departments. Moreover various accounts used in office and technologies required in office work. Such knowledge is essential in modern time. In short, secretary must have knowledge of office administration.
(4) Knowledge of meeting managements : The company secretary has to arrange different types of meeting like Board of Directors, Shareholders, Creditors etc. Generally he prepares agenda, issue notice for meeting and write down minutes. He requires knowledge of meeting management in order to observe the company act and article of association.
(5) Knowledge of various Acts : Lack of knowledge regarding law put the company into problem. A minute carelessness regarding application of provisions of law can make company into probable loss. That is why Indian Contact Act, SEBI Act, Sales of Good Act, Negotiable Instrument Act, Provident fund Act, Wage Act etc. are essential for the company secretary to perform his duty with perfectly and lawfully.
(6) Knowledge of Economic and Political affairs : As the company is formed in society and it connected with different parties of society. The secretary must converse himself with present affairs and changing situation. He must have knowledge of various facts which affects company and economical as well as political affairs. For this all he must be provided various magazines.
(7) Knowledge of Current Issues : The company secretary must know the current affairs and present problems, as current affairs may affect the development of the company. For eg. Eagerness of save environment in the society, cleanliness mission, various schemes launched by government, Insurance Schemes etc. In such type of situation the secretary may provide proper guidance to Board of Directors to prevent such situation in future.
(8) Excellent Command over English and other language The company secretary has to follow correspondence with various parties. So he must be excellent in English . With the development of company it has to deal with foreign company and for that he must have command over English language which help to understand and to do contracts with foreign companies.
(9) Knowledge of public relation : Public relation means the relation with Customer, Debtors, Employees, Shareholders and Other Companies. Secretary must satisfy the shareholders and develop the public relation.
(10) Knowledge of Computer technology : With the scientific invention, computers came into existence. Now a days the information regarding shares and debentures are collected in the computer itself. Under this circumstances a secretary must have the knowledge of computer. Because of computer knowledge, time resources and human labour are saved. Moreover he must be well conversant with electronic gadgets which are used in office administration and to command and control over Discipline of employees.
3. Conclusion : From the above points we can say that secretary can be trained by giving training on various matters that is why we can say that secretary is not born he is made.