GCC Expansion in India? Here’s How to Hire Finance & Accounting Teams at Scale

If you're reading this, chances are your organization whether a Fortune 500 tech giant or a fast-scaling IT services firm is planning or already executing a Global Capability Center (GCC) expansion in India. The excitement is real, but so are the challenges.

You've likely hit a common pain point: How do we hire finance and accounting teams at scale without slowing down operations, compromising on talent quality, or inflating costs? Maybe your leadership has decided to set up in Bangalore, Pune, Gurgaon, Hyderabad, or Chennai, and the next question on everyone’s mind is: “Where do we start with hiring?”

Let me walk you through how we’ve helped MNCs, product firms, and IT services companies like yours build finance & accounting teams from the ground up for their GCCs in India using a combination of local hiring intelligence, strong recruiter networks, and time-tested

strategies that we’ve refined working with over 100+ enterprises across Tier 1 cities in India.

Why India is the Preferred Destination for GCCs: The Finance & Accounting Advantage

The demand to expand in India is surging for a reason. Cost savings, talent density, favorable regulations, and scalability make it ideal. But for finance and accounting functions, India offers something more.

You're not just saving money you're unlocking strategic capabilities. Whether it's a shared service model or a fully owned captive center, hiring top finance professionals controllers, auditors, FP&A experts, tax analysts, compliance leads requires precision.

We’ve seen this across companies setting up new GCCs in Bangalore, Hyderabad, Gurgaon: They underestimate the complexity of hiring finance and accounting teams at scale. The result? Delayed operations, poor compliance, and missed growth milestones.

But it doesn’t have to be that way.

When you partner with a recruitment firm that specializes in GCC hiring (like we do), you shortcut the time-to-hire, improve talent quality, and reduce cost-to-hire by as much as 30–40%. That’s not theory. That’s our real-world data.

How We Helped a U.S.-Based SaaS MNC Hire 50+ Finance Professionals for Their GCC in Bangalore

Before I dive into the strategies, let me share a real case.

One of our clients, a fast-scaling SaaS company based in California, was setting up a GCC in Bangalore with a mandate to hire a full finance & accounting team of 50+ across FP&A, accounts receivable/payable, tax, and internal audit.

The challenge? They had zero employer brand in India. Hiring managers in the U.S. didn’t have a grasp on Indian salary benchmarks. And worse, they needed all hires done within 100 days.

Here’s what we did:

• We mapped the local hiring landscape for F&A roles specific to their domain

• Deployed a recruitment team with deep GCC finance hiring experience

• Created a three-tier talent funnel with pre-vetted, offer-ready candidates

• Filled 46 roles in 87 days across Bangalore, Pune, and Hyderabad

That GCC is now fully functional and has since added two more departments IT compliance and procurement with our continued hiring support.

Here’s Why Hiring Finance & Accounting Teams for Your GCC in India Isn’t Just ‘Plug and Play’

Let’s be real: hiring software developers in Bangalore or cloud engineers in Hyderabad is difficult, but hiring the right finance and accounting professionals? It’s an entirely different game.

Here’s why:

• India’s top finance talent is always in demand. Even more so in cities like Mumbai and Delhi NCR, where BFSI firms dominate hiring.

• The role titles vary significantly. A “Senior Financial Analyst” in India might not match what your U.S. team imagines.

• Retention is tough. If the first 90 days aren’t handled with care, attrition risk soars.

That’s why working with a recruitment agency experienced in finance & accounting staffing for GCCs in India isn’t optional it’s strategic.

Need to hire fast and right? Let’s discuss your team structure today. Reach out here: Hire Finance & Accounting Talent

What Roles Are Companies Hiring for Finance & Accounting Teams in GCCs?

You might be wondering: What kind of roles should we even hire for at this stage?

Here’s a breakdown of the most commonly hired finance & accounting roles for Global Capability Centers in India, based on our hiring insights in 2024 and 2025:

• Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) Analysts & Managers

• Accounts Payable / Receivable Specialists

• Statutory Compliance Experts (IFRS, IND-AS, GAAP)

• Internal Auditors & Risk Analysts

• Treasury Managers

• Taxation Professionals (Indirect & Direct Tax, GST)

• Controllers (India Entity or Regional)

• Payroll and MIS Reporting Specialists

• Finance Business Partners

• Revenue Assurance and Audit Analysts

We’ve helped clients hire for all these job titles and more across SAP FICO, Oracle Financials, QuickBooks, and Zoho Books ecosystems.

Looking to build a full-stack GCC finance team from scratch? You might also be interested in our article on How to Hire or Recruit a CFO for Your Team

Here’s How You Can Hire Finance & Accounting Teams at Scale in India (The Right Way)

Now let’s get tactical.

When you're building out a team of 10, 50, or even 100+ finance professionals, the hiring strategy needs to be radically different from ad-hoc hiring.

1. Start With a Workforce Plan Based on Your Operating Model

Are you hiring for a captive shared service or a strategic finance hub? Your hiring plan changes drastically based on this.

We advise all our clients to map talent needs against:

• Time zones (U.S., EMEA, APAC shifts)

• Tech stack (ERP systems like SAP, Oracle)

• Compliance exposure (SOX, SEC, Indian tax laws)

Once we know that, we help you define job titles, reporting lines, salary benchmarks, and the ratio of junior-to-senior hires.

