Chartered Accountants are positioned to become the driving force behind India's emergence as a global hub for Global Capability Centers (GCCs), according to Accenture Managing Director Nirmal Jain. This significant declaration came during the keynote address at the 4th Edition of the GCC Summit held in Pune on Friday.
From Traditional Accounting to Strategic Leadership
Jain delivered his powerful message on the theme 'From Ledger to Global Leadership: CAs Shaping Global Capability Centers' at the event organized to promote India as a preferred destination for Accounting GCCs. The summit was conducted under the DITS & WTO Directorate and hosted by the Pune Branch of WIRC of ICAI.
Highlighting the transformation within the profession, Jain emphasized that GCCs have evolved from cost-driven support units into powerful engines of innovation, strategic thinking, and value creation. He noted that critical areas like data analytics, technology integration, risk management, and global finance operations are increasingly being led by qualified Chartered Accountants.
India's Expanding GCC Ecosystem
The current landscape reveals India's strong position in the global GCC market, with over 1,600 GCCs currently operating in the country. Many of these centers handle core business functions for international corporations, creating substantial opportunities for Indian accounting professionals.
Jain projected that the next decade will be defined by CAs who combine financial expertise with technological fluency and strategic vision. He stressed that if Indian talent successfully adopts industry insight, technological adaptability, and global market awareness, the country will undoubtedly shape the next phase of GCC evolution worldwide.
Industry Leaders Echo Transformation Vision
The summit witnessed participation from prominent ICAI leaders including Sanjib Sanghi as Convenor of the Group, Abhay Chhajed as Deputy Convenor, Chandrashekhar Chitale as Program Director, along with Sachin Miniyar as Chairman and Nilesh Yeolekar as Secretary of ICAI Pune Branch.
Chandrashekhar Chitale highlighted the timing significance of the summit, noting that GCCs are increasingly looking to India for high-end finance capabilities. He observed a noticeable shift from transactional work to strategic participation, where CAs are transforming from compliance leaders to solution architects for global organizations.
Sanjib Sanghi outlined the Group's primary objective to position India as the preferred destination for accounting-related GCCs. He emphasized creating a robust, globally competitive ecosystem supported by skilled professionals, policy backing, and continuous industry engagement.
Abhay Chhajed focused on the crucial aspect of capacity building, stating that young CAs must be prepared for leadership roles in global finance operations. With targeted training in technology, analytics, and digital transformation, he believes India can become the world's most reliable GCC talent hub.
The event also featured the release of Pune Panchayat by former ICAI President Aniket Talati and S.B. Zaware, designed to facilitate mega partnership initiatives. The two-day summit includes sessions covering emerging GCC trends, digital finance, talent transformation, operational excellence, governance frameworks, and future leadership pipeline development.
