About CA Rohit Sethi

My journey as a teacher actually began when I was just 16 years old, while I was studying in Class 12.

I grew up in a joint family, and my sister used to teach younger children. Whenever she found it difficult to explain a Mathematics concept, I would step in and help her students understand it.

That was when I discovered something profound about myself—I genuinely enjoyed taking a difficult concept and making it simple for someone else.

After completing my Class 12 examinations, I started teaching students of Class 9. Over the years, I taught students of Classes 9, 10, 11 and 12.

By the time I became a Chartered Accountant in 2013, teaching had already been a significant part of my life.

Coming from a business family, where business naturally received a lot of importance, becoming the first Chartered Accountant in my family was a particularly meaningful achievement.

My CA journey, however, was not straightforward.

For nearly five years, I had to balance three demanding responsibilities—teaching, CA internship, and my own studies.

Teaching was my passion. The internship was a requirement. And clearing the CA examinations was the goal. I managed all three while preparing for the examinations without taking coaching.

After qualifying as a CA in 2013, I began teaching CA students. That transition changed my perspective towards teaching.

These were no longer simply students preparing for an examination. They were professionals in the making. That came with a different level of responsibility.

I realised that if a CA student asked me a question, I couldn’t simply say, “I’ll study it and tell you.” If I wanted my students to trust me, I needed to understand my subject deeply enough to explain not only what the answer was, but why it was the answer.

That became the cornerstone of my teaching philosophy. My objective was never to make students dependent on a teacher or a textbook. I wanted to give them enough conceptual understanding that, eventually, they could build the concepts themselves.

One of the biggest misconceptions I try to change among CA students is that Accounting is simply another subject that needs to be studied for an examination.

As a future CA, your clients may approach you for tax consultancy, audit services, financial advice or investment-related advice. In each of these situations, you need to understand the client’s business and financial position. You need to be able to analyse revenue, net worth and financial statements.

And to do that effectively, you need to understand Accounting.

That is why I don’t want my students to simply memorise accounting treatments. I want them to understand the logic behind the treatment, understand where it is applied, and develop the ability to approach a new situation with confidence.

If there is one principle that defines my teaching, it is concept clarity. I believe that once a concept is genuinely understood, questions become easier, revision becomes faster and the need for rote learning reduces significantly.

My classes are friendly and interactive. I like maintaining an environment where students can learn comfortably. I may tease or pull a student’s leg from time to time, but always with the intention of keeping the classroom engaging and motivating.

More importantly, I want my students to feel comfortable asking questions. A student should never feel scared or embarrassed to say, “Sir, I didn’t understand this.”

Because if a student is afraid to ask a question, the doubt remains unresolved. And if doubts remain unresolved, true learning cannot happen. For me, creating an environment where students can openly ask questions is not an additional part of teaching—it is an essential part of teaching.

My students often see me not just as a teacher, but as a mentor. I consider that trust a responsibility.

Whether I am teaching CA Foundation Accounting or CA Intermediate Advanced Accounting, my approach remains the same: focus on the fundamentals, understand the logic, and then learn how to apply it. My goal is not simply to help students clear an examination, but to help them become professionals who genuinely understand what they are doing.

Today, my ambition is to become one of the most recognised educators in India, particularly in the field of Accounting and CA education. I want my journey to be an example for students that choosing your passion does not mean compromising on success.