the hunt for analytics and finance & accounting talent in india

May 2012

www.deloitte.com/in

Talent Hunt

Where to find the right Analytics

and Finance and Accounting (F&A)

talent in India?

Contents

Finding the right talent remains a key priority for captives and service providers 4

Delhi/NCR ranks highest across most parameters for Analytics talent 5

Delhi/NCR leads other cities across most parameters for F&A talent 8

Conclusion 11

References 13

Contacts 14

4

Finding the right talent remains a key priority for captives and service providers

The IT-BPO industry in India has grown consistently from contributing 1.2% to national GDP in 1998 to an

estimated 6.4% in 2011.1 The industry is expected to reach aggregate revenues of USD 88.1 billion in FY

2011.1 Both third party service providers and captives have played a significant role in fuelling this growth

and establishing India as a global sourcing destination.

One of the biggest challenges faced by captives and service providers alike today is finding the right talent.

There is shortage of experienced talent, especially in Analytics roles. As the industry matures, captives and

service providers are evolving to move up the value chain and offer high-end knowledge based services.

This transformation requires these organizations to develop specialized skills and domain expertise.

However, lack of adequate talent in the current operating locations, is slowing down this growth. High

employee attrition is another issue plaguing these organizations at large.

The present scenario makes it imperative for captives and service providers to locate the right talent suited

for their requirements in the shortest time. Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu India Pvt. Ltd. (Deloitte) conducted a

study for Talent Availability Assessment in Dec-Feb 2012 for Analytics and F&A roles at both entry-level

and for experienced professionals in India, focusing on captives and service providers serving the banking

industry. The cities under consideration were Delhi/NCR2, Chennai, Mumbai3, Hyderabad4, Bangalore,

Pune and Kolkata. The study involved primary research with captives, service providers and recruiters who

recruit for captives and service providers, combined with secondary research to arrive at rankings across

four parameters impacting availability of talent, namely Talent Supply, Talent Quality, Talent Sourcing and

Competition for Talent. Ranking was also done for each job family for Analytics and F&A roles.

This paper presents key findings from the study. It highlights the rankings for cities across the parameters

selected for the study for entry-level and experienced Analytics talent. It also provides city-wise rankings for

each parameter for entry-level and experienced F&A talent.

5

Delhi/NCR ranks highest across most parameters for Analytics talent

Delhi/NCR consistently ranks highest across all four parameters considered for this study for entry-level

Analytics talent availability. Except for Talent Supply, Delhi/NCR ranks highest across the other three

parameters for availability of experienced Analytics talent.

Talent supply

Figure 1: Talent supply ranking for Analytics

Delhi/NCR has the largest annual intake of Tier I/II MBAs5 and CAs6, while Mumbai has the largest number

of fresh Post-Graduates available in the 7 cities7, 8; it also has a large annual intake of Tier I/II MBAs.

Chennai has the highest number of Tier I Engineering graduates9 among the cities considered for the study;

in addition, it offers the lowest cost of living among the selected cities.10

Chennai has the highest number of Tier I Engineering graduates among the cities considered for the stud;

in addition, it offers the lowest cost of living among the selected cities.

Bangalore accounts for the highest number of experienced Analytics headcount across all cities. Delhi/NCR

has large pools of relevant Graduates, Post-Graduates, and MBAs with experience in Analytics. The top

three cities account for a vast majority of the total experienced talent pool available across all cities.

Delhi/NCR Chennai Mumbai Hyderabad Bangalore Pune Kolkata

Entry-level Ranking Experienced Ranking

1

3

2 2

3

1

Chennai has the highest number of Tier I Engineering graduates among the cities considered for the study; in addition, it offers the lowest cost of living among the selected cities

6

Talent quality

Figure 2: Talent quality ranking for Analytics

In terms of entry-level talent quality, Delhi/NCR ranks high for analytical ability (i.e. quantitative and

problem-solving skills). In addition, Delhi/NCR has the most number of computer training institutes across

the selected cities.11 While talent from Kolkata is known for analytical skills, the city also ranks highest in

terms of computer proficiency e.g. it has the highest proportion of Internet users among all cities.12

Bangalore is rated the best by experts for the quantitative and problem-solving skills of entry-level Analytics

talent.

Delhi/NCR ranks the highest for analytical ability (i.e. quantitative and problem-solving skills) for

experienced talent. Bangalore is also rated high by experts for the analytical ability of experienced Analytics

talent; it is closely behind Delhi/NCR. Mumbai is ranked third by experts for the quantitative and problem-

solving skills of experienced Analytics talent; it also rates well in terms of computer proficiency. 12

Talent sourcing

Figure 3: Talent sourcing ranking for Analytics



2

3

2

3

1 1



1 1

3 3

2 2

7

According to experts, Delhi/NCR receives the highest relevant applications per position. Experts also rate

Delhi/NCR the best in terms of employability of entry-level talent across all cities. Pune enjoys one of the

lowest attrition rates among entry-level Analytics talent. It is also recognized for providing a relevant talent

pool. Most of the entry-level talent needs in Bangalore are met locally. It is also rated high by experts for the

employability of entry-level talent across all cities.

Experts rate Delhi/NCR as the best city for the employability of experienced Analytics talent across all cities.

In addition, a large number of experienced talent needs are met locally. Chennai enjoys the lowest attrition

rate across all cities for experienced Analytics talent. Bangalore is rated high for the employability of

experienced Analytics talent across all cities by experts involved in the day-to-day identification and

recruitment of similar talent.

Competition for talent

Figure 4: Competition for talent ranking for Analytics

Delhi/NCR and Bangalore have the largest number of captives/service providers. As a result of being the

most competitive markets, the attrition rates in Delhi/NCR and Bangalore are correspondingly high. With

Mumbai being a financial hub, there is a larger distribution of captive centers operated by global banks as

compared to service providers in the Analytics space.

Experts rate Delhi/NCR as the best city for the employability of experienced Analytics talent across all cities. In addition, a large number of all experienced talent needs are met locally



1 1

3 3

2 2

8

Delhi/NCR leads other cities across most parameters for F&A talent

Across all four parameters considered for this study for entry-level F&A talent availability, Delhi/NCR

consistently ranks first. For experienced F&A talent availability, Delhi/NCR ranks first across all parameters

except for Talent Sourcing.

Talent supply

Figure 5: Talent supply ranking for F&A

Delhi/NCR has the most number of Fresh Graduates (commerce, economics, maths and statistics) 8,15,16

and Chartered Accountants6 when compared to other cities in scope of the survey. The top three cities

account for approximately half of the available pool of graduates, Chartered Accountants and management

professionals across the 7 cities.

Delhi/NCR constitutes the greatest proportion of the total experienced headcount across the 7 cities. A vast

majority of the experienced talent pool across all the cities in scope is accounted for by Delhi/NCR,

Bangalore and Mumbai.



1 1

2

3 3

2

9

Talent quality

Figure 6: Talent quality ranking for F&A

Approximately half of the total computer training institutes are located in Delhi11 and experts also rank

Delhi/NCR the highest in terms of language proficiency. In terms of good communication skills as well as

having a high proportion of internet users, Mumbai ranks second after Delhi/NCR. 11 Due to a high

proportion of internet users, Kolkata ranks third across the 7 cities in terms of talent quality.12

Talent sourcing

Figure 7: Talent sourcing ranking for F&A

According to experts, Bangalore has a high selection rate (ratio of applications converted to applications

received) for entry-level F&A roles due to large number of relevant applications and willingness of

professionals from other cities to relocate to Bangalore. Delhi/NCR receives the highest number of relevant

applications as compared to other cities due to presence of several captives and service providers. Mumbai



1 1

2 2

3 3



1 1

3 3

1

In terms of good communication skills as well as a having a high proportion of internet users, Mumbai ranks second after Delhi/NCR

10

and Delhi/NCR (especially Gurgaon) meet almost all of the talent requirement locally.

Bangalore and Mumbai have the highest selection rate for experienced roles according to experts involved

in hiring similar talent; Bangalore scores with a below average attrition rate. Mumbai has the highest attrition

rate due to the availability of several alternate finance job opportunities. Bangalore, Delhi/NCR and Mumbai

meet a high percentage of the experienced talent requirements locally.

Competition for talent

Figure 8: Competition for talent ranking for F&A

Delhi/NCR ranks first in competition for talent, with presence of large number of captives and service

providers. Bangalore has a relatively lower attrition rate for entry-level talent, in spite of the presence of

several competitors (compared to Delhi/NCR, which has a higher attrition rate).

Entry-Level F&A talent is sourced more easily in Delhi/NCR and Bangalore compared to Mumbai due to the

lower cost of living in these cities.12 Experienced talent pool, especially senior and middle management,

prefers to live in Bangalore due to the premium lifestyle offered by the city.



1 1

3 3 3 3

2 2

Entry-Level F&A talent is sourced more easily in Delhi/NCR and Bangalore compared to Mumbai due to the lower cost of living in these cities.

