This is the story of Yash. He studied commerce in college and started his career in accounting. Yash worked full-time at a company named LM Traders. His job was to manage cash, prepare financial records and keep track of inventory. Yash was also the first person clients would call whenever they had issues with their accounts or reports. It seemed like he was off to a good start.
As time passed, Yash realized something. The work became routine. He was just repeating the same steps every day. He knew how to prepare the books, but he did not really understand what those numbers were saying about the business.
One afternoon, while he was closing monthly reports, a question popped into his head. “I know how to write down financial information, but do I know what these numbers really mean for the business?” That question did not leave his mind.
Today, Yash is placed at Climate Care as a Financial Analyst. His job now is not just to enter numbers, but to find out what they mean. Yash helps the company understand their results, build plans for the future, and explain why things happen the way they do.
Here’s our conversation with Yash, based entirely on his experience.
Q1: Yash, you started your career in accounting. What pushed you towards learning financial modeling?
In my first job at LM Traders, I was in charge of managing cash, preparing accounts, and tracking inventory. I’d arrive every day, finish reconciling ledgers, and help clients sort out reporting errors. At first, all this felt new and challenging. But after a year or so, I noticed I was doing the same things again and again. One day, I was asked to make a cash flow summary and someone questioned, “What happens to cash if payments are delayed by a month?” I just sat there, unsure how to answer. I realized I could prepare records, but I didn’t really understand the stories behind the numbers. That moment made me think: I need to learn how to actually analyse and model financial data, not just record it.
Q2: Can you recall a time you felt limited by your skills?
Absolutely. Once, a client asked me to make a financial plan for their second outlet. I said yes because I thought I had it covered. But when I started, I struggled to link revenue growth with operating costs, and didn’t know how to factor in things like loan repayments. My sheet was basically just numbers, neatly listed but not helpful at all. I felt pretty disappointed, to be honest. It was clear that I was missing some key knowledge to actually help a business make decisions. That experience was a big wake-up call for me.
Q3: How did it feel going back to learning after working for a couple of years?
At first, it was awkward. I had been working full-time with real accounts, so sitting in a classroom again felt strange. But things changed when I saw how my work experience helped me understand examples better. For instance, during one case study on a restaurant, I remembered the struggles I had at LM Traders when tracking inventory. This connection made learning interesting. Soon, I was excited to discuss case studies and try things out on Excel. I remember feeling like, for the first time, I was actually building something that could solve real problems.
Q4: Was there a project that changed how you thought about finance?
Yes, there was a group project about a logistics company. On the surface, the company was doing well as sales were up and expenses seemed fine. When our group built a proper financial model, though, we saw the reality: most of the company’s growth depended on taking more loans and their interest expenses were rising fast. If we had just looked at the headline numbers, we would have missed this risk. That project taught me to dig deeper and ask, “How is this result achieved?” It made me realize how important financial modeling is for spotting hidden issues.
Q5: Did you find it difficult to learn something new after already working for two years?
Yash: I did, a bit. There were days in class where people talked about valuation or forecasting techniques, and I felt lost. But I reminded myself why I started to actually understand, not just repeat steps. I remember sitting late with Excel, watching online tutorials and practicing formulas, especially during weekends. When I finally made my first working financial model, showing how profits and cash changed with small tweaks, it felt amazing. That feeling kept me going.
Q6: How is your work different now as a financial analyst?
The biggest change is that now I don’t just focus on what happened. I try to figure out why something happened and what could happen next. Like in my current role, our costs suddenly jumped. Earlier I would have just reported the increase. Now, I broke down the numbers and found that new vendor contracts and higher fuel prices were responsible. I felt satisfied being able to explain the story behind the numbers, not just share them.
Q7: What advice would you give to someone who feels stuck in a routine job?
I’d say, start by asking simple questions about your work. Are you learning anything new? Are you solving problems, or just completing tasks? For me, things became mechanical, and that made me restless. I started by learning one thing at a time, like basic Excel modeling. Practicing new skills, even on weekends, helped me see my work differently. You don’t have to quit your job right away, just start learning and applying new things where you can.
Q8: Looking back, how do you feel about the decision to learn financial modeling?
I feel relieved and proud. For a long time, I felt like I wasn’t using my full potential. Now, I can look at business numbers and feel confident explaining what’s happening and what might happen. I ask questions and look for reasons, instead of just accepting what’s on the paper. That’s the clarity I was missing earlier and I’m very glad I decided to take that first step to learn something new.
Yash’s story is not about chasing a new job title or switching careers.It’s about recognising when growth has stopped and being willing to learn again. He didn’t try to skip steps. He just took one honest step forward — and then stayed consistent.
You can connect with him on LinkedIn here : https://www.linkedin.com/in/yash-kukreja-397205213/
