He cleared his CA Finals with exemptions in four subjects and completed his articleship at S. Ramanand Aiyar & Co. in Connaught Place. Once that phase was over, Sushil found himself thinking about what came next. He had spent years following a set path, and now, for the first time, he had to choose what kind of work he actually wanted to do.
He started looking around and noticed how many roles in finance were shifting toward analysis and decision making. He wanted to be in a space where every number had a reason and every output shaped a business call. That thought pushed him to explore financial modelling and valuation courses. He wanted to learn how people build models, study sectors and figure out what makes a company valuable.
As he went deeper into this path, things started making more sense. He understood how finance works outside books and notes, how companies move with market cycles, and how numbers tell stories when you know where to look. Slowly, he could see a direction forming for himself.
Today, Sushil is placed at Investeurs Consulting as a Financial Analyst, working with the same skills he once wanted to understand better. In the conversation below, he talks about his financial modelling journey after CA, how he explored choices, what helped him gain clarity, and what he would tell someone who is going through the same stage right now.
Here is a conversation we recently had with him about his journey.
1. After clearing CA, what was going on in your mind about career direction?
After clearing CA, I remember sitting down and thinking about whether I wanted to follow the usual audit and compliance path. Most of my articleship work was in audit and because of that, everyone around me assumed I would continue in that line. But I always had interest in markets, numbers and valuation work, so I could not see myself growing in a pure audit role for many years. At the same time, I did not know how to move toward finance because I could feel that the gap between academics and real work was quite big. So my mind was on finding a way to shift into a role that involved more analysis and decision making, and not only checking books. I wanted a clear path where I could learn the things that firms actually look for while hiring for finance roles.
2. At what point did you start thinking about building skills in finance instead of going straight into the usual roles?
This thought became stronger when I finished my articleship and saw the kind of work done by people in valuation and research. I could see that my interest was naturally moving in that direction. Even when I read anything related to markets or deals, I felt more involved. But I also understood that only a CA degree will not be enough to get into those roles. Most openings expected modeling skills, forecasting work and understanding of company analysis. That is when it became clear that if I really wanted to enter finance, I would have to build practical skills by doing a financial modeling course first instead of taking up the first audit job that came my way.
3. When you were exploring options, what confused you or held you back from deciding quickly?
My biggest confusion was not knowing the exact steps to move from audit into core finance. I knew my interest but I did not know which skill would help me take that jump. I also thought about doing CFA, but the time needed for all the levels and the delay before getting hands-on work made me feel unsure. I kept wondering whether I should take a job right away or study more or find something in between. This delayed my decision because I did not want to choose a path that would keep me stuck in the same line of work for many years.
4. After joining the course, was there any moment or topic where things clicked and you felt more confident?
Things started making sense when we built models from scratch. When I saw how revenue forecasting links with cost planning, how ratios guide assumptions and how valuation fits into the final output, I felt a lot more connected to the work. It did not feel like theory anymore. It felt like something I could sit and do in an actual role. That stage gave me confidence that I could handle finance work if I kept practicing and asking questions. Working on these models also made me realise what companies expect when they say they want someone with modeling skills.
5. How did you feel when placement interviews started and what do you remember about the one where things finally worked out?
When interviews started, I felt nervous because my first few attempts did not go well. I would come out thinking I could have answered in a better way. Every time that happened, I spoke to Himanshu Sir and he pointed out where I was going wrong, sometimes in my approach and sometimes in the way I explained things. With each attempt, I corrected those points. By the time the Investeurs Consulting interview came, I felt more settled. I knew how to explain my shift from audit to finance, I knew how to talk about my projects, and I could walk the interviewer through a model in a clear manner. That helped me remain calm, and things worked out.
6. If someone is in the same phase you were in, unsure what to do after qualifying, what would you tell them?
I would tell them that it is okay to take some time before jumping into a job. Many people feel pressure to start earning right after clearing CA, but that can push them into roles that do not match their interest. If someone wants to move into finance, they need skills that show they can handle real work. Without that, the shift becomes slow. So take some time, understand what kind of work you want to do and build skills that match that direction. With the right support and focused effort, moving into core finance is possible. I have gone through the same process, so I know it can happen with steady steps.
Sushil’s journey shows that clarity often comes after you allow yourself to explore something new. The shift into finance is possible when you build skills that match your interest and stay patient with the process. If you are standing at the same crossroads, his story is a reminder that steady steps can open the right doors.
You can connect with him on LinkedIn here – https://www.linkedin.com/in/casushilgupta/
