Welcome to ICSA

Welcome to ICSAAll you need to know about becoming a Chartered Secretary

The Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators

2 Welcome to icsa

Contents

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Contents

What is a Chartered Secretary?What does a Chartered Secretary do?What salary can a Chartered Secretary expect?

What is the Membership journey?What are the benefits of Membership?

Frequently asked questions

How to register

Welcome to ICSAWhat sort of people join ICSA?How do I become a Chartered Secretary? What is the ICSA qualifying scheme?

Which modules do I need to study?How can I study?How long does the qualification take?How much will it cost me?What support will I get during my study?

pages 4–5

pages 10–11

page 13

page 14

pages 6–7

pages 8–9


4 Welcome to icsa

What is a Chartered Secretary?Chartered Secretaries are high-ranking professionals with a broad base of skills unique among the professions. Trained in corporate law, finance, governance, company secretaryship and management, Chartered Secretaries are the focal point for independent advice about the conduct of business, governance and compliance. Highly valued by employers, they are key players with the skills, vision and values to take their organisations forward.

Qualifying as a Chartered Secretary opens up a wealth of career opportunities – across sectors, internationally, within organisations and in practice.

Chartered Secretaries work in a number of different careers and across a variety of sectors including corporate, not-for-profit and charity. Some work as company secretaries for FTSE 100 companies earning an average base salary of over £190,000.* Others have roles such as chief executive, chairman, director of legal services or in-house counsel, or they work in practice offering business and legal services to a range of clients.

With the opportunity to work overseas using an internationally recognised qualification, becoming a Chartered Secretary is a passport to a challenging, versatile and well-rewarded career.

What does a Chartered Secretary do?The specific responsibilities of a Chartered Secretary vary depending upon the level of the job role, the size of the organisation and the sector in which it operates. However, responsibilities may include:

advising the board on effective decision-making, legal and regulatory matters and risk management;

developing and managing strategies to ensure compliance with legal and statutory requirements;

identifying areas for improved corporate governance; implementing changes in relevant legislation; managing board, shareholder and trustee communications,

reports and meetings; liaising with auditors, lawyers and tax advisers; leading on issues essential to business performance such

as negotiation of contracts, finance, accounting, insurance and property; and

interpreting and advising on financial reporting.

What salary can a Chartered Secretary expect?Salaries vary greatly depending on job role and organisation type. As a guide, a fully qualified Chartered Secretary working in the private sector earns anything between £56,000 and £193,000 on average with top company secretaries for a FTSE 100 company earning up to £335,000 basic.* Salaries within the charity/not-for-profit sectors tend to be lower.

A company secretarial assistant earns on average between £30,000 and £35,000 with top roles offering over £43,000.* Some of our students start their career in a secretarial assistant role and study for the ICSA qualification at the same time, so they gain valuable professional experience as well as earning an income and gaining a professional qualification.

Average base salary for a company secretary*

Category of employer Average salary

FTSE 100 £193,105

FTSE 250 £114,030

Other PLCs £95,680

Private t/o £1bn+ £107,782

Private t/o £250m – £1bn £85,243

Private t/o under £250m £66,218

Charity/not-for-profit £56,523

*Information taken from Chambers and Partners Salary Survey 2009–2010

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Charles Brown FCIS is company secretary

at Experian plc and a Fellow of ICSA:

‘ Being a Chartered Secretary equips me with a qualification that is specific to the role of company secretary. I enjoy the variety, the level of interaction and exposure at the most senior levels of the company and the unique role and insights you receive as company secretary and trusted adviser to the chairman, CEO and board. Being a company secretary is a unique role that can offer you significant exposure and reward (equivalent to senior lawyers and accountants) at the pinnacle of your career. Even as a trainee. I was regularly interacting with main board directors, an opportunity which was not available to any other trainees from other professions within the organisation. This is a profession that has offered me the opportunity of significant career progression at a relatively young age.’

Bernadette Barber FCIS runs her own

freelance company secretarial consultancy

business and is a Fellow of ICSA:

‘ My company offers company secretarial and governance services to organisations in the private, public and third sectors. I undertake one-off projects as well as performing on-going roles for my clients. This can include advising on governance structures, servicing board meetings or undertaking corporate changes for my clients. A Chartered Secretary has access to many different career paths because they develop wide-ranging and flexible skills.’


