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64% Women in Indian Finance Aim to Become Entrepreneurs: ACCA Report

A new ACCA survey reveals that 64% of women professionals in India's finance and accountancy sector now aspire to become entrepreneurs, a significant increase from 56% last year. This trend indicates growing confidence in using financial expertise as a pathway to business ownership and economic empowerment. The ambition is most pronounced among younger Generation Z and Millennial professionals, who view accountancy as a launchpad for innovation and impact. ACCA leaders highlight that finance skills provide a powerful platform for entrepreneurial success by combining strategic insight with risk management.

Key Points: 64% Women in Indian Finance Aspire to Be Entrepreneurs

  • 64% of women in finance aspire to start a business
  • Up from 56% last year
  • Strongest drive among Gen Z & Millennials
  • Finance skills seen as a launchpad
  • Gap with men's ambition narrowing
2 min read

64 pc women in finance and accountancy in India aspire to become entrepreneurs: Report

ACCA survey shows rising entrepreneurial ambition among women in Indian finance & accountancy, driven by Gen Z and Millennials.

"Entrepreneurship represents economic empowerment in action. - Helen Brand, ACCA"

New Delhi, March 6

Nearly two-thirds of women working in finance and accountancy in India now aspire to become entrepreneurs, reflecting rising confidence in using financial skills as a pathway to business ownership, according to a survey released on Friday.

Data from a survey by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) showed that 64 per cent of women professionals in the sector in India want to start their own businesses, up from 56 per cent last year.

According to the report, the increase indicates growing confidence among women in leveraging accountancy and finance training to pursue entrepreneurship.

While entrepreneurial aspirations remain higher among men overall, the gap is gradually narrowing, suggesting a shift in career ambitions and confidence among women in the profession.

The trend is particularly strong among younger professionals.

According to the global professional accountancy body, entrepreneurial ambition is most pronounced among women from Generation Z and Millennial cohorts, with about half indicating they aim to start their own ventures in the future.

"This points to a generational drive towards autonomy, impact and financial independence," ACCA said.

Helen Brand, chief executive of ACCA, said the trend reflects how accountancy and finance skills can empower women to lead and build enterprises.

"Entrepreneurship represents economic empowerment in action. Accountancy provides a powerful platform for entrepreneurial success, combining financial expertise, governance, risk management, technology and strategic insight," Brand added.

Md. Sajid Khan, director at ACCA India, said the shift is especially visible among younger finance professionals in India.

"They see accountancy as more than a technical discipline; it is a launchpad for innovation, independence and impact," he said.

ACCA also noted that the Global Talent Trends 2026 data showed accountancy remains a natural training ground for future business owners, with more than half of respondents viewing their finance background as beneficial for entrepreneurial careers.

"Ambitions are particularly strong in emerging markets, where entrepreneurship is often seen as a pathway to economic mobility and societal impact," the accountancy body said.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Great to see this shift. However, the article doesn't mention the biggest hurdle: access to capital. Aspiring is one thing, but getting funding as a woman entrepreneur, especially in the early stages, is still a major challenge in India. Hope supportive policies and more women-led angel networks catch up with this ambition.
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Ananya R
Absolutely true for my circle! After 5 years in corporate finance, I'm now working on my startup plan on the weekends. The Gen Z and Millennial mindset is different - we want flexibility, purpose, and to be our own bosses. A finance background gives you the confidence to manage the numbers, which is half the battle won.
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David E
Interesting data point from India. In many Western markets, the transition from finance to entrepreneurship is common, but often later in life. The fact that younger professionals are driving this in India speaks to a dynamic and fast-changing economic environment. The "launchpad" analogy is very apt.
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Kavya N
My mother was an accountant in a government office her whole life. For my daughter, who is studying commerce, the dream is already to have her own firm. The mindset shift in just one generation is incredible. It's about financial independence and creating legacy businesses. 🚀
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Siddharth J
While the aspiration is high, I hope the ecosystem matures to support them. We need more incubators focused on finance/accounting-led startups, not just tech. Also, family support remains crucial – for women to take the entrepreneurial plunge, especially after marriage, they need a strong support system at home.

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