In a world where finance often feels rigid and predictable, Rajiv Gajjar brings a refreshing blend of discipline, personality, and passion. A Chartered Accountant with a decade of experience in tax audits, financial leadership, and consulting, he currently drives strategy as the Financial Controller at EFC Limited while also running his own practice, Tax Car Consultants. But behind the spreadsheets lies a man shaped by curiosity, grit, and a deep love for cricket, family, and long bike rides across the country.
Appearing on the Emerging Professional Series of Koffee Conversation @TEIF, Rajiv opens up about the decisions, doubts, victories, and values that shaped him. From overcoming uncertainty as a science student entering commerce, to cracking his CA intern exams, to shifting cities and stepping into leadership — his story is a reminder that growth happens in phases, choices, and everyday discipline.
Rajiv’s career began with a leap of faith — switching from science to commerce and taking up CA despite skepticism. Clearing his IPCC boosted his confidence and confirmed he belonged in finance. A strong articleship foundation and years of audit and taxation work shaped his technical depth and resilience. His move to Pune and joining EFC became a defining milestone, opening doors to corporate finance leadership and complex decision-making.
Running Tax Car Consultants pushed him into mentoring roles where he filled critical staffing gaps for CA firms and helped young professionals develop discipline and ownership. Today, Rajiv sits at the frontlines of automation, AI-driven finance, corporate planning, and cross-functional decision-making. His career reflects a powerful truth — success isn’t a single moment; it’s a series of choices, consistency, and clarity.
Key Highlights of the Koffee Conversation with Rajdeep Gajjar:
- Started as a science student before switching to commerce and discovering his passion for CA.
- Clearing IPCC gave him the confidence that he “belonged in this field.”
- Believes startups and corporates both have challenges — but corporates offer deeper decision ownership.
- Finance becomes exciting once you understand how numbers shape culture, direction, and decisions.
- Uses AI tools extensively for invoice automation, reconciliations, return filings, and banking workflows.
- Says corporate finance is challenging because you must plan quarters, years, and cash flows proactively.
- Stays updated through social platforms, forums, consultants, newsletters, and rapid digital news cycles.
- Leadership mantra for young CAs: Own your words, own your work.
- Wants internships made compulsory from Class 10 for real-world maturity and financial literacy.
- Biggest inspirations include his uncle, CFO mentors in Pune, and industry leaders like Shant Smitha.
- Busts the myth: CAs aren’t just “book people” — they understand life, discipline, and decisions deeply.
- Says soft skills — communication, planning, foresight — are essential for a finance controller.
- Advises young CAs to be sponge-like learners with low expectations and maximum exploration.
- Childhood shaped by a simple joint family; mother’s tradition of “one meal together” remains sacred.
- Passionate cricketer and biker — his most memorable ride was Mumbai to Leh-Ladakh in 15 days.
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