Expanding to India? Here’s How to Hire Your Finance and Accountant Team First

If you're planning to expand operations into India, you're likely already eyeing the vibrant markets of Mumbai, Bangalore, Noida, or Hyderabad. But before you hire developers, build your sales team, or lease out Grade A office space, let me stop you right here: you need to hire your finance and accounting team first.

You might be surprised, but I’ve worked with dozens of global capability centers (GCCs), MNCs, and mid-sized firms expanding into India, and the most successful ones all made this move early. Why? Because building a reliable, local finance function is not just a compliance requirement, it’s your foundation. And if you get it wrong, everything else downstream becomes risky.

At Exlcareer, we’ve helped fast-scaling companies from Singapore, Dubai, Germany, and the US set up finance and accounting teams across Gurugram, Coimbatore, and Chennai, so I want to walk you through how to do it right, and how to avoid the expensive missteps most companies make.

Why Hiring Finance Professionals in India Should Be Your First Step

You may be tempted to focus on hiring sales, engineering, or operations teams first, but without a strong local finance structure, you’ll be left scrambling to manage payroll, taxes, audits, and vendor payments.

Let’s break this down. When you’re expanding into India, you need to:

• Set up a legal entity (Private Ltd or LLP)

• Comply with GST, TDS, PF, and ESIC filings

• Manage vendor contracts and local invoices

• Hire finance heads who understand Indian and global reporting standards

• Build scalable accounting operations from Day 1

Now imagine doing all that with just your global HQ team on Zoom calls. It doesn’t work. The smartest companies we’ve partnered with, including fintech firms from London and cloud-native SaaS companies from the US, prioritized hiring a strong finance controller or senior accountant before anything else.

Ready to get started with the right hiring strategy? Email us now and let’s make your India expansion seamless.

What Roles Should You Hire First for Finance and Accounting?

If you’re typing “hire accountants in India for foreign company” into Google, you’re not alone. But I don’t want you to hire just anyone. You need people who understand both Indian accounting laws and international finance operations.

Here’s what most of our clients hire first:

• Senior Accountant or Finance Manager – someone who can handle day-to-day accounting, compliance, GST returns, and work closely with external CA firms.

• Controller or Head of Finance (for 100+ team plans) – to oversee financial planning, internal controls, and monthly closings.

• Payroll Specialist – especially if you have cross-border teams, variable comp, or hybrid contracts.

• FP&A Analyst – If you need stronger financial forecasting or reporting directly to the US/EU finance team.

• AR/AP Executive – For managing vendor payments, invoicing, and collections.

We’ve placed top-tier finance talent in cities like Pune, Delhi, and Hyderabad, where the cost-to-skill ratio is extremely favorable for MNCs. These professionals often come from Big 4 backgrounds (EY, Deloitte, PwC) or have worked with outsourcing hubs like Accenture, Capgemini, or Genpact.

And here's something you won't find on job boards, at Exlcareer, we’ve built deep talent pools of pre-vetted accountants fluent in SAP, Oracle Financials, Tally, and QuickBooks, as well as cloud platforms like Zoho Books, FreshBooks, and NetSuite.

Where Should You Build Your Finance Team in India?

I always get asked: “Which city is best to hire finance professionals in India?” The answer depends on your business goals, but let me break it down:

• Bangalore: Great if you're a tech-led firm or SaaS business; has a strong pool of finance professionals with startup experience.

• Gurugram & Noida: Ideal for GCCs and enterprise firms; close to Delhi’s international airport and has tons of finance talent from outsourcing hubs.

• Pune: If you're looking for cost-effective, loyal accounting staff with manufacturing or supply chain exposure.

• Chennai & Coimbatore: Strong in BPO, shared services, and controller-grade roles. We’ve helped multiple European MNCs set up their finance base here.

• Mumbai: India’s financial capital. Higher cost, but excellent for senior finance leadership roles and fund accounting.

Our clients from sectors like fintech, supply chain, and cloud consulting have seen the most success when they combine on-ground finance operations with remote team scalability, and that’s exactly the kind of structure we help you build.

Hiring Models: In-House vs. Staffing Partner

Let me be brutally honest here. If you're thinking of hiring your entire finance team in-house through job portals, it's going to take forever and cost you more in the long run.

The smart choice? Partner with a specialized recruitment firm like Exlcareer that already knows how to hire accountants in India across industries and cities.

Here’s how the models compare:

Hiring Model	In-House via Job Portals	With Exlcareer (Staffing Partner)
Time to Hire	45–60 days	10–15 days
Pre-vetted Candidates	No	Yes
Domain Expertise	General HR only	Finance hiring specialists
City-wise Hiring	Limited reach	Pan-India (Tier 1 cities)
Support After Hiring	No	Yes, Onboarding + Compliance Support

By choosing the right hiring model, companies like yours can focus on building business, not chasing candidates.

Need help hiring accountants for your India expansion? Contact us today and let’s build your team the right way.

Don’t Underestimate Local Compliance Complexity

Many first-time companies entering India think a global CFO or external accounting firm is enough. But here’s where things go sideways:

• TDS non-compliance penalties

• GST mismatches and delayed filings

• Missing PF/ESIC registrations

• Failed Statutory Audit submissions

• Incorrect payroll setups (especially in multiple states)

These aren't minor hiccups. They lead to fines, investor red flags, and worst - a complete pause in operations.

