Union Minister of Law & Justice, Arjun Ram Meghwal has awarded the Women Chartered Accountant of the Year Award to Ashwini Sawrikar, Chief Operating Officer of Artha Bharat Investment Managers IFSC LLP at a grand function that was also attended by Ranjit Kumar Agarwal, President, ICAI; Charanjot Singh Nanda, Vice President, ICAI and Priti Paras Savla, ICAI Central Council Member & Chairperson, WMEC of ICAI.

Artha Bharat is the investment manager of the Rs 1100 crore Artha Global Opportunities Fund the first distressed debt fund established in Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT), India’s only International Financial Services Centre. Ms. Sawrikar oversees risk management, compliance, back-office operations, HR, finance, and administration at Artha Bharat.

The award has been instituted by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), the supreme regulatory body for CAs in India. 

"This award is a tribute to the power of women professionals in finance who are lending their might to usher India towards its Amrit Kal and helping the government realise its vision of Viksit Bharat. I hope this award inspires every woman to dream big and aim for the stars, in the process doing their families and the nation proud," said Ms. Sawrikar upon receiving the honour.

‘The CA Woman of the Year Award, instituted by ICAI, recognizes women CAs who are making outstanding contributions to the profession, members, and students. It honours those whose passion, dedication, and determination have created a positive societal impact. The awardees are selected from among women members who have significantly contributed to ICAI by mentoring members, conducting sessions, spreading awareness, imparting knowledge, and embracing societal change,’ stated an ICAI explanatory note on the CA Women Excellence Awards.

Ashwini Sawrikar who interned at the CA firm, Gokhale & Sathe qualified as a Chartered Accountant at the age of 22 years, completing the rigorous qualification alongside her graduation.

With an illustrious career spanning multinational auditing firms and foreign banks in India, Ashwini Sawrikar has further distinguished herself by earning globally recognized certifications, including:

• Certificate in Operational Risk Management from the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment, UK
• Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charter from the CFA Institute, USA
• Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) qualification from The Institute of Internal Auditors, USA

She served as the Finance Director of Indian Schools in Oman from 2021-24 and currently chairs their Academic Committee. 

Beyond her financial acumen, Ashwini Sawrikar is an accomplished Hindustani classical singer and an avid traveller, having visited every continent, including the North Pole and Antarctica. Coming from a family of Chartered Accountants, she continues to set a remarkable example in the profession.

With her exceptional achievements and unwavering commitment to her profession, Ashwini Sawrikar stands as a beacon of inspiration for women professionals across India and beyond.