Introduction
If you're a newly minted Chartered Accountant in India, chances are you're already eyeing finance roles
that go beyond audits and tax filings. And somewhere in your scroll through LinkedIn job listings, the
term “FP&A” - short for Financial Planning & Analysis - keeps popping up.
But let's get real: How to Get into FP&A Roles when you don't have prior corporate finance experience is
the question that haunts most freshers.
This guide goes beyond vague advice - it's a step-by-step playbook on how to get into FP&A roles in
India as a fresher CA. From skills to resumes to real-world placements, we've got it all covered.
Why FP&A Is the Next Big Thing for CA Freshers
Let's be honest - not everyone enjoys ticking checklists during statutory audits or decoding tax
provisions all day. If you're someone who's curious about how businesses actually make money, or how
CEOs think about cost, growth, and forecasting - FP&A is your playground.
In a nutshell, Financial
Planning and Analysis jobs in India are no longer reserved for MBAs. In fact,
more and more CA freshers are entering FP&A teams at startups, MNCs, and even legacy firms.
Why?
- You get to work closely with business leaders
- There's less grunt work and more strategic thinking
- It's not just Excel - it's storytelling through numbers
- The career trajectory is sharper, especially in corporates and startups
- And yes, FP&A roles for CA
freshers are opening up more than ever before.
What Does an FP&A Role Involve for a CA?
An FP&A role for a Chartered Accountant isn't just a desk job - it's a chance to get your hands dirty
with the numbers that actually drive business decisions. On a daily basis, you'll be working on building
forecasts, shaping budgets, and supporting long-term financial planning that will impact the company's
goals.
You'll be dealing with problem statements like:
- “Why did our margins drop this month in Region A?”
- “What happens to our cash flows if marketing spends go up by 10%?”
- “Are we on track to hit our quarterly EBITDA target?”
If those kinds of questions excite you - welcome to FP&A.
How to Get into FP&A Roles in India: A Fresher's Playbook
Getting in isn't as elusive as it seems. Here's a grounded, field-tested approach on how to get into FP&A
roles as a fresher.
1. Upskill Smartly
You don't need a CFA or MBA to get started. What you do need:
Expect to dive deep into Advanced
Excel - think pivot tables, lookups, and maybe even a dash of macros
to automate those recurring reports. You won't need investment banker-level models, but having a working
understanding of financial
modeling - enough to build a dynamic budgeting model - goes a long way.
This toolkit will make your resume credible - even as a fresher.
2. Reframe Your Articleship Experience
Most CA freshers come from audit or compliance roles. That's fine - just reframe it. Instead of
saying:
“Performed vouching and verification for XYZ Ltd.”
Try:
“Analyzed monthly expense trends and flagged anomalies that led to better cost tracking for a
client.”
The idea is to make your audit work sound relevant to business finance, which is exactly what
entry-level FP&A roles in India value.
Is FP&A better than Big 4 audit for long-term growth?
Great question - and one I get asked constantly.
The short answer? It depends.
If your goal is to become a CFO, lead a business finance team, or transition into roles like strategy,
fundraising, or product finance - FP&A gives you that headstart.
On the other hand, if you're someone who thrives on technical depth - audit, IFRS, IND
AS - and wants to
climb the ladder within assurance or compliance, a Big 4 audit role might be better for you.
But in terms of work-life balance, early ownership, and business exposure - FP&A often wins out.
How to switch from Statutory Audit to FP&A?
Don't overthink this.
Plenty of successful transitions start with three simple moves:
Change your LinkedIn headline and resume language - talk about insights, not checklists
Take short-term Excel/finance modeling courses (Finlatics, Thinking Bridge, Coursera)
Start applying to business finance internships, MT roles, and FP&A analyst positions
Recruiters aren't expecting you to know everything - but they do expect you to show intent and relevance.
Where Are These FP&A Jobs Even Coming From?
If you're wondering, which companies hire CA freshers for FP&A roles in India, here's the short list
(based on real placements and LinkedIn scans):
HUL, Nestle, ITC, Marico - via ICAI placements and direct hiring
Flipkart, Razorpay, PhonePe, Zepto - dynamic startup FP&A teams
Big 4 Advisory Wings - FP&A roles that are not audit
Unacademy, Meesho, Groww - lesser-known but fast-growing FP&A opportunities
Pro tip: Many of these companies don't always advertise FP&A roles publicly. Start
networking with finance professionals on LinkedIn. A cold message with a tailored resume can open doors
you never knew existed.
Real Story: From Big 4 Articleship to FP&A in a Fintech
Ayush, a recently qualified CA, didn't like the Big 4 culture and wanted something more strategic. He
spent 2 months learning Excel dashboards and financial modeling. He rewrote his CV to highlight
client-level MIS reporting from articleship days. Through a cold message on LinkedIn, he landed an
interview at a leading fintech - now he's in a lean FP&A team, making pricing models and forecasting
cash burn monthly.
If Ayush could do it, so can you - but you'll need to unlearn audit lingo and build a business mindset.
What is the average salary in FP&A for CA freshers in India?
Let's talk numbers. On average:
Fresher CA in FP&A at an MNC/startup: ₹10-15 LPA
High-growth startups with ESOPs: ₹12-18 LPA (CTC includes performance-based pay)
Tier-2 companies: ₹8-10 LPA
Of course, salaries vary by city, company size, and your negotiation skills. But the trajectory is often
faster than traditional audit roles.
Is FP&A a Good Career Option for a Chartered Accountant?
If you're the kind of person who gets a kick out of making sense of messy data, collaborating with
different teams, and asking why the numbers say what they do - FP&A could be your dream start. It's not
just about the reports - it's about being in the room when decisions around pricing, hiring, new
markets, or product strategy are made. That kind of exposure? Rare at entry level.
Final Thoughts: How to Get into FP&A Roles Without Experience
To wrap it up - how to get into FP&A roles isn't just a trending search, it's a smart career pivot. And
if you're a CA fresher wondering where to start:
You don't need experience, you need relevance
Learn the tools, speak the language, tell your story better
Start small, aim big - even an entry-level FP&A job opens doors fast
Think beyond debits and credits - FP&A is where finance meets impact
If you're still not sure whether this path is for you or not, then you should definitely reach out to
someone who's already working in FP&A field. You should message them seeking guidance and the exposure
one can expect in this field. You'll gain a lot out of that one simple conversation. An added advantage
would that you can always seek a referral from them for any vacancy that opens up in their company :p
All the best!
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