That’s why local finance professionals with hands-on experience are essential.

We recently helped a US-based IoT company expand into Bangalore, and the first three hires we made?

A Senior Accountant, a Payroll Specialist, and a Vendor Payment Analyst.

Today, they’re running a team of 90+ engineers with full financial control from Day 1.

Real Case: How One UAE-based Firm Built Its Finance Team in Noida

Let me tell you about one of our clients, a mid-sized logistics company from Dubai that wanted to build a GCC in Noida.

They initially came to us thinking they’d only need tech talent. But we convinced them to hire their finance manager first, and here's what happened:

• Within 3 weeks, we placed a Finance Manager with Big 4 background and SAP proficiency

• We built an AP/AR team of 4 over the next 30 days

• The team handled multi-currency accounting, import GST, and contractor payments

• Their India entity was fully audit-ready within 3 months

The best part? Their tech leadership in UAE had zero involvement in day-to-day financial chaos, because the India team ran it like clockwork.

We’ve replicated this success story across Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Pune, and we can help you do it too.

Top Mistakes to Avoid When You Hire Accountant for India Expansion

Let’s make sure you don’t burn time or money. Avoid these pitfalls:

• Hiring too junior: Freshers can’t navigate India’s tax ecosystem. You need mid-senior talent from day one.

• Ignoring tech stack: Make sure your hires are fluent in Tally, SAP, NetSuite, or whatever system you plan to use.

• Not offering hybrid/remote roles: Many senior finance professionals now prefer remote-first setups.

• Delaying key hires: Don’t wait until your operations are live to start hiring your accountant. Start before entity registration.

• Using job portals for niche finance roles: You’ll end up wasting weeks screening irrelevant resumes.

Instead, work with someone like Exlcareer who already understands the Indian finance hiring market, has talent pools across cities, and can move fast.

Expanding to India? How We Can Help You Hire Accountants & Finance Teams Fast

We’re not your typical recruitment firm. We specialize in building finance and accounting teams for companies expanding to India.

• 3,000+ finance professionals in our curated talent database

• Expertise in hiring across SAP, Oracle, Tally, Zoho, QuickBooks

• Local hiring across Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, and more

• Flexible staffing models: Full-time, Contractual, or Remote

• Onboarding support, payroll guidance, and compliance handholding

And yes, we’ve done this before for : GCCs, PE-funded startups, MNCs, and Series A companies.

Want to be the next success story? Send us a message now and let’s build your finance team before anything else. Let’s not leave your finances to chance. "When Expanding into India Hire Accountant and Finance team first – it’s the single most strategic decision you’ll make."

At Exlcareer, we help you move fast, hire smart, and scale confidently.

Let us know your query and we’ll show you exactly how to start building your finance operations in India - city by city, role by role, expert by expert.

FAQs -

• How can foreign companies hire accountants in India?

  Hiring accountants in India as a foreign company involves partnering with local recruitment experts, understanding Indian tax laws, and navigating payroll structures. Exlcareer helps streamline this by shortlisting vetted professionals who match your business needs.

• What’s the best way to build a finance team for my India operations?

  The most efficient way is to hire a mix of CA-qualified professionals, experienced accountants, and payroll specialists with Indian compliance knowledge. Exlcareer helps you build this core finance unit quickly and cost-effectively.

• How long does it take to hire accountants in India?

  On average, hiring takes 2–4 weeks if done through experienced staffing agencies. With Exlcareer’s pre-vetted talent pool, hiring timelines can be cut down to just a few days.

• What salary should I expect to offer accountants in India?

  Salaries vary based on role and city. Entry-level accountants earn ₹4–6 LPA, while senior finance managers can command ₹15–25 LPA. Exlcareer provides market-accurate salary benchmarks for each region and role.

• Should I hire finance professionals directly or use a staffing agency?

  Direct hiring works if you have in-house HR in India. But for faster results and vetted talent, staffing agencies like Exlcareer are the preferred choice—especially for first-time expansions.

• How do I ensure compliance with Indian financial regulations?

  By hiring professionals who are well-versed in Indian GAAP, TDS, GST, and RBI guidelines. Exlcareer helps you recruit finance experts who already understand these compliance layers.

• Can I hire remote accountants based in India?

  Yes, many global companies now hire remote finance teams in India. With strong infrastructure and English proficiency, India offers high-quality remote accounting talent. Exlcareer sources both on-site and remote candidates.

• Which cities in India are best for hiring accountants?

  Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, Mumbai, and Chennai are major hubs. Tier-2 cities like Kochi and Indore also offer skilled talent at lower cost. Exlcareer maps your needs to the right city based on role and budget.

• What qualifications should I look for in Indian accountants?

  Look for degrees like B. Com, M. Com, or CA, with experience in Tally, SAP, or QuickBooks. Fluency in English and cross-border accounting is a bonus. Exlcareer filters candidates based on technical and soft skills.

• Why do global companies trust Exlcareer to hire finance teams in India?

  Because Exlcareer offers fast turnarounds, pre-vetted profiles, deep market knowledge, and dedicated support throughout your hiring journey. We specialize in helping global firms expand quickly and compliantly.