“The CA degree is losing its value”: Viral CA message recommends moving from compliance to strategy
A viral LinkedIn post by investment banker Sarthak Ahuja has reignited the debate on the falling market value of the Chartered Accountant (CA) degree and the changing role of finance professionals in India. Ahuja, who is a CA himself, argued that while the degree still offers credibility, it no longer guarantees high remuneration or career advancement unless professionals evolve beyond traditional compliance work.
Ahuja backed up his argument with data showing that while the CA Final pass rate has increased to almost 25%, the average placement salary has increased from ₹13 lakh in 2023 to around ₹12.5 lakh this year. “The CA diploma is losing its value in the market,” he writes, explaining that the profession is experiencing “an upward trajectory in the success rate, but a downward trend in remuneration.”
He noted that many professionals tend to blame the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), but he believes the responsibility lies with the profession. According to him, the Institute will naturally focus on “more students, more members, more contributions”, while it will be up to each CA to redefine its value proposition.
“The real question,” writes Ahuja, “is whether you are a cost center or a profit center.” He argued that those who limit themselves to tax filing, auditing or accounting remain stuck in commoditized roles. Instead, he urged CAs to turn to revenue-generating opportunities, such as raising capital, managing the wealth of wealthy clients or helping businesses expand overseas.
He suggested that future-ready professionals need to learn to “create value, not just verify it,” and if the current framework limits such opportunities, “it might even be worth abandoning your practicing certificate and moving into higher-paying services.”
Ahuja concluded that the job of a degree is to provide “downside protection,” ensuring basic survival, while true wealth and growth comes from “business acumen and differentiation.”
This post has sparked a lot of discussion among financial professionals. One user summed up the change succinctly: “Old CA model: report taxes, audit books, bill hours.
New CA model: raise capital, develop strategy, charge value.
The diploma gave credibility. The state of mind gives scope.
Another user agreed that ICAI is not entirely to blame but could do more to modernize training. They wrote that while the Institute hosts networking events, it should focus on programs that “develop real-world skills, expand knowledge of emerging markets, and help members become true profit centers for their clients.”
Others pointed out that the real challenge lies in quality, not quantity. One commenter said: “It’s the quality of chartered accountants we need to worry about. Some CAs who run sole proprietorships don’t even know the income tax rate and start blaming the Institute.”
And as one user humorously put it, “ACs should be less like calculators and more like Swiss army knives: versatile, sharp, and ready to stand out from the competition.”