2. Build Employer Brand in Indian Finance Circles

This is a hidden bottleneck. Many MNCs are unknown in India’s finance job market. Without visibility, your ideal candidates will never apply.

That’s why we help our clients with:

• Localized job descriptions with industry phrases Indian finance pros understand

• Campaigns on Naukri, LinkedIn, iimjobs targeting Indian cities like Pune, Gurgaon, and Mumbai

• Recruitment marketing support to establish your GCC as a great place to work

Want to target top-tier finance professionals who are already employed but open to change? Check out our post on Executive Search Firms Services

Planning a GCC ramp-up and need 25+ finance & accounting hires in 90 days?We’ve done this before and can do it again for you. Let’s build your finance team in India

Cities to Focus On: Where You Should Hire Finance Talent in India

While your business may be registered in Bangalore or Hyderabad, different cities offer different advantages depending on the sub-function you're hiring for.

• Bangalore – Best for FP&A, analytics, SaaS finance, and fintech

• Hyderabad – Shared service hubs for tax, audit, and compliance

• Gurgaon & Noida – Banking, insurance, and financial reporting functions

• Pune – Cost-effective and growing hub for AP/AR and payroll

• Mumbai – Expensive but top talent for treasury and financial control

We help clients plan multi-city hiring when scale matters and supply becomes limited in one geography.

Thinking of setting up a multi-location finance hub in India? Read: Hire Accountants & Auditors in Mumbai: Top Finance Staffing Agencies

Trends You Must Know Before Hiring Finance Teams in GCCs (2025 Edition)

1. Shift Toward Cross-Functional Finance Talent

GCCs no longer hire just specialists. They need finance professionals who can collaborate with product, sales, and compliance teams, especially in hybrid or matrix setups.

2. Demand for Tech-Savvy Accountants

SAP FICO, Oracle Financials, MS Power BI, and Tableau are now expected for most finance roles. If you're not testing these skills at the interview level, you’ll regret it post-hire.

3. Salaries Have Surged

Compared to 2023, salaries for FP&A roles have jumped 12–15%. Ignoring benchmarks means you’ll lose candidates at the offer stage.

Curious about compensation trends in 2025? Don’t miss our City-Wise Java Developer Salary Guide in India it also touches on finance salary comparisons.

Your Checklist to Hire GCC Finance & Accounting Teams the Right Way

Here’s a quick list we follow for all clients:

• Define job architecture based on process complexity

• Validate salary benchmarks across Tier 1 cities

• Use recruiters who specialize in GCC F&A hiring

• Plan 2X sourcing buffer to prevent offer dropouts

• Conduct skill assessments for ERP tools (SAP, Oracle)

• Offer location flexibility when hiring mid-senior roles

• Build 30-60-90 onboarding plan to ensure retention

Want our customizable checklist sent to your inbox? Request the GCC Finance Hiring Playbook

Hiring finance and accounting teams for your GCC in India is not just about filling seats. It’s about building a strong foundation for your global operations.

The stakes are high. You can’t afford poor compliance, delayed closings, or attrition six months in. That’s why you need a recruitment consultancy that knows the GCC model, understands Indian hiring behavior, and has delivered success across India’s Tier 1 cities.

We’ve helped organizations with 100 employees scale to 5,000+ in less than three years—starting with finance.

Now, it’s your turn. Reach out now and let’s plan your hiring roadmap together. Book a Free GCC Hiring Consultation

FAQs -

• What is a GCC and why are companies expanding into India? A Global Capability Center (GCC) is an offshore hub set up by multinational companies to manage key business functions like finance, IT, HR, and operations. India is a top destination due to its skilled workforce, cost efficiency, and strong tech-finance ecosystem.
  

• Why is India a preferred location for setting up finance GCCs? India offers a deep talent pool of finance and accounting professionals, competitive labor costs, and a mature outsourcing infrastructure. Cities like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, and Chennai have become top hubs for setting up finance-focused GCCs.
  

• What roles are typically hired when building a finance GCC? Finance GCCs in India typically hire for roles such as financial analysts, accounts payable/receivable executives, tax specialists, auditors, controllers, and FP&A managers. Senior leadership roles like finance directors are also in demand as centers scale.
  

• How do recruitment agencies help in hiring finance teams at scale? Recruitment agencies offer end-to-end hiring support from sourcing and screening to onboarding. They leverage databases, local networks, and bulk hiring models to quickly scale finance teams while ensuring compliance, cultural fit, and candidate quality.

• How long does it take to build a finance and accounting team for a GCC? With the help of experienced recruitment firms, building a team can take anywhere between 4 to 12 weeks, depending on team size, skill complexity, and hiring urgency. Bulk hiring models and ready talent pipelines can significantly reduce timelines.

• Is it cost-effective to outsource finance hiring for GCCs in India?Yes, outsourcing hiring to a recruitment consultancy in India reduces operational costs, speeds up hiring, and ensures high-quality placements. It's especially effective for large-scale hiring, where time and efficiency are critical for business continuity.

• What are the biggest hiring challenges for finance GCCs?Common challenges include talent shortages in niche roles, high competition from other GCCs, and retention of skilled professionals. A local recruitment partner helps navigate these by providing market insights, salary benchmarking, and retention strategies.

• Which Indian cities are best for hiring finance professionals for GCCs?Top cities include Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, Mumbai, and Chennai. These locations offer access to skilled finance talent, excellent infrastructure, and proximity to other established GCCs, making them ideal for setting up and scaling teams.

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