The Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ICSA) is an international professional membership body and a recognised authority on corporate governance.
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History
The organisation was founded in 1891 and incorporated by Royal Charter in 1902. The initial object of the Institute of Secretaries was the development of the profession of company secretary and the creation of high standards in the Profession. Membership was limited to those successful in the examinations and those who demonstrated the standard of experience set by the Institute.
In 1902, the Institute changed its name to the Chartered Institute of Secretaries of Joint Stock Companies and Other Public Bodies. In practice, as ICSA grew, its membership has reflected the administrative function in many types of corporate body such as educational institutions, charities and hospitals. In 1971 this wider role was recognised formally by an amendment to the Institute's Charter which gave it the name of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators.
Profile
There are three classes of membership of the Institute, Fellows and Associates. All qualified members of the Institute are entitled to describe themselves as Chartered Secretaries and use the designatory letters, FCIS or ACIS as appropriate. Fellowship is the senior grade of membership. Another grade, Grad ICSA, comprises those who have successfully completed the examinations but have not yet gained sufficient qualifying service for Associateship. Students have the option of distance learning or going to college or university in order to qualify. The ICSA's International qualification is recognised in over 70 countries and, in the UK, Chartered Secretaries work in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors.
Working with government and other statutory bodies, ICSA promotes and supports best practice in corporate governance private, public and not-for-profit sectors. Since 2006 the Institute has been working closely with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on the implementation of the Companies Act 2006 and has recently contributed to the Financial Reporting Council's review of the Combined Code and Sir David Walker's review of corporate governance in the banking sector.
ICSA regularly publishes guidance notes which focus on the practical aspects of legislation and has several subsidiary companies through which it provides software, books, training, conferences, recruitment and board evaluation.
Divisions
Headquartered in London, with divisions in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa and Zimbabwe, ICSA International has 36,000 members and 15,000 students worldwide.
See also
External links
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