Panel Discussion – Professional Exams & The Way Ahead
Date: 13 February 2025
Venue: AB3 Seminar Hall, Shiv Nadar University Chennai
Organised by: Department of Commerce, Shiv Nadar University Chennai
Bridging Academic Learning with Professional Excellence
The Department of Commerce, Shiv Nadar University Chennai, organised an engaging panel discussion titled “Professional Exams & The Way Ahead” on 13 February 2025. The session brought together accomplished alumni and seniors pursuing professional qualifications such as Chartered Accountancy (CA) and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), offering students valuable insights into professional career pathways and industry expectations.
The panel featured individuals with experience across leading organisations, including EY, KPMG, and Anicut Capital. Drawing from their academic and professional journeys, the speakers shared practical perspectives on preparing for professional examinations, navigating demanding work environments, and building careers in fields such as audit, taxation, transfer pricing, business analysis, and investment management.
Our Speakers
The discussion featured an accomplished panel of speakers:
- Ramsatvat – CA Finalist, All India Rank 18 in CA Intermediate, currently pursuing articleship at KPMG.
- Vishwanath – ACCA aspirant, Business Analyst at EY, Founder of Agency Wind, and Co-founder of the college Business Club.
- Nivedha – ACCA aspirant, Silver Medalist, working in Transfer Pricing at EY, and Founder of BunnyBakes.
- Suraj – CA aspirant, EY Audit Intern, Gold Medalist, and graduate of IIT Madras’ Data Science and Applications programme.
- Keshav – Second-year CA articleship trainee at Anicut Capital, formerly associated with EY, and Co-founder of the college Business Club.
- Nirgun – ACCA aspirant and Executive at EY, All India Rank 2 and World Rank 4 in ACCA Taxation (UK), and Best Outgoing Student of B.Com Professional Accounting.
Highlights of the Discussion
The panel discussion explored the various dimensions of pursuing professional qualifications alongside an undergraduate degree. The speakers shared their experiences of balancing academic commitments with extracurricular involvement, managing examination pressure, and adapting to corporate responsibilities.
Students gained first-hand perspectives on the expectations of leading professional firms and the diverse opportunities available in accounting, finance, taxation, and allied domains. An interactive rapid-fire segment and audience participation further enriched the discussion, making it an engaging learning experience.
The session was thoughtfully structured and efficiently moderated, ensuring that all planned questions and discussion segments were covered within the scheduled time.
Event Proceedings
The event commenced with the traditional Tamil Thai Vazhthu, followed by a lively dance performance that set an enthusiastic tone for the programme. The panel discussion was subsequently conducted through a structured series of questions, complemented by interactive audience participation and a rapid-fire segment.
The programme concluded with the presentation of mementos to the speakers as a token of appreciation, followed by a Vote of Thanks acknowledging the contributions of the panelists, faculty coordinators, organising team, and participants.
A Meaningful Alumni Connect
With the participation of approximately 130 students, the session served as a valuable platform for interaction between students and those who had progressed along similar academic pathways. By bringing real-world professional experiences into the university setting, the discussion helped students gain greater clarity on career choices, professional examinations, and the opportunities that lie ahead. The event reaffirmed the importance of alumni engagement in inspiring and guiding the next generation of commerce professionals.
