Meet Sudiksha Arora, a commerce graduate from DPS RK Puram and BCom in Finance from the University of Delhi. After becoming an ACCA Affiliate, she realised that theoretical knowledge alone wasn\u2019t enough to build a clear career in investment banking or other core finance roles. To bridge this gap, she upskilled in financial modelling and valuation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Today, Sudiksha is working at USP House as an Investment Analyst, and she\u2019s here to share her journey from early confusion to gaining clarity, confidence and practical skills for a successful finance career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Can you briefly tell us about your education background and how your journey in finance started?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I graduated from Dps RK Puram school in the year 2021 and scored 95% in class 10 boards which obviously made my parents think I should opt for science stream but my gut feeling always directed me towards commerce, having no clue what future holds for me I followed my intuition and took commerce with maths, sooner after 12th<\/sup> got over I was again clue less , CA seemed to be the only option but as I studied the curriculum, it felt suffocating and made me way too anxious that\u2019s what led to discovery of ACCA . <\/p>\n\n\n\n 2.<\/strong> <\/strong>You\u2019re already an ACCA Affiliate, which is a strong qualification. What made you feel the need to also learn financial modeling and what were you hoping it would add to your profile?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n While I was studying for the FM exam in ACCA, the project appraisal, valuation, and risk management were all really new topics and intrigued me a lot. That\u2019s when I actually realised the real difference between finance and accounts. I always had the delusion that I loved accounts, but soon I realised it\u2019s actually finance that I really love. Once I completed ACCA, I was really clueless. All I knew about finance was from the theoretical knowledge that came from the AFM subject and it was definitely not enough to crack a job in core finance roles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I realised this very early when I started professional level exams, so I spent six months cold-mailing professionals on LinkedIn to see if they could guide me on the right way to secure a great job. That\u2019s when I found a professional who told me about financial modelling and valuation and that without it, you can\u2019t crack a job role in finance. Then he referred me to The WallStreet School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3.<\/strong> <\/strong>During your career journey so far, whether while doing the course or during job hunting, what were some challenges you faced, and how did you deal with them?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The biggest challenge before I started this course was hopelessness, the fear of not finding a field where I would actually feel content working. Studying 13 exams in ACCA exposed me to so many fields, and each felt attractive enough to build a career in, but a clear direction was missing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another challenge was that I did not know what jobs to apply for, how to apply, whether my CV was good enough, or even if I had referrals. I didn\u2019t know the right way to present myself to land a job, how to prepare for interviews, or, even if I got an interview, what the right strategy was to ace it. Most importantly, I didn\u2019t know how to handle rejection when not selected, stay motivated, and continue applying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 4.<\/strong> <\/strong>When you started the financial modeling course was there any topic or part that felt difficult at first? How did you manage to get comfortable with it over time?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Yes, financial modelling in itself is so extensive. The application and use of advanced Excel scared me so much that I almost doubted joining the course and really wanted to leave it. But then I realised that each skill you learn seems difficult initially, and with time and practice, you get better at it. You can\u2019t expect yourself to be an expert on the first day. Most importantly, what helped me get comfortable with it was the mentor\u2019s approach and their ability to calm us down when it got too overwhelming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 5.<\/strong> <\/strong>While preparing for and giving interviews, how did financial modeling help you? Were there specific questions or discussions where this skill made a real difference?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Yes, this skill is a must in any organisation. Even the most basic work as an analyst involves handling data, which is immense, and without modelling, it can take so many hours just to sort it or make it look presentable. In one of my interviews, I was asked to create a one-pager for investors from a 30-page pitch deck. This was not taught to us in the exact way, but because we were taught how to navigate Excel and build basic models, I was able to create it and land that job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 6. Finally, what advice would you give to ACCA or commerce students who are thinking about doing a Financial Modeling course but are unsure whether it will actually help their career?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Financial modelling is a must-have skill that I feel every student should learn. Whether you are planning to work or start your own business, if you know how to manage your data efficiently, most work becomes much simpler. In finance, you can\u2019t succeed without it. Instead of learning it the hard way through one-day training at work, it\u2019s better to learn at your own pace and practice so much that, once you start working, you are already confident and don\u2019t feel burdened by the workload or training pressure. I would say it\u2019s as important as AI, because AI can\u2019t do modelling for you. This is one skill that makes your job secure and won\u2019t be taken over by AI.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sudiksha\u2019s journey shows that mastering financial modelling can transform your finance career. With the right skills and guidance, landing a role in investment banking is possible. Growth in finance comes from the skills you build, not just the degrees you hold.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nIf Sudiksha\u2019s path inspires you, these <\/strong>FAQs<\/strong> can help you start learning financial modelling<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n