SW India: Emerging First Generation Entrepreneurial Audit & Advisory Firm in India

With operations in over 26 countries, SW India, an audit and advisory firm is disrupting the Indian market and emerging as a challenger to the Big Four giants, Deloitte, PwC, Ernst & Young, and KPMG. In an exclusive interview, Managing Partners and Co-Founders of SW India, Atul Puri and Kunal Mehra discuss the distinctive traits that set SW India apart from its rivals, Kunal Mehra – Managing Partner & Co-founder at SW India and Atul Puri Managing Partner & Co-founder.  at SW India, shares more insights on the same.

1) Briefly explain SW India and what unique SW India offers.

SW India is a member firm of SW International, an Audit and Advisory firm, founded by Mr Atul Puri and Mr Kunal Mehra in 2014. Started with 2 people, and now we are 300+ people present in major cities in India, having a global presence in 20 countries. SW India provides audit and advisory services to global and Indian clients. We are a building firm that is helping companies to do business in India as well as Indian companies who intend to establish businesses outside India, including compliance and statutory reporting both at domestic and international platforms. Being a homegrown firm, we are gradually becoming an alternative to Big 4’s in India

2) SW India has been there in the market for more than two decades now. What are some of the key achievements you would like to highlight?

We are among the fastest first-generation entrepreneur-driven growing firms in India, since our inception till date, our  CAGR is more than 50 percent. Our firm has been well recognized as an alternative to the big 4’s by our clients which reflects the quality of our team and services. Within a short period, we are not only providing services to Indian companies but also to global companies having a presence across the world 

3) How do you stay updated on the latest technology trends and their impact on auditing practices?

By adopting a proactive approach to learning and staying connected with industry developments, auditors can stay updated on the latest technology trends and their implications for auditing practices. Continuous learning and engagement with professional networks are key to keeping pace with the rapidly evolving technology landscape. 

We are a paperless firm where all our functions and process are digital. Further, all our service lines are being driven through technology platforms. We are further investing in technology to further strengthen our service capabilities and provide seamless services to our clients.

4) How do you stay ahead of your competition in the taxation and auditing industry?

Staying ahead of the competition requires a dynamic and adaptable approach. Continuously assess the industry landscape, embrace change, and evolve your strategies to meet the evolving needs of your clients. By understanding clients’ problems/expectations well in advance, providing solutions to them.

5) Can you tell us about your experience working with international tax issues?

One of the core practice areas is an international tax advisory and very frequently we come across issues that need threadbare analysis. International tax laws have been evolving over the past few decades right from the determination of arm’s length approach to BEPS 1.0 to BEPS 2.0, there have been considerable developments under the international tax regime, which makes life even more complicated for entities having cross-border transactions with group companies.

International tax over the years has become more and more complicated for businesses and we have tried to keep our pace aligned by updating our knowledge base and talent to give the right advice to our clients. 

Moreover, our global reach in multiple foreign jurisdictions gives us the leverage to understand not only the Indian tax laws from an international tax perspective but also from a home jurisdiction tax perspective.

6) What is your key strategy to become an alternative to the Big 4s?

Our quality, capabilities, and solution-oriented approach. These three factors are the biggest drivers which are pushing clients to engage us more than the big four. In today’s complex world, especially for companies that are coming from overseas to invest in India, apart from capabilities and quality services, they are more interested in working with a firm that can help them to establish and run a business in India than only taking care of regulatory and tax compliances.