Know Your member- KS Venkatakrishnan Practising Company Secretary and Faculty in SIRC-ICSI

 Please tell us when did you study ACS?  How were you attracted to this course? What are the other courses that you have studied?

I joined the ACS course during 1998 after completing CWA and got attracted to this course to acquire legal knowledge.

I completed by graduation in B.Sc. (Maths) from Vaishnava College, Chennai during 1982 and my dream was to do Chartered Accountancy – CA course, but before completing my degree, I  was selected for Bank job through BSRB recruitment and joined Indian Bank during November 1982.

However my urge for studies never stopped and I completed M.Sc. (Maths) from Annamalai University, Chidambaram under distance education programme and then joined ICWAI (Costing) course and completed the same. In the meanwhile, I did PGDPM (MBA) from NIPM Calcutta and subsequently completed the CS course. ALL the above courses I completed while I was in employment in Indian Bank.

 

2. Were you in employment for some time? If so, where you have you worked so far?

 

Yes, I got employed with Indian Bank in 1982 after completing my graduation and worked till 2001 (resigned as officer).

 

3. When did you start practice?

 

On 30^th June 2003 and I have completed 16 years of practice mainly in company law.

 

4. What are the subjects that you teach? What are the institutions that you are taking classes?

 

At present I am taking classes at SIRC-ICSI -foundation level- teaching Financial Accounting and Statistics subjects.

 

5. A Company Secretary taking Maths and Statistics classes; looks very different and interesting; what are your practice areas?

 

Basically my dream was to be a Chartered Accountant but could not do as I got employed in Indian Bank even before I could complete my final year of graduation (B.Sc. Mathematics from Vaishnava College, Arumbakkam). However my urge for studies never stopped and I completed other courses as mentioned above. Apart from the above, I had interest in teaching Mathematics subject to school and college students during my evening hours, while I was in employment.

 

During 2001, Voluntary Retirement Scheme was introduced in the Bank and I applied for the same with intention to could continue my teaching as full time, but the same was rejected by the Bank and during 2002, I resigned from the Bank and started my own coaching centre for teaching Accountancy and Mathematics. At that time, I learnt that there was more scope for secretarial practice and started the CS practice from June 2003. Though I struggled during initial years, after the introduction of online filing from 2006 by MCA, the practice has slowly improved. But I am yet to appear before the NCLT or NCLAT and waiting for good time and opportunity for that.

 

6. How are you able to manage both practice and teaching?

 

Mostly I have my classes between 4 PM to 9 PM on all days of week and morning hours I allocate for secretarial work and visiting client offices. This way I was able balance both. But when it comes to client or class – my first preference would be for students.

 7. Do you have any other passion/ pastime?

 I had an opportunity to work for a social organisation named RAMANA SUNRITYA AALAYA (TRUST) which is engaged in teaching Special children using dance and music as therapy. I am one of the trustees since 1989.

Also engaged in teaching economically weaker/poor children conducted by SYMA (a social service oriented organisation which is organising free coaching for 10^th and 12^th TN State Board Students in Triplicane)

I am also engaged in religious activities (chanting Vedas and prabhandams) in Sri Parthsarathy Swamy Temple, Triplicane Chennai and frequently visit other temples during temple festivals

 

8. Please tell us about your family.

I come from a family of teachers.

My maternal grandfather was retired Tamil Professor from Vivekananda College, Chennai      (Late Prof. C Jagannathachariar) and a well-known Tamil scholar.

My Paternal grandfather was retired Mathematics Professor (Late Prof. KS Srinivasachariar)

My father retired from LIC (Late Mr K S Singarachari) an authority in actuarial valuation.

My Mother (Smt Aravinda) has completed her PhD in Music at the age of 70 years (from Madras University) during 2012 and is teaching Veena for the past 50 years and also interested in Scholarly works of Alwars and Acharyas.

My wife (Mrs Karpagam) is employed as a teacher in private school in Chennai and without her support I would not have started my CS practice after resigning from Bank.

My son has completed MS programme from NTU Singapore and is at present employed in a private company in Belgium, Europe.

 

My brother is an ACA and ACS (dual professional) and now a practicing Chartered Accountant.

My sister is married and settled in Mumbai.

 

9. You have been teaching for a very long time. Has the students’ approach/ attitude changed over the years?

 

Yes, there is lot of changes in students’ approach and attitude particularly after the innovation of Mobile Smart Phones. The use of mobile is both advantage and disadvantage. However, concentration and studying regularly will pay better results and this is true after analysing the recent trends of students from rural areas of North India like Rajasthan and UP securing All India Ranks in all the three professional courses.

 

10. What are the challenges that you face as a Practising Company Secretary?

 

Lots of changes in the Companies Act and Rules and frequent amendments on daily basis is a challenge  and unless we are up to date on a daily basis, we may find it difficult to compete with our peers in practice.

Besides there are also changes in other related Acts like Labour laws and Direct Tax and Indirect Tax which we have to update on a regular basis.

 

11. Do you find that the course is becoming tough as the days go by or you think the level of expertise expected is the need of the hour?

The CS course has been modified to suit the present day requirement and it is of course becoming tough.  However if the students understand the concepts thoroughly and prepare well for exam with plan and strategy then it will be easy for them to clear the exams. 

 

12. What are the general points that you would like to tell for students who study this challenging course?  

 

Students must understand the basic concepts and Acts and Rules.

Study all the topics given in the subject and wherever required study and understand the applicable case laws (published in the Chartered Secretary) and try to apply the same while answering relevant questions.

Students must update themselves with recent amendments /changes in Rules.

My advice to students would be first study our Institute Study material which has wide coverage of the course content and then go through other reference books.