Global Capability Centres (GCCs) are projected to become a major force in India’s economic engine, contributing 2 per cent of the nation’s GDP and generating 2.8 million jobs by the year 2030, according to a recent report by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).
Originally established as back-office support arms for global enterprises, GCCs in India have rapidly transformed into high-value innovation and research centres. Today, they are spearheading technological advancements and R&D functions for some of the world’s leading corporations.
The report highlights the role of GCCs in driving India’s service exports and offering high-quality, skill-intensive employment opportunities. In the financial year 2023-24 alone, GCCs contributed approximately $64.6 billion in export revenue—a sharp 40 per cent increase from $46 billion in the previous fiscal year.
The ecosystem around GCCs is being fuelled by a range of favourable factors, including India’s large, skilled, and tech-savvy workforce, the rapid growth of Tier-II cities, improved infrastructure, and supportive government policies. Together, these elements are positioning India not just as a back-office provider but as the world’s “front office” for strategic innovation and operations.
Md Sajid Khan, Director–India at ACCA, emphasized India’s ideal positioning for global firms: “India is the ideal environment for GCCs thanks to our young, educated workforce, politically stable business environment and digital transformation capabilities.”
According to the ACCA report, over 20,000 global leadership roles are expected to be based in India by 2030. This shift signifies a major upgrade in the complexity and strategic importance of roles being handled from India.
Finance professionals stand to benefit significantly from this evolution. Demand is growing for individuals who possess not only core financial knowledge but also expertise in data analytics, digital tools, and commercial thinking. Finance roles in GCCs are rapidly moving beyond traditional accounting to functions focused on value creation, such as process optimization and cost transformation.
Opportunities for finance professionals include areas such as financial planning and analysis, business partnering, compliance, reporting, and procurement. Entry-level roles are increasingly centred around data analytics and reporting, while mid-level professionals are driving transformation projects and strategic improvements.
As GCCs continue to mature and evolve, their influence on India’s job landscape and GDP will grow substantially—signalling a deep integration of Indian talent and infrastructure into the global economic framework.
