Maria O.
✨ Newly AddedFinancial Controller
Notable Highlight
Financial Controller with 20+ years in commercial accounting. Currently managed multi-client operations across three companies, overseeing month-end closes, internal controls, and compliance for Australian firms.
Experience Summary
Maria is a senior finance professional currently working as a Financial Controller supporting multiple businesses across manufacturing and retail. She maintained hands-on ownership of month-end and year-end close, management reporting, internal controls, budgeting support, compliance, and cash flow planning. She demonstrated a structured approach and comfort operating in multi-entity environments. Relevant experience - Currently works as a Financial Controller overseeing three major businesses within a larger group of 23 businesses - Manages monthly and quarterly financial review processes and supports annual financial statement preparation - Oversees month-end and year-end close activities, including journal review, accruals, prepayments, reconciliations, and reporting - Partners with leadership on budgets, forecasts, variance analysis, and financial insights to support decision-making - Supports compliance, tax requirements, external accountants, auditors, and liquidity planning - Has prior experience improving finance operations, including payroll automation for a 400-employee business Process and systems exposure She implemented a structured monthly close process with clear tracking, daily follow-up on deliverables, and reconciliation review to prepare board-facing reporting. She resolved a systems issue affecting cost of sales reporting and worked across multiple entities and remote teams.
Key Achievements
Maria Karlene held Financial Controller roles at the BCOCOTP and SXS, serving multiple Australian clients simultaneously, demonstrating consistent elevation to senior financial leadership over a 20+ year career. She led the Commissions Team at ESC, managing end-to-end commission payments and lender reconciliations for an Australian financial services company. At BE, she managed the full spectrum of financial operations and presented reports directly to board members and stakeholders. Her career spans globally recognized institutions including JMCB and ANZ Bank, where she handled complex loss mitigation and cross-border financial data operations.
Skills
Work Experience
Financial Controller
SXS · April 2025 – Present
- Manage the preparation and review of monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and timely reporting to CFO.
- Direct month-end and year-end close processes, including journal entries, accruals, prepayments, and balance sheet reconciliations.
- Implement and strengthen internal controls, policies, and procedures to mitigate financial risks and improve governance.
- Prepare and review budgets, forecasts, and variance analysis, providing insights and recommendations to support strategic decision-making.
- Ensure compliance with statutory and tax requirements, including BAS/GST lodgments and coordination with external accountants and auditors.
- Manage cash flow, working capital, and liquidity planning, ensuring the business maintains a strong financial position.
- Collaborate with senior leadership and operational teams to support business planning, cost management, and financial strategy.
- Lead audit preparation and coordination, ensuring timely resolution of audit queries and maintaining audit-ready financial records.
- Monitor financial performance and key metrics, providing actionable insights to drive operational and financial improvements.
- Lead and develop the finance team, ensuring efficient workflows, clear accountability, and adherence to internal controls and accounting standards.
AU Senior Accountant
ESC · June 2023 – November 2024
- Coordinate with Accounts Team for proper recording of inter-departmental accounts.
- Prepare financial statements and reports to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.
- Oversee the preparation of financial analyses to provide valuable insights into the company's financial performance.
- Lead the Commissions Team overall.
- Review and approve commission payments.
- Perform final review and reconciliation of outstanding accounts with lenders.
- Administer lender pricing and margin.
- Coordinate with Accounts Team for proper recording of commissions income.
- Manage staff performance day to day and ensure compliance with company policies.
- Provide guidance and support to junior team members.
Assistant Accounting Manager
VI · Ortigas · July 2022 – June 2023
- Manage day-to-day accounting operations, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, bank reconciliations, and general ledger maintenance.
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date financial records, ensuring completeness and compliance with company policies and accounting standards.
- Perform monthly bank, credit card, and balance sheet reconciliations, identifying and resolving discrepancies in a timely manner.
- Prepare and review journal entries, including accruals, prepayments, and adjustments to ensure accurate financial reporting.
- Assist in the month-end and year-end close process, ensuring all transactions are properly recorded and reconciled.
- Generate financial reports such as profit and loss, balance sheet, and cash flow summaries for management review.
Accounting and Finance Manager
BE · Ortigas · May 2018 – July 2022
- Monitor and review day-to-day financial operations such as payroll, accounts payable, banking transactions, expense recording, and all other accounting-related tasks.
- Contract outside services for tax preparation, auditing, