Indian-origin teen became world's youngest CA at 16, now works as research analyst

Lakshmanan Meyyappan's interest in finance developed during the Covid-19 pandemic, shortly after he completed his Class 10 board examinations. He began preparing for the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) qualification at the age of 15

A 16-year-old Indian-origin man has made history by becoming the world's youngest Chartered Accountant. Lakshmanan Meyyappan has entered the Guinness World Records as the world's youngest male Chartered Accountant (CA). He achieved the feat in Dubai at the age of 16 years and 141 days, according to Guinness World Records.

Meyyappan qualified as Chartered Accountant at 16

"The youngest chartered accountant (male) is Meyyappan Lakshmanan (India, b. 11 January 2005), who was 16 years and 170 days old when qualified in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on 30 June 2021," reads the Guinness World Records website.

Meyyappan's interest in finance developed during the Covid-19 pandemic, shortly after he completed his Class 10 board examinations. He began preparing for the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) qualification at the age of 15 and completed the course in roughly a year.

He later earned CFA charter, pursues MSc in Finance

Since then, he has continued to strengthen his academic and professional credentials. Meyyappan later obtained the CFA charter and is currently studying for an MSc in Finance.

He is now based in Dubai, where he works as a Senior Research Analyst at Century Financial. His responsibilities include conducting investment research and analysis, as well as supporting decision-making in financial markets.

Beyond finance, Meyyappan designs watches

Away from his professional career and academic pursuits, Meyyappan has another interest — designing and making watches.

In a LinkedIn post reflecting on his progress, Meyyappan recalled how different things were five years ago. He said he could not have imagined completing his Class 10 board examinations without feeling anxious at the time.

He expressed gratitude for later earning both ACCA membership and the CFA charter.

Meyyappan said it still felt "surreal" that he had become an ACCA affiliate at 16 and completed all levels of the CFA by the age of 18. He also joked that the Covid-19 lockdown period had proved helpful by giving him more time to focus on his studies.

'I have never approached qualifications as a race'

However, he stressed that setting a record was never his primary motivation for pursuing the qualifications.

"This milestone means a lot to me, but I have never approached qualifications as a race," he said, as quoted by Khaleej Times.

Instead, Meyyappan said he wanted to gain a practical understanding of finance and develop abilities that would continue to be useful in the long term.

"When learning is driven by curiosity rather than speed, the outcome is far more meaningful," he added.

About the Author

Kanishka Singharia is a Senior Content Producer at Mint with a passion for news, trends, and the stories shaping the digital world. She specialises in spotting viral narratives by constantly tracking social media platforms and turning them into engaging, reader-friendly stories. Her work ranges from fast-paced breaking updates to sensitive human-interest features, blending speed with clarity. <br><br> With over four years of experience in news and trend reporting, Kanishka has worked with leading organisations such as Hindustan Times and Times Now. She moves seamlessly between profiling business leaders and telling the stories of everyday people, covering national developments just as effortlessly as the memes and conversations that dominate online culture. <br><br> She also reports on real estate developments and civic challenges in major urban hubs like Bengaluru, Delhi, and Gurugram. Her coverage frequently explores the struggles of startup founders, inspiring journeys of CEOs, and the experiences of candidates dealing with the complexities of visa processes. <br><br> Kanishka holds an undergraduate degree in Journalism from Delhi University and a diploma from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication. Rarely offline, she spends much of her time scrolling through X, LinkedIn, Reddit, Instagram, and Facebook in search of the next big story. When she finally logs off, she enjoys binge-watching shows and exploring cafes in pursuit of good food and better conversations.