Zell Education, India’s leading finance and accounts edtech platform, has released the findings of its latest survey conducted among over 2,000 finance students and young professionals across the country. The study reveals a wide aspiration–readiness gap, with a majority of Indian finance learners aiming for global careers but lacking the confidence and skills needed to compete internationally.

According to the survey, 25% of respondents said they aspire to work abroad in the next five years, reflecting the rising demand for global finance opportunities. However, 15% admitted they do not feel adequately prepared to secure international roles with their current skill sets. When asked to rate their confidence on a scale of 1 to 5, the average rating was insert average confidence score, underscoring the need for stronger upskilling pathways. When identifying specific skill gaps, students pointed to several critical areas. The top three skills they feel least prepared in are International Accounting Standards 45%, Advanced Analytics Tools 38%, and Effective Business Communication 35%. International accounting standards (IFRS, US GAAP), advanced analytics tools (Python, Power BI, SQL) and business communication emerged as recurring pain points, revealing that Indian finance talent may need more structured exposure to global frameworks and real-world application.

A strong inclination toward global finance certifications also emerged. 70% of respondents said they are either pursuing or planning to pursue certifications like CFA, ACCA, CPA or CIMA. Of the 2,000 students who responded to this section, 25% cited better global job opportunities as their key motivation, followed by 60% who associated certifications with higher salary potential. Career preferences among respondents also reveal shifting priorities. Fields like Investment Banking 42%, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) 35%, and Fintech/Cross-Border Compliance 28% drew the highest interest, reflecting the growing relevance of investment banking, FP&A, fintech and cross-border compliance roles in an increasingly globalized economy.

 Anant Bengani, Co – Founder & Director – Zell Education, said, “The survey clearly shows that while India’s finance talent is ambitious and globally driven, they need structured exposure to international standards, technology, and real-world application to compete at a global level. Our focus is to bridge exactly this gap by creating programs that make learners industry-ready, globally relevant and confident to pursue opportunities anywhere in the world.”

As global finance evolves rapidly with AI, automation, regulatory shifts and cross-border collaboration, students also identified the skills they believe will matter most for future roles. The top selections were Financial Modeling & Valuation 51% and Global Regulatory Compliance 45%, signalling a strong recognition that global compliance knowledge and finance technology expertise will define the next generation of finance professionals.