While most teenagers are busy worrying about board exam results or glued to their phones, Lakshmanan Meyyappan has already achieved something that many finance professionals spend years working towards. He has reportedly made history as the world’s youngest Chartered Accountant.
Who is Lakshmanan Meyyappan
Meyyappan is an Indian origin, Dubai-based teenager who has been officially recognised by Guinness World Records as the world’s youngest male Chartered Accountant. According to Guinness World Records, he qualified in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, at the age of 16 years and 170 days, on 30 June 2021, with the record formally announced in February 2026 through his employer, Century Financial.
How it all started during the pandemic
Meyyappan’s story began during the Covid-19 pandemic, right after he finished his Class 10 board examinations. With schools shut and the world in lockdown, he found an unlikely mentor at home, his mother, who herself is an ACCA professional, and she introduced him to basic accounting concepts. That early interest led him to start preparing for the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) qualification at just 15, and he completed it in nearly a year.
The record-breaking ACCA journey at 15
At just 15 years old, Meyyappan decided to pursue the ACCA qualification, a globally recognised accounting credential that typically takes working professionals several years to complete. He finished it in around a year, and this exceptional pace at such an early age eventually earned him recognition from Guinness World Records as the youngest male Chartered Accountant, qualifying in Dubai at 16 years and 170 days old.
He hasn’t stopped adding accolades to his name
Rather than stopping at ACCA, Meyyappan has continued making additions to his qualifications. He went on to earn the CFA charter, one of the most respected credentials in investment management.While speaking to the Khaleej Times, Meyyappan said, “This milestone means a lot to me, but I have never approached qualifications as a race. What mattered was understanding how finance works in the real world and building skills that remain relevant over time. When learning is driven by curiosity rather than speed, the outcome is far more meaningful.”
A budding career in Dubai
Meyyappan currently works as a Senior Research Analyst at Century Financial in Dubai. His role involves conducting investment research and analysis and supporting decision-making in financial markets, executing responsibilities that are demanding for professionals even twice his age, let alone a teenager still early in his career.
He has another interesting hobby beyond work
Away from spreadsheets and financial models, Meyyappan designs and makes watches in his spare time and has been clear that chasing a world record was never his goal.