Skilledgrad: Building Finance Professionals Beyond the Certification
Kamal Kishore G
Co-Founder
Employers increasingly need professionals who can interpret information, solve problems and translate financial knowledge into business outcomes. ACCA’s 2026 research reinforces this transition, highlighting critical thinking, analytical capabilities and the effective use of AI among the capabilities shaping modern finance.
It is within this changing environment that Skilledgrad, founded in 2023, has built its professional certification training model. Based in Chennai with multiple branches, the institute focuses on professional qualifications including ACCA and CFA, but defines its role beyond classroom instruction.
As an ACCA Gold Approved Learning Partner, Skilledgrad combines structured certification preparation with practical training and career guidance. Its proposition rests on two interconnected outcomes: helping learners complete demanding professional qualifications and building the capabilities required for relevant finance careers.
Driving this approach is Skilledgrad’s Co-Founder, Kamal Kishore G, a Chartered Accountant with more than 15 years of professional experience. After working in banking, he moved into professional training and has spent over a decade working with qualifications including CIMA, CFA and ACCA.
Alongside Co-Founder CA Yogesh Sakunia, who brings a background in research, valuation and due diligence, combined with extensive experience in professional finance education, the two have shaped an institution focused on connecting academic achievement with workplace readiness.
Taking Ownership Beyond Admission
One of the gaps Skilledgrad identified in professional certification training was not access to courses, but continuity of support. Students may begin demanding qualifications enthusiastically, yet maintaining the discipline required across multiple levels can prove difficult. Even after completing examinations, many require guidance in translating their credentials into meaningful career opportunities.
“Admission is where our responsibility begins, not where it ends”, says Kamal Kishore G, encapsulating the philosophy behind Skilledgrad’s learner-centric approach. The institute considers itself responsible for supporting students throughout their qualification journey rather than limiting its involvement to classroom instruction.
The process combines regular classes with attendance monitoring, structured revision, examination practice and continuous follow-up. Since many learners pursue professional qualifications alongside college degrees, the institute also engages parents where necessary to maintain academic discipline.
This support extends across different stages of a qualification. Skilledgrad recognises that foundation, intermediate and advanced learners require different teaching approaches. Its faculty members bring corporate experience into classrooms, combining subject expertise with an understanding of workplace expectations.
Turning Finance Concepts into Workplace Capability
Practical application forms the second pillar of Skilledgrad’s model. Rather than treating syllabus completion and employability preparation as separate activities, the institute develops them simultaneously.
Learners are exposed to computer-based examination environments from the outset while working through practical activities and business case studies. These exercises prepare students to analyse situations and apply financial concepts to problems resembling those encountered during recruitment and employment.
“Qualification takes you to the interview, skills help you get the job; both are equally important”, emphasises Kamal. This philosophy is particularly relevant as finance recruitment increasingly involves Excel assignments, analytical exercises and case-based assessments rather than conventional interviews alone.
Although Skilledgrad was established in 2023, its placement approach draws on the founders’ longer professional track record. Over the past seven years, they have facilitated more than 200 placements across roles aligned with candidates’ qualifications, ranging from audit and financial reporting to equity research and FP&A.
Opportunities are carefully screened before candidates are referred, ensuring that the roles genuinely utilise the capabilities learners have developed. “A placement that doesn’t use what the student learnt is not a success for us”, says Kamal. This emphasis on relevance reflects the institute’s commitment to meaningful career outcomes rather than placement numbers alone.
Preparing Professionals for an AI Enabled Finance Function
The expectations surrounding finance professionals continue to expand. ACCA’s India Talent Trends 2026 report found that 57 percent of surveyed finance professionals in India were already using AI technologies in their roles, while 86 percent expressed confidence in learning and applying AI-related skills.
For Skilledgrad, this evolution strengthens rather than diminishes the importance of financial fundamentals. Learners develop proficiency in everyday tools such as Excel and Word while exploring how AI can support professional tasks. The emphasis remains on independent thinking, analytical judgement and understanding the business context behind financial information.
Business case studies encourage students to examine how enterprises operate and approach problems from an entrepreneurial perspective. This reflects the changing responsibilities of finance professionals, who increasingly contribute to business strategy rather than remaining confined to reporting functions.
Looking ahead, Skilledgrad aims to strengthen its end-to-end training ecosystem, deepen employer engagement and prepare learners for finance roles shaped by technology and evolving business requirements. Its ambition is not simply to produce more certification holders, but to develop professionals who complete their qualifications and possess the confidence to apply their knowledge.
For Kamal and Yogesh, the measure of Skilledgrad’s progress will remain the quality of professionals it develops and the relevance of the opportunities they secure. This commitment positions the institute as more than a certification training provider, with its focus firmly on translating professional education into sustainable career progression.
This support extends across different stages of a qualification. Skilledgrad recognises that foundation, intermediate and advanced learners require different teaching approaches. Its faculty members bring corporate experience into classrooms, combining subject expertise with an understanding of workplace expectations.
By developing a baseline of analytical, business and professional capabilities, Skilledgrad seeks to prepare learners for multiple pathways within finance
Turning Finance Concepts into Workplace Capability
Practical application forms the second pillar of Skilledgrad’s model. Rather than treating syllabus completion and employability preparation as separate activities, the institute develops them simultaneously.
Learners are exposed to computer-based examination environments from the outset while working through practical activities and business case studies. These exercises prepare students to analyse situations and apply financial concepts to problems resembling those encountered during recruitment and employment.
“Qualification takes you to the interview, skills help you get the job; both are equally important”, emphasises Kamal. This philosophy is particularly relevant as finance recruitment increasingly involves Excel assignments, analytical exercises and case-based assessments rather than conventional interviews alone.
Although Skilledgrad was established in 2023, its placement approach draws on the founders’ longer professional track record. Over the past seven years, they have facilitated more than 200 placements across roles aligned with candidates’ qualifications, ranging from audit and financial reporting to equity research and FP&A.
Opportunities are carefully screened before candidates are referred, ensuring that the roles genuinely utilise the capabilities learners have developed. “A placement that doesn’t use what the student learnt is not a success for us”, says Kamal. This emphasis on relevance reflects the institute’s commitment to meaningful career outcomes rather than placement numbers alone.
Preparing Professionals for an AI Enabled Finance Function
The expectations surrounding finance professionals continue to expand. ACCA’s India Talent Trends 2026 report found that 57 percent of surveyed finance professionals in India were already using AI technologies in their roles, while 86 percent expressed confidence in learning and applying AI-related skills.
For Skilledgrad, this evolution strengthens rather than diminishes the importance of financial fundamentals. Learners develop proficiency in everyday tools such as Excel and Word while exploring how AI can support professional tasks. The emphasis remains on independent thinking, analytical judgement and understanding the business context behind financial information.
Business case studies encourage students to examine how enterprises operate and approach problems from an entrepreneurial perspective. This reflects the changing responsibilities of finance professionals, who increasingly contribute to business strategy rather than remaining confined to reporting functions.
Looking ahead, Skilledgrad aims to strengthen its end-to-end training ecosystem, deepen employer engagement and prepare learners for finance roles shaped by technology and evolving business requirements. Its ambition is not simply to produce more certification holders, but to develop professionals who complete their qualifications and possess the confidence to apply their knowledge.
For Kamal and Yogesh, the measure of Skilledgrad’s progress will remain the quality of professionals it develops and the relevance of the opportunities they secure. This commitment positions the institute as more than a certification training provider, with its focus firmly on translating professional education into sustainable career progression.