#ca inter

hello people, i am officially back with a sparkle in my eye and promises to be consistent :D

i just finished my my first year final exams (woohoo) and i feel so happy that i'm already 1/3 done with college. 😭😭 anyway, here is what you must know:

(i) i passed ca foundation in my first attempt (jan 25)

(ii) i did not give the september attempt last year because i gave up on studying in june itself so i was really NOT prepared to give the exams in september. i did a lot of soul searching whether i genuinely wanted to pursue ca beacuse wdym i gave up after a week of studying, but i think i was just not feeling it then, with starting college and adjusting, and just locking in on a path in life. (pathetic, i am aware😭😭)

(iii) so after the september attempt passed me by, and lots of lectures from my very angry parents, i decided that i will give january attempt a try, and if i pass, i'll feel motivated to continue, and if i don't, i'll reaccess.

(iv) after barely studying much, and having my sem one exams side-by-side the foundation exams, (and having a veryyyyyyy stressful month) i just really locked in in the last 15 days and gave it my all.

(v) when the results came in march, i genuinely had no hopes of passing and when i saw that i passed i was so shocked?? like how?? this was insane?? but apparently my hardwork bore it's fruit after a few ups and downs. that's the story.

(vi) now, i know i should have started studying in march itself for my intermediate january 2026 attempt, but- i had sooooo many college exams, assignments and classes that idk how time went by and now it's june?? 😭😭 please i don't know what is happening to me, i swear i was not like this before. but, the past year has changed me alot and now I AM SO READY TO GET STARTED. better late than never hahahahahahahahahahahahahah (please support this affirmation amen)

starting today/tomorrow, i'll begin with a 75 day hard challenge (i need to lock in academically and in every other aspect of my life too, it's all a wreck heheh) or a 100 days of productivity challenge to feel an ounce of motivation and hope. i will catch up with the lost time this summer. so, wish me luck, and see you in the next one!

with love,

deeya.

i have online classes from 8 am in the morning till 3 pm. so, i attended all of three 2 hour long lectures and made notes. i have 2 months-ish worth of backlog because i started the classes this week, while the batch started way back in april lol.

after a little lunch break, i revised for a hour and then went to the gym. i got back after two hours and then i spent the evening studying business law’s chapter and bank reconciliation statement in accounts. my head was hurting like crazy and it’s only day one so i’m stressed how i’ll get through this. i also watched like 3 episodes of suits lol.

at night i wanted to study for another hour but instead i spent making content for my writersgram and writing my novel while listening to music.

i’d say i was productive and had a good satisfactory day xx

with love,

deeya.

i'm going to be completely honest and say that i had no motivation to do anything. i hardly wanted to get out of bed. i woke up at 7:30 and made myself a cold coffee because that's the only thing that helps me wake up. my classes started at 8 am & continued till 12:30 pm. the third class was at 2:30 so i decided to go the gym in the break. after i got back, i was so tired and did not want to study at all so i skipped the last class and watched suits instead 😭😭

then i took a nap for an hour, scrolled through instagram and hung out with my brother for a bit. then two of my friends called & we talked for like two hours lol while i drank another coffee ahm ahm

now it's sort of my bedtime and i promised myself that i'd complete brs today after dinner but my laptop is dead and the lights are off because there is a storm going on outside. so no charge, no lecture video 💀💀

now i'll sleep and i promise i'll do better tomorrow xx

with love,

In 2026, a career as a CA (chartered accountant) is among the most respected and monetarily rewarding careers in India.

Working at the Big 4 — Deloitte, PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers) India, EY (Ernst & Young) India, and KPMG (Klynveld Peat Marwick Goerdeler) — is still the ultimate dream for many qualified CAs in the Southeast Asian country.

These firms are reputed for their powerful brand value, structured career growth, global exposure, and attractive compensation packages. In 2026, the hiring landscape has become more competitive and more rewarding for CA freshers.

The Big 4 Ecosystem — Understanding It

The Big 4 firms dominate the consulting and accounting industries throughout the world. In India specifically, they are among the top recruiters of freshly qualified CAs. Their services are not limited to statutory audit and include:

• Risk advisory • ESG (environmental, social, and governance) consulting • Tax consultancy • Technology transformation • Financial due diligence • Analytics and cybersecurity • Acquisitions and mergers

So, for a CA fresher, joining a Big 4 firm is often supposed to be a launchpad instead of being a long-term destination. Big 4 in 2026 — Average CA Fresher Salary

In 2026, most CA freshers joining one of the Big 4 firms can expect to earn between INR 800,000 and INR 12,00,000 a year. However, exceptional candidates, professionals entering specialized advisory domains, and rank holders can expect to earn even higher salaries.

