Company Secretary

The purpose of this qualification is to prepare a learner to operate as a company secretary. The qualification provides for entry after Level 4 and has two parts. The first part prepares learners to function as governance practitioners in a wide range of organisational contexts and enables learners to exit the learning pathway at Level 7. The second part builds on this general foundation laid in Part 1 and focuses specifically on the role and responsibilities of the company secretary. The autonomy and complexity of responsibilities increase from Part 1 to Part 2. A qualified learner will be able to: • Mitigate functions within an organisation to achieve the objectives of the organisation while addressing the expectations of its stakeholders. • Report to the board on relevant corporate and business legislation and case law relating to compliance with the Act, the Memorandum of Incorporation (MOI) or rules of the company. • Collate and distribute the company's annual financial statements to every person entitled to them for strategic decision-making purposes. • Advise directors of any laws relevant to or affecting the company to ensure sound corporate governance principles and best practices in various organisational contexts. • Communicate with peers, superiors, subordinates, customers and service providers in a work environment. • Apply the concepts and principles of strategic management to organisations in order to protect their reputation and promote good governance and accountability to stakeholders. • Critically evaluate and advise the board or governing body on concepts of risk and compliance management in the context of good governance. • Certify the annual financial statements and accounting information, to ensure that all the necessary notices and returns have been filed in compliance with the Act and that they are true, correct and up to date. • Complete a range of tasks required of the company secretary to ensure compliance of a corporate entity with statutory and regulatory requirements. • Act as chief adviser to the board or governing body and other stakeholders on best practice in corporate governance, and as the catalyst for systematic application of governance principles and compliance across a wide range of organisations.

This qualification is designed to provide for the need for company secretaries in South Africa. A company secretary is the custodian of corporate governance of a company and carries much of the responsibility for maintaining the company's existence as a legal entity. The company secretary is, among others, responsible to provide the directors of a company collectively and individually with guidance as to their duties, responsibilities and powers. All public and state-owned companies are required by the Companies Act 75 of 2008, to appoint a company secretary, while the King Report on Corporate Governance for South Africa recommends the appointment of a company secretary in all registered companies. The position of company secretary requires specialised knowledge and skills in the field of corporate governance and, at the same time, it involves the incumbent in serious potential liabilities. It is, therefore, essential that company secretaries are properly qualified to take on this role. This qualification was developed in close cooperation with Chartered Secretaries Southern Africa (CSSA), the professional body for company secretaries and governance professionals in Southern Africa, and its constituents. It was also designed to meet the qualification standards set by the Professional Standards Committee of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ICSA), which consists of subject matter experts from the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, Canada, Zimbabwe, Hong Kong and Malaysia. These qualification standards are implemented by the professional bodies of these countries and adherence to these standards assisted in aligning this qualification to international best practice. Successful learners will be prepared for employment at senior levels in organisations and will be able to undertake leadership roles with confidence, to understand and advise on legal and governance matters and to contribute to strategic planning within the entities where they work. In addition to the role of company secretary, successful candidates will also be able to fulfil various other functions in the legal and risk divisions of organisations. This qualification is of critical importance for the South African economy. Good corporate governance is at the heart of continued domestic and foreign investment, which in turn is a prerequisite for economic growth and job creation. Similarly, confidence in the local financial markets depends on good corporate governance in the companies whose securities are traded in the markets.

RPL for access to the external integrated summative assessment: Accredited providers and approved workplaces must apply the internal assessment criteria specified in the related curriculum document to establish and confirm prior learning. Accredited providers and workplaces must confirm prior learning by issuing a statement of results or certifying a work experience record. RPL for access to the qualification: Accredited providers and approved workplaces may recognise prior learning against the relevant access requirements. Entry Requirements: NQF Level 4 qualification with Mathematical Literacy and Communication.

• Manage functions within an organisation to achieve the objectives of the organisation while addressing the expectations of its stakeholders.
• Apply relevant corporate and business legislation and case law to organisational contexts.
• Prepare financial information for the board or governing body for strategic decision-making.
• Advise on and apply corporate governance principles and best practices in various organisational contexts.
• Communicate with peers, superiors, subordinates, customers and service providers in a work environment.
• Complete a range of tasks required of the company secretary to ensure compliance of a corporate entity with statutory and regulatory requirements.
• Apply the concepts and principles of strategic management to organisations in order to protect their reputation and promote good governance and accountability to stakeholders.
• Apply the concepts of risk and compliance management in the context of good governance.
• Interpret financial and accounting information in order to provide advice to the board or governing body in strategy development and/or decision-making.
• Ensure compliance with corporate law across the various structures, management and performance areas of organisations.
• Act as chief adviser to the board or governing body and other stakeholders on best practice in corporate governance, and as the catalyst for systematic application of governance principles across a wide range of organisations.