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The profession of Chartered Secretary attracts a wide variety of people. Many of our Members were previously working in the legal professions or as accountants. Many join us as new graduates who are looking for a diverse and rewarding career and want to fast-track their route to the boardroom. Some people are already working in entry-level roles in corporate governance and want to take their career to the next step. Whatever your situation, we can support you in becoming a Chartered Secretary and starting a career in an exciting, challenging and rewarding profession.

Whilst people entering the profession are from all sorts of backgrounds with varying levels of education and experience, there are some skills that all our Members share:

a keen interest in business and the legal and regulatory environment within which it operates;

strong strategic instincts; an ability to absorb and digest technical knowledge; highly developed numeracy and literacy skills; the confidence to communicate with and influence

stakeholders at all levels, including board members and shareholders;

impeccable organisational skills; an ability to focus on detail and work to a high level of

accuracy while balancing competing priorities; and well-developed integrity and a belief in the importance

of transparency.

ICSA (The Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators) is the international qualifying and Membership body for the Chartered Secretary profession and the world’s leading authority on corporate governance.

We support our students through their studies and support our Members throughout their careers. By influencing government and regulators and working with our Members, we lead in shaping the governance agenda and promoting the best practice essential for organisational performance.

What sort of people join ICSA?

Welcome to ICSA

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Craig Hunter FCIS is managing

director of VERSEC Limited,

an award winning company

secretarial solutions provider.

He is also a member of the

board of British Swimming and

the England Chef de Mission

for the XIX Commonwealth Games, Delhi 2010.

Craig is a Fellow of ICSA:

‘ I would definitely recommend the ICSA qualification. The diverse nature of the training helped to prepare me for all manners of challenges. It’s a great qualification and is a passport to future success. Being a Chartered Secretary means great opportunities careerwise.’

The first stage to becoming a Chartered Secretary is to study the qualifying scheme and pass the relevant exams. Once you have successfully completed the exams and paid your graduate fee, you will be given the grade Graduate and designated the title GradICSA which you can use after your name.

To become a full Member of ICSA and a Chartered Secretary, you also need to demonstrate a certain level of professional experience. Many students study while they work and are able to gain their professional experience at the same time as studying. Full details on becoming a full Member can be found on page 10.

ICSA’s Chartered Secretary qualifying scheme is one of the broadest-based professional qualifications, equipping you for a variety of different career paths.

Valued worldwide by employers, this highly marketable qualification comprises of two parts, each with four modules. You may need to study all eight modules or, depending on your existing qualifications, you may be exempt from some modules.

Part 1 modules Financial accounting Corporate law Strategic and operations management Management accounting

Part 2 modules Corporate governance Corporate secretaryship Corporate administration Corporate financial management

Assessment for each module is via an exam. Exams are held in June and November. For more details on exact dates and exam centres please visit www.icsa.org.uk/study.

How do I become a Chartered Secretary?

What is the ICSA qualifying scheme?


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Rob Bellhouse FCIS is company secretary of

Lonmin Plc and a Fellow of ICSA:

‘ Having enough accounting knowledge to talk to the accountants, enough tax knowledge to talk to the tax guys and enough law knowledge to talk to lawyers, has been invaluable. Doing all my training on the job was the perfect way to learn. At 24, I was effectively secretary of a mid-FTSE 250 construction company and learned a vast amount in the process. Becoming a Chartered Secretary is a fast-track way of reaching the boardroom of the company, and becoming part of the senior management team.’

Which modules do I need to study?If you already have a related degree (e.g. accountancy, law or finance) or a relevant professional qualification (such as CIMA, ACCA, ICAEW, CIPFA or Law Society), you may be exempt from certain modules.

For example, a CIMA qualified accountant may only need to study four of the modules. A recent law graduate with a recognised qualification may also only need to do four modules, although these may be different to those that an accountant would study.

To find out which modules you need to study, contact our student support team who will be able to advise you on a programme to suit your qualifications. Alternatively, visit our website for more information.

Phone: +44 (0) 20 7580 4741E-mail: [email protected]: www.icsa.org.uk/study

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How can I study?You can study for the ICSA qualification via a variety of routes:

self-study; distance learning delivered by independent tuition providers; part-time attendance at classes delivered by independent

tuition providers; or full-time attendance on collaborative Masters courses at partner

universities. These post-graduate collaborative courses mean you gain the University’s post-graduate award in addition to the ICSA Graduate status (GradICSA).