The following table provides a broad estimate of fresher salary ranges in the Big 4 companies:

Firm Estimated Annual Salary Range Deloitte - INR 9,00,000 — INR 12,00,000 EY INR — 8,50,000 — INR 11,50,000 PwC INR — 8,00,000 — INR 11,00,000 KPMG INR — 8,00,00 — INR 10,50,000 Big 4 — Which One Pays the Most among Them?

Out of the 4 firms, Deloitte is frequently supposed to be slightly ahead of the rest when it comes to compensation paid to freshers. This is especially so in advisory and consulting roles. However, the difference is no more than marginal.

• More experts these days believe that the service line is more important than the firm where you work.

• For example, a deals advisory role at EY might help you earn more than a statutory audit role at Deloitte.

A risk consulting role at PwC might offer higher bonuses than traditional assurance services at KPMG. Service Lines and Salary Differences

You would not get the same payment at the same department across all the Big 4 firms. In specific domains, you get higher salaries because of client demand and specialized expertise.

The four most important domains in this context are statutory audit, taxation, transaction and deals advisory, and risk consulting and advisory.

The following table shows the salaries in these lines: Line Estimated Annual Salary Range Transaction and deals advisory INR 10,00,000 — INR 14,00,000 Risk consulting and advisory INR 9,00,000 — INR 13,00,000 Statutory audit INR 8,00,000 — INR 12,00,000 Taxation INR 8,50,000 — INR 11,00,000

Off-Campus Hiring and Campus Placement: A Comparison

Placement by ICAI (The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India) campus placements are still among the most prominent recruitment channels for Big 4 firms. Candidates selected by way of campus drives normally receive standard salary structures.

However, off-campus hiring has also picked up quite a lot in 2026. This has happened because of factors like the expansion of consulting divisions, the growth of GCCs (global capability centers) in India, greater demand for finance professionals, and continued requirement for lateral recruitment.

Salary Variations Based On Cities

Location also plays a major role in determining the salary you get as a fresher CA. The following table lists the highest-paying cities in this regard and the next in line: Highest-Paying Cities Moderate-Paying Cities • Mumbai • Bengaluru • Gurgaon • Hyderabad • Kolkata • Pune • Chennai • Ahmedabad

The highest-paying cities offer higher CTCs (costs to company) because of factors like bigger client portfolios, greater demand for consulting, and higher living costs.

The compensation might be a bit lower in the moderate-paying cities, but the low costs of living make it a whole lot more manageable.

Big 4 Firms — What Benefits Do They Offer? The benefits offered by the Big 4 are not limited to high salaries. They also offer you several other benefits that make the overall package a whole lot more valuable: • Performance bonuses • Exposure to international projects • Opportunities for hybrid work • Paid educational programs • Health insurance • Initiatives for employee wellness • Support for professional certification

Some firms also offer additional valuable benefits such as joining bonuses, relocation assistance, retention bonuses, and skill development sponsorships.

Challenges You Should Expect In These Companies as a Fresher While the salaries are attractive, working at the Big 4 can be rather demanding. Freshers often have to deal with challenges like long working hours, high client expectations, tight deadlines, and fast-paced learning environments.

If you work in taxation and auditing roles, the pressure during peak season can be rather intense. However, the learning curve can be just as rewarding. In 2–3 years, you will gain exposure that will take you longer in smaller firms.

Career Growth in the Long Term Long-term career acceleration is the real advantage of becoming a part of the Big 4. As a fresher, you may be earning between INR 900,000 and INR 10,00,000 a year now. However, you can later progress to: • Finance manager roles • CFO (chief financial officer) tracks • Strategy consulting • Global leadership positions • Investment banking support

The best part of this is that such commendable growth can happen within a decade!

A lot of professionals get substantial salary hikes when they go to work in industry roles from the Big 4.

Final Thoughts As a CA fresher in 2026, the Big 4 still represent some of the strongest career starting points in the consulting and finance industry of India. Starting salaries right now at their healthiest best and for the most freshers earn between INR 800,000 and INR 12,00,000 each year, based on location and specialization.

Cracking CA Inter Audit isn’t about mugging up — it’s about smart strategy.

Follow these proven tips to improve concepts, revision, and answer writing. Stay consistent and exam-ready! 🔗 Read full guide:

Boost your CA Inter MCQ performance with simple yet powerful solving techniques using accuracy and speed strategy. This video focuses on accuracy-building tricks and time-saving approaches. Learn how to eliminate wrong options faster and increase your confidence in tricky questions. Ideal for last-minute revision and exam preparation.

Confused about what to do in the first 15 minutes of your CA Inter exam? This video gives you a step-by-step reading time strategy to help you choose the right questions and manage time effectively. Learn how to avoid panic situations and start your paper with confidence.

Don’t miss the key insights shared at the end!