11

Conclusion

Top Ranked Cities for Analytics

Figure 9: Top ranked cities for analytics

Entry-level analytics Experienced analytics

Experts rate the employability of entry-level analytics talent in Delhi/NCR as the best among the selected

cities. Mumbai is very attractive in terms of talent supply; it offers the largest pool of relevant fresh Post-

Graduates as well as a large annual intake of Tier I/II MBAs.5 Bangalore is acclaimed for the quantitative

and problem-solving skills of entry-level talent; vast majority of such talent requirements are fulfilled locally.

Delhi/NCR ranks highest for both quantitative and problem-solving skills of experienced analytics talent.

Mumbai offers a large pool of experienced talent. Bangalore is a preferred destination for experienced talent

as it offers an equivalent metro city lifestyle at a lower cost of living. 12

Mumbai

Delhi/NCR

1

2

3

Bangalore

Bangalore

Delhi/NCR

1

2

3

Mumbai

12

Top Ranked Cities for F&A

Figure 10: Top ranked cities for F&A

Entry-level F&A Experienced F&A

Delhi/NCR offers the greatest number of fresh graduates8,15,16, management professionals13,14 and CA’s6

relevant for F&A job functions. Delhi/NCR entry-level F&A talent is rated to be the best in terms of English

proficiency and computer literacy17 followed closely by Mumbai. Delhi/NCR leads in terms of talent sourcing

due to the large number of relevant applications and large pool of locally available talent. Delhi/NCR has the

largest number of captives and service providers closely followed by Bangalore.

Delhi/NCR, by far, offers the largest number of experienced Graduates, Post-Graduates, CA’s and MBAs.

Bangalore is a preferred destination for experienced resources offering a premium quality of life such as

good education for children, cultural and social activities, etc. Bangalore and Delhi/NCR are the front

runners for sourcing of experienced talent closely followed by Mumbai, having the same selection rate.

Mumbai has good quality of experienced professionals but cost of talent acquisition associated with all

designations is high as compared to Delhi/NCR and Bangalore.

Mumbai

Delhi/NCR

1

2

3

Bangalore

Bangalore

Delhi/NCR

1

2

3

Mumbai

13

References

1. “Indian IT-BPO Industry.” NASSCOM. 5 Jan. 2012. < http://www.nasscom.org/indian-itbpo-

industry>

2. Delhi/NCR refers to Delhi, Gurgaon and Noida

3. Mumbai includes adjoining region of Navi Mumbai

4. Hyderabad includes adjoining region of Secunderabad and Greater Hyderabad

5. Tier I/II MBAs defined as top 20 MBA institutes as per “Best B-Schools 2011 Ranking of Business

Today - Nielson.” India Today Online Edition. 18 August 2011. 6 Jan. 2012

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/indias-best-business-b-schools/1/148414.html

6. India. The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI). The Institute of Chartered

Accountants of India (ICAI) Membership Directory 2011-12. New Delhi:ICAI

7. “India’s Best Colleges 2011 – An Exclusive Survey from India Today.” India Today Online Edition.

4 July 2011. 4 Jan. 2012 http://indiatoday.intoday.in/specials/bestcolleges/2011/

8. Federal universities in each city in scope of the study

9. Tier I Engineering graduates defined as top 50 Engineering institutes as per “2011 Outlook-

MDRA Survey for Best Professional Colleges in India.” Outlook India Online Edition. 27 June

2011. 6 Jan. 2012 http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?277253

10. “Cost of Living Index for 2012.” Numbeo. 4 Jan. 2012. http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-

living/rankings.jsp

11. India. National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (erstwhile DOEACC). List of

Accredited Institutes. 6 Jan. 2012. <http://www.nielit.in/index.jsp

12. “Report on Internet in India (I-Cube) 2011.” Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI). 3

Nov. 2012. 5 Jan. 2012.

http://www.iamai.in/Upload/Research/11720111091101/icube_3nov11_56.pdf

13. “List of Engineering/Technology Institutions in India”. All India Council for Technical Education

(AICTE). 9 Jan. 2012. http://www.aicte-india.org/misappengineering.htm

14. “List of Management Institutions in India”. All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). 8

Jan. 2012. http://www.aicte-india.org/misappmanagement.htm

15. Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India

16. University Grants Commission, India

17. India. Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner. Census of India 2011. 8 Jan.

2012. http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/hlo/Houselisting_Housing_2011.html

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/indias-best-business-b-schools/1/148414.html

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/specials/bestcolleges/2011/

http://www.aicte-india.org/misappengineering.htm

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Contacts

Rajat BanerjiTel: +91 124 679 2306

Email: [email protected]

Anurag Goel Tel: +91 124 679 2000Email: [email protected]

16

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