Why SAP FICO consulting is a good career choice

High relevance of FICO module: The FICO (Finance & Controlling) component of SAP S/4 HANA / SAP ECC is core for any large organization that uses SAP for their financial, cost-accounting, internal controlling and reporting operations. The demand remains strong because every business needs to manage financials, cost centers, profitability, ledger accounts etc.

 Growing salary potential: In India, average salaries for SAP FICO consultants vary widely depending on experience, location and company. For example, one source gives entry-level as ~₹3–5 lakhs per annum (LPA) for 0-2 years, mid-level ~₹6–10 LPA for 3-5 years, senior roles might be ~₹10–16 LPA or more. Another source shows a range up to ~₹14–15 LPA for functional consultants with a few years of experience

Locational flexibility: Since consulting work (especially for SAP) often involves remote/distributed assignments, being based in Vijayawada doesn’t strictly limit you — you may still work for national or global clients via remote/virtual delivery models.

Specialization pays off: If you specialize (for instance in SAP S/4HANA Finance, FICO integration with CO, controlling & cost profitability, real-time analytics) you position yourself for better roles and salary potential. Training and certification help with this.

What to consider for Vijayawada

Local demand & infrastructure: In metropolitan hubs such as Hyderabad, Bangalore or Mumbai the SAP ecosystem is much bigger (more companies, more SAP projects, more consulting opportunities). While Andhra region including Vijayawada does have a growing IT/ITES presence and some enterprise activity, the number of dedicated SAP FICO consulting roles locally may be fewer compared to major metros. This means you may either: (a) take roles for remote delivery of projects elsewhere, or (b) consider relocation/commute to a bigger centre if you want to maximize options.

Competition & skill benchmarking: Because SAP FICO is well-known, many people may train in it. So to stand out you’ll need not just basic training but hands-on exposure (real project demo or simulated), good understanding of finance/accounting processes, and ideally some domain specialization (manufacturing cost controlling, services, FMCG, etc).

Career progression: Starting in a smaller location might mean starting with more modest pay and slower progression compared to big cities. But you can offset this by gaining strong project experience, working with remote clients, building good consulting/functional skills. Once you have 3-5 years, you can aim for roles in larger cities or with global clients.

Salary expectation: Given national averages, if you’re in Vijayawada you might start in the lower band (₹3–6 LPA) if you’re fresh. With good 2-3 years of experience, you might reach ~₹6–10 LPA (or more, depending on company). With 5+ years, and strong credentials, higher packages are possible. Always adjust expectation for local cost of living and role type (onsite vs remote vs global).

Training & certification: Since formal local opportunities may be fewer, ensure that your sap fico training includes projects, simulation, case studies, updated to S/4HANA, and also includes interview-preparation and placement support (if you are a fresher). Certification helps but real implementation experience is what recruiter’s value.

Training option in/for Vijayawada

One option to highlight: Igrowsoft Online Training Institute offers online training in SAP FICO + S4HANA.

They offer online classes in the morning and in the evening, suitable for working individuals.

They have experience (trainer has 19+ years, and has worked as project manager/consultant) in FICO/S4HANA.

What you should look for in training

 Ensure the syllabus covers: General Ledger (GL), Accounts Payable (AP), Accounts Receivable (AR), Asset Accounting (AA), Cost Centre Accounting (CCA), Internal Orders, Profitability Analysis (CO-PA) and S/4HANA Finance (Universal Journal, etc).

* Practical hands-on exercises: configuration, tests, end-to-end business process scenarios.

* Placement support / interview preparation: Especially helpful if you’re starting fresh.

* Updated to latest SAP version (S/4HANA rather than just ECC).

* Flexibility: online mode is a plus in a city like Vijayawada; check if you get lifetime access or recordings.

* Realistic testimonials: verify placements, talk to alumni, and check how many got relevant roles.

 Pros & cons summary

* Strong foundational relevance: every business needs finance & controlling expertise.

* Salary potential is good, especially with experience and specialization.

* Location-flexibility – you can work remotely for bigger companies while based in Vijayawada.

* Training and certification opportunities exist locally/online.

Cons / things to watch:

* Local job market may be more limited compared to metro cities – you may need to look at remote or relocated roles.

* Getting your first few years of real project experience is critical certification alone may not be enough.

* The module is functional (less “cool” than some tech roles) progression may depend on branching into consulting, solution architecture or domain specialization.

* If you stay in a smaller city without moving/exposure, salary and growth may plateau compared to being in a major IT hub.

My verdict & recommendation

If you’re in Vijayawada (or nearby) and you’re considering a career as SAP FICO Functional Consultant, I would say: yes, it is worth pursuing, provided you commit to building competence, gain hands-on exposure, and stay active in the market (including remote/outsourced project work). Here’s how I’d map a 3-5 year plan:

Year 0-1: Enroll in a good SAP FICO online training Vijayawada (e.g., the institute mentioned above or other local/online option), learn the module thoroughly, practice in a sandbox system. Parallelly ensure you have strong accounting/finance fundamentals (ledger, cost accounting, internal controls).

Year 1-2: Secure a consulting or functional role (even if junior) – look for companies hiring SAP FICO juniors/trainees. Use remote project possibilities. Work on 1-2 modules and gain functional experience (configuration, mapping, testing).

Year 2-4: Build domain expertise (for example manufacturing costing, internal orders, profitability analysis), aim for S/4HANA competency. Look for higher packages or roles in bigger cities or for national/global clients.

Year 4-5+: Become a Senior Functional Consultant or Solution Specialist (FICO + Controlling + integration with other modules, maybe analytics) – this is where you can command strong pay, possibly consulting gigs, even freelancing.

Finally: Since you’re in Vijayawada, take advantage of the sap fico online training in Vijayawada flexibility (so you don’t have to relocate initially), but keep your horizons open to remote projects or job relocation if needed. The key is to build strong functional skills, real project exposure and keep up with evolving SAP technologies (S/4HANA, Fiori finance, cloud-finance etc).