Cheat sheet

IICA Independent Director Cheat Sheet

Companies Law

Not publishedof exam

Director FrameworkBoard DutiesCommitteesRelated Parties

Corporate Governance

Not publishedof exam

IndependenceSchedule IVEthicsBoard Evaluation

Basic Accountancy

Not publishedof exam

Balance SheetProfit and LossCash FlowRatios

Securities Law

Not publishedof exam

SEBI LODRPITUPSIDisclosures

Quick Facts

Owner
IICA
Platform
ID Databank
Mode
Remote proctored
Pass
≥50% aggregate
Deadline
Two years
Attempts
Unlimited
Booking gap
One day
Weights
Not published

Board Matter Picker

  1. Personal interest existsDisclose interest(Record it)
  2. Related party dealCheck approval path(Arm's length)
  3. Financial reporting issueAudit Committee(Seek evidence)
  4. Executive appointmentNRC(Merit criteria)
  5. Risk escalationRisk oversight(Challenge response)
  6. Control failureRequest remediation(Track closure)

Director Framework

Independent director
Independent board member
Section 149
Director framework
Schedule IV
Independent director code
DIN
Director identification number
KMP
Key managerial personnel
Board resolution
Formal board decision
Special resolution
Enhanced shareholder approval

Board Duties

Section 166
Director duties
Good faith
Honest company purpose
Due care
Informed diligent conduct
Conflict disclosure
Declare personal interest
Independent judgment
Challenge management evidence
Board meeting
Collective decision forum
Quorum
Minimum meeting presence

Committees and Controls

Audit Committee
Financial oversight
NRC
Nomination remuneration oversight
Risk Committee
Risk oversight
Stakeholder Committee
Investor grievance oversight
Related party
Connected transaction party
Arm's length
Independent market terms
Internal control
Risk-control system

Four Domains

Law, markets, numbers, governance.

Companies lawSecurities lawAccountancyGovernance

Independent vs Non-Executive

Independent

  • Meets independence criteria
  • Objective board challenge
  • Avoids disqualifying relationships

Non-executive

  • Not daily management
  • May lack independence
  • Broader director category

Independence adds criteria

Governance Practice

Code of conduct
Expected ethical behavior
Integrity
Principled consistent conduct
Objectivity
Evidence before preference
Separate meeting
Independent director discussion
Board evaluation
Effectiveness assessment
Whistleblower
Protected concern reporter
Stakeholders
Affected interest groups

Director Lens

Ask, challenge, record, follow through.

EvidenceIndependenceMinutesClosure

Financial Lens

Profit explains; cash confirms.

P and LCash flowRatiosAudit

Profit vs Cash

Profit

  • Accounting performance
  • Revenue less expenses
  • Accrual-based measure

Cash

  • Actual cash movement
  • Operating investing financing
  • Liquidity evidence

Earnings do not equal cash

Financial Review Picker

  1. Financial positionBalance sheet(Assets liabilities equity)
  2. Period performanceProfit and loss(Revenue expenses)
  3. Cash qualityCash flow(Operating cash)
  4. Short-term pressureLiquidity ratios(Current quick)
  5. Borrowing pressureLeverage ratio(Debt equity)
  6. Audit concernRead audit report(Ask follow-ups)

Financial Statements

Balance sheet
Position at date
Assets
Controlled economic resources
Liabilities
Present obligations
Equity
Residual owner interest
Profit and loss
Period performance statement
Revenue
Income from operations
Expenses
Costs of operations
Cash flow
Cash movement statement

Liquidity vs Solvency

Liquidity

  • Near-term obligations
  • Current resources
  • Cash conversion

Solvency

  • Long-term viability
  • Debt capacity
  • Capital resilience

Short term vs long term

Ratios and Audit

Current ratio
Short-term coverage
Quick ratio
Liquid coverage
Debt-to-equity
Leverage indicator
Return on equity
Equity profitability
Operating cash flow
Cash from operations
Audit report
Auditor conclusion
Going concern
Continuing-operation assessment

Companies Act vs LODR

Companies Act

  • Company-law framework
  • Director duties
  • Statutory governance

SEBI LODR

  • Listed-entity obligations
  • Market disclosures
  • Listing governance

Company law vs listing rules

Market Information Picker

  1. Unpublished and price-sensitiveProtect as UPSI(Limit access)
  2. Need to share UPSICheck legitimate purpose(Follow controls)
  3. Trading is proposedCheck trading window(Follow code)
  4. Disclosure is dueApply LODR(Assess materiality)
  5. Conflict appearsDisclose promptly(Avoid influence)
  6. Evidence is incompleteAsk questions(Document challenge)

SEBI LODR Basics

SEBI LODR
Listed-entity obligations
Listed entity
Exchange-listed issuer
Regulation 17
Board composition
Regulation 18
Audit Committee
Regulation 19
Nomination remuneration committee
Materiality
Disclosure significance threshold
Disclosure
Required market communication

Disclosure vs Confidentiality

Disclosure

  • Required market communication
  • Material information
  • Timely compliance

Confidentiality

  • Protect UPSI
  • Need-to-know access
  • Controlled sharing

Publish when required

PIT Basics

PIT Regulations
Insider-trading controls
UPSI
Unpublished price-sensitive information
Insider
Connected or UPSI-informed person
Connected person
Potential UPSI access
Trading window
Controlled trading period
Code of conduct
Trading-control procedures
Legitimate purpose
Permitted UPSI sharing

Common Traps

Independence Trap

Non-executive ≠ independent Title ≠ qualifying status

Finance Trap

Profit ≠ operating cash Revenue ≠ collection

Ratio Trap

Liquidity ≠ solvency Current ratio ≠ quick ratio

Market Trap

UPSI ≠ public information Disclosure ≠ informal sharing

Assessment Trap

Pass ≠ board appointment Mock ≠ scored attempt

Last Minute

  1. 1.Four areas: law, securities, accounts, governance
  2. 2.Pass mark: ≥50% aggregate
  3. 3.Test deadline: two years
  4. 4.Book through Databank dashboard
  5. 5.Keep one-day booking gap
  6. 6.Identify conflicts before discussion
  7. 7.Separate profit from cash
  8. 8.Use Schedule IV lens
  9. 9.Treat potential UPSI carefully
  10. 10.Check LODR disclosure duties
  11. 11.Ask for evidence and minutes
  12. 12.Use official modules and mock