Exploring International Accounting & AI with CA Varun & CA Kashmira Nirmal

Exploring International Accounting and AI: Lessons from CA Varun & CA Kashmira Nirmal

When two charted accountants unite as partners in life and business, the result is a unique blend of expertise and vision. CA Varun Nirmal and CA Kashmira Nirmal have built a practice rooted in international accounting, US taxation, internal auditing, and a strong focus on technology and automation. Their journey, as shared with host Geena Bharwani, reveals how shared purpose and openness to change drive success in modern finance.

How Two Chartered Accountants Built a Partnership

• Met during their articleship at the same chartered accountancy firm
• Both felt a curiosity about a colleague with a similar professional path
• Professional conversation broke the ice, quickly deepening into a partnership in both life and work

They found that understanding each other’s hectic schedules, especially during tax audit season, helped build a deep sense of empathy—a rare advantage for two professionals balancing career and home.

Diverse Backgrounds, United by a Common Goal

Kashmira’s family pushed her away from the path of her siblings in engineering, encouraging her to explore a commerce-based profession. While she entered accounting without a business background, her interest in math and organization led her to thrive. Varun, on the other hand, grew up in a business family, learning the value of numbers from an early age as he counted cash and wrote bills for the family shop.

Both discovered that what seemed like different starting points actually brought complementary skills and fresh insights to their partnership.

Founding and Expanding Their Firm

1. The couple founded their own CA firm in 2008.
2. Expansion accelerated around 2017, with the introduction of GST and India’s startup boom.
3. Kashmira specializes in Indian clients, while Varun handles clients based in the US.
4. The firm operates with offices in Bangalore and Ahmedabad, along with remote staff in various cities and even Dubai.

Their early move to a flexible, remote work culture helped them attract and retain talent from different places.

Advantages of Remote Work and Early Cloud Adoption

Key benefits of cloud technology for their firm:

• Seamless work-from-home options, crucial during the COVID-19 lockdown
• Ability to hire and support employees across locations and time zones
• Cost savings and improved accuracy using cloud-based tools
• Uninterrupted client service, even when physical offices were closed

“The pandemic didn’t slow their firm, thanks to systems that were already in place."

How Cloud Accounting Has Transformed the Profession

Cloud-based accounting platforms have changed daily work for accountants, especially for small and mid-sized firms. No longer are invoices stuck in piles of paper—today, data comes from sources like Flipkart and Amazon, requiring new reconciliation and analysis tools. By avoiding half-measures and using cloud applications to their full potential, they saw major gains in both efficiency and service quality.

Benefits for CAs:

• Faster data processing and reporting
• Better client collaboration
• Lower costs, especially for routine tasks

The Power of AI in Accounting

Electricity, the internet, and now AI—three inventions with power to reshape entire professions. According to Varun, AI has started to automate repetitive work, reaching over 95% accuracy in some tasks. This frees professionals to offer higher-value strategic advice and spot trends, not just tick boxes for compliance. With less need for on-site client visits, CA firms can focus on advisory relationships and deeper insights.

Main AI benefits:

• Streamlines mundane work
• Frees up time for analysis and strategy
• Supports remote client engagement

Supporting Gender Diversity in Chartered Accountancy

Kashmira’s commitment to a 50/50 gender split in hiring has helped create opportunities for women returning to the workforce. With initiatives from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI)—such as women’s committees, awards, and virtual seminars—the profession has seen women CAs grow from 8% to 30%. Key to continued progress: flexible work policies and equal pay.

Key Statistic: Women CAs have increased from 8% to 30% in the past two decades.

Building Global Networks and International Opportunities

Varun’s involvement in ICAI’s international affairs committee fostered collaborations with peers in countries including Ireland, UK, Singapore, and Australia. These partnerships allow Indian accountants to take top-up courses and quickly access global markets, reflecting a profession that’s increasingly borderless.

• India
• Ireland
• UK
• Singapore
• Australia

Beyond the Debits and Credits: Unexpected Skills

Kashmira credits improved marketing skills and public speaking to her consulting and teaching work. Varun highlights client empathy—knowing the stories, ambitions, and challenges behind the spreadsheets—as a skill that transformed his practice.

Fun Fact: Financial Icons and Personal Interests

Kashmira picked Warren Buffett as her dream dinner guest, eager to learn more about investment wisdom and the global financial markets. Varun values continuous learning and finds inspiration in client stories and strong professional relationships.

Lessons for Future Chartered Accountants

Future-ready firms should embrace cloud and AI wholeheartedly, but not forget the importance of understanding client needs. Fostering gender diversity, adapting to change, and upskilling consistently remain central to the profession’s future.

Successful CAs combine strong technology skills, business empathy, and a willingness to learn from any source—whether it’s a new client or a personal hero like Warren Buffett.

Conclusion

The journey of CA Varun and CA Kashmira Nirmal shows that embracing change—whether it’s partnering in life, adopting new technology, or breaking barriers in gender representation—leads to innovation and growth. As accounting transforms, their story is a lesson in adaptability, collaboration, and the power of staying curious.