A chartered accountant who spent a decade at KPMG has shared a detailed look at how his salary changed over the years, offering aspiring finance professionals a glimpse into the career growth possible within one of the world's largest accounting firms. Through an Instagram video, Anirudh Rapole traced his journey from an Articleship trainee earning less than Rs 2 lakh annually to a professional drawing more than Rs 57 lakh a year while working overseas.A Career That Started With ArticleshipRapole began his professional journey in 2013 as a Staff Accountant at KPMG while completing his Articleship, the mandatory practical training required for Chartered Accountancy students. His annual compensation at the time stood at ₹1.92 lakh.Also Read: 'This seems the future of manufacturing': Harsh Goenka shares eye-opening factory video. WatchDuring the training period, his earnings increased gradually. In the second year of Articleship, his annual salary rose to ₹2.52 lakh. By the third year, it had climbed further to ₹3.36 lakh.The completion of Articleship became a turning point in his career. In 2016, he moved into the position of Senior Associate, taking his annual compensation to ₹6.5 lakh.Promotions Brought Bigger Pay ChequesAs Rapole continued progressing within the organisation, his salary saw a substantial jump. In 2018, he was promoted to Assistant Manager, a role that came with an annual package of ₹13.5 lakh along with performance-linked incentives.His Instagram post highlighted how career advancement within the firm contributed to steady financial growth over the years.Move to Sweden Changed the NumbersA major shift came in 2021 when Rapole moved from KPMG India to KPMG Sweden. The international assignment resulted in a significant increase in earnings.As an Assistant Manager in Sweden, he received ₹46.30 lakh annually, apart from bonuses. The following year, his compensation rose to ₹57.80 lakh, excluding bonus payments.However, Rapole urged viewers not to compare the figures directly with Indian salaries.“Also, do keep in mind the PPP and cost of living difference in India and Sweden. This video is just to show how my career progression has been. Not to compare salaries between the two countries. I’ll do that in a separate video,” Rapole said.MBA Became the Next StepAfter spending more than a decade with the firm, Rapole left KPMG in 2024 to pursue an MBA from IIM Ahmedabad.“Will share post MBA salary in a separate video,” he promised.Why He Calls CA a ‘Real Equaliser’Along with sharing salary figures, Rapole reflected on the impact that the Chartered Accountancy profession had on his life. He described the qualification as a pathway that allows individuals from different backgrounds to grow through effort and consistency.Also Read: Why tech giant Google is planning to release 32,00,00,000 mosquitoes in the US“CA is a real equaliser. Open to all. No reservations. Equitable. With hard work and consistency one has a real chance to grow personally and professionally in life as a Chartered Accountant,” he wrote.He also expressed gratitude for choosing the profession and credited it for helping him develop resilience.“The level of grit and perseverance it has instilled in me has helped me tackle challenges in life,” said Rapole.Rapole revealed that he was the first chartered accountant in his family and did not have professional guidance while preparing for the course.“I am the first CA in my family. I did not have any guidance as such. But was lucky to stumble on the right path along the way. Doing articleship from KPMG is something that changed the trajectory of my professional career. Forever grateful,” he added.Not a Post About Showing OffRapole concluded by clarifying the purpose behind sharing his earnings publicly. According to him, the goal was to give aspiring chartered accountants a realistic picture of career progression in a Big Four firm.“This is not a post to brag. But to let aspiring CAs get a view of how my life has been over the years as a CA working in a Big4,” he said.