For details of tuition providers and collaborative Masters courses please visit www.icsa.org.uk.

How long does the qualification take? Due to the flexibility of study options available, the timeframe in which the status of GradICSA is achieved can vary. However, if you study both parts of the professional programme, qualification typically takes between one and three years. Once you achieve GradICSA status and you can demonstrate relevant work experience, you can apply for full Associate Member status (see page 10).

How much will it cost me?The registration fee for each module covers a full study package and includes registration onto the programme, provision of the study text, access to online student support and entry to the first attempt at the examination.

Fee

per module £600 (€740)

Once you have passed the exams, you will need to pay an annual fee:

Annual graduate and Membership fees

Graduate £245

Associate £245

Fellow £275

The above fees are valid until 31 July 2010. Reduced fees are available to students studying in selected countries outside the EU. See www.icsa.org.uk/study for details. Full fees information, including fees for late entry and re-sits etc., can be found on www.icsa.org.uk.

You need to pay the above module fee, if you are learning via self-study or via one of our tuition providers. If you plan on studying with one of our providers, please contact them directly for the additional tuition fees.

Costs for learning via of our collaborative university Masters courses vary. Please contact your chosen university for details.

What support will I get during my study?The fee for each module includes the cost of a specialist study text. The texts are designed to provide comprehensive coverage of each syllabus, and include a range of tests and practice questions and answers to support study.

As a student of ICSA you will also be kept up-to-date with all the latest news and information; you will receive monthly copies of the industry-leading Chartered Secretary magazine as well as regular student e-newsletters. You will have access to online support, including study tips and guidance, support on how to answer exam questions, previous exam papers and additional practice questions and answers.

You will be able to meet other students and practising Chartered Secretaries via our network of branches and groups. We also offer discounted access to our events and training courses. In addition, you will be notified of any work placements which employers may provide to help you gain valuable professional experience, should you need it.


10 Welcome to icsa

A Chartered professional status can help you open the door to a new and varied career. When you join us some of the benefits you will receive are:

An enhanced professional identity By becoming a full Member of ICSA you will receive

Chartered status which is recognised internationally and, from 2010, will be officially classified by the UK’s Office of National Statistics (ONS).

Support for your career progression As a Member you will receive support for your CPD. You

will also be able to attend a variety of targeted training courses (with a 10 per cent Membership discount). In addition, you will have access to our recruitment service helping you to secure new job roles and ensure your CV and interview technique is up-to-the-minute.

The latest news and information You will receive monthly copies of ICSA’s industry-leading

Chartered Secretary magazine. This contains news and features on subjects of professional interest as well as a wide selection

of job advertisements. You can also sign up to receive our weekly Newswire updates, which help to keep you up-to-date with the latest news and regulatory developments.

Technical help and support You will have access to a dedicated telephone enquiry service

providing technical advice on a range of subjects to help you throughout your career. You will also have access to specialist software for company secretaries and board performance evaluation services.

Networking opportunities You will be able to join Member, sector and regional

groups as well as attend a range conferences and events (at discounted prices).

A collective voice As a Member you will have a platform to share your voice

in shaping the policy agenda and evoking change. You will be able to participate in consultation activities and exercise your voice to support, inform and influence legal and regulatory frameworks.

At ICSA we value the relationship we have with our Members and we are committed to supporting your career and development and promoting the Chartered Secretary profession.

Making the most of being a Chartered Secretary and enhancing your knowledge and skills will help you drive your own career and personal development. We are here to help you throughout your career, encouraging progression and providing the tools and professional support you need to do your job.

Passing your exams and obtaining the Graduate grade is the first step on your Membership journey. You can become a full Member of ICSA and a Chartered Secretary by becoming an Associate Member:

To achieve the Associate grade (ACIS) you must be able to demonstrate a minimum of six years’ relevant professional experience. This can be reduced by up to three years for graduates and holders of other relevant qualifications.

Many Chartered Secretaries study while in employment, which can count towards Associate status.

The most senior Chartered Secretaries are our Fellows:

To achieve Fellowship (FCIS) you must demonstrate career progression to a senior level in a top organisation with at least eight years’ relevant work experience or equivalent.

Many of our Members work with us to help promote the profession. Some join us at career and recruitment events to speak to prospective students, others offer work placements or trainee programmes to students. Members also get involved in contributing to debates and issues, responding to consultations and joining working parties to consider legislation changes.

As a Member of ICSA and a qualified Chartered Secretary you will have access to the skills, knowledge and support you need throughout your lifelong career.

What are the benefits of Membership?

What is the Membership journey?

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Anthony Panayiotis Michael FCIS is director and company secretary to a

US Bank in Jersey and a Fellow of ICSA:

‘ If you are studying for the ICSA examinations, make sure that you see your studies through to the end. I believe that once you are qualified, this will open up many career opportunities. The qualification itself is recognised worldwide and people know when they are dealing with a Chartered Secretary that we have a broad depth of knowledge. The versatility of the qualification enables you to work in almost any field of your choice.’


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How do I register with ICSA? For full details of how to register, please see page 14.

What are the payment methods accepted by the Institute?The Institute accepts payment by cheque, credit/debit card and bankers draft. All examination entries must be accompanied by the relevant payment. If your company is paying for your examinations, you should take a copy of the exam entry form and the student fee sheet to your finance department. This should be sufficient for your finance department to raise the relevant cheque. We cannot process any application without the correct payment. All payments must be in Sterling, although students from the Republic of Ireland can opt to pay in Euros.

What is the closing date for registering for each module? You must register for each module you wish to study. Closing dates for registering are as follows:

1 April for the Summer (June) examination session 1 October for the Winter (November) examination session

Once I’ve sent my application, what confirmation should I expect to receive? Once your application has been processed, we will send you a letter confirming the module you have registered for, the examination centre and the examination session. Around four to six weeks before the examination date we will send you an admission slip which will confirm the date, time and precise location of your exam.

Once I have registered, how long will it be before I receive my study text?If you live in the UK, you should receive your study text within ten working days of the date your registration was processed. If you live overseas, it may take up to four weeks. We will usually send materials overseas by courier and therefore please ensure you supply an address at which your text can be signed for. If you live in Ghana, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Nigeria or Uganda, you will need to collect your study material from your local ICSA office.

How long should I take to study each module?How long you need to take to study each module will depend on your own abilities and circumstances. However, the average student will require three to six months to understand a module and to be prepared enough to sit the examinations.

I’ve just sat my examination. How long will it be until I receive my results?You should allow up to nine weeks after your examination for your results. Results are mailed on the relevant release date and are also available online on the release date.

I do not believe my examination results are correct, how can I appeal for a remark?The Institute does not remark papers, however, you can request and pay for a Script Report where the Chief Marker will review your paper and give a report as to the reason why you received that mark. Please note this is not a remarking exercise.

Can I view past examination papers online? Yes. Past papers are available around a week after the examination session. Suggested answers to these questions are usually available up to three months later.

Frequently asked questions


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STAGE 1: Decide which modules to studyIf you have a degree or professional qualification, establish how many modules you need to study either by visiting www.icsa.org.uk/study or by contacting our student support team. The team can also offer guidance on the order in which to study the modules. You will also want to decide whether to study one module at a time or two at once.

Phone: +44 (0) 20 7580 4741E-mail: [email protected]: www.icsa.org.uk/study

If you don’t have a degree or professional qualification, contact our student support team who will be able to advise you on other study you may need to do prior to starting the qualifying scheme.

STAGE 3: Organise paymentIf you are paying by credit or debit card, complete the enclosed payment form. Alternatively, you can pay by cheque, made payable to ICSA.

The fees information is on page 9. You need to pay £600 (€740) per module, so if you are studying two modules at once, you should pay £1,200 (€1,480). All students must pay in Sterling, other than those living in the Republic of Ireland, who can pay in Euros. (These fees are valid until 31 July 2010).

STAGE 2: Complete registration formsComplete the enclosed registration form and also the exam entry form. If you are planning on studying two modules at once, you should complete two exam entry forms.

STAGE 4: Send forms and paymentSend your completed forms along with your payment to:

The Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators16 Park CrescentLondonW1B 1AHUnited Kingdom

Please note that we cannot register you until we receive payment.

If you want to register for self-study or distance learning, please follow the four stages below:

If you wish to study on a post-graduate collaborative course with one of our partner universities, please contact us for the relevant details and forms.

How to register

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The Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ICSA) 16 Park CrescentLondonW1B 1AH United Kingdom

Phone: +44 (0) 20 7580 4741Fax: +44 (0) 20 7323 1132 E-mail: [email protected]: www.icsa.org.uk

Welcome to ICSA

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Transcript of Welcome to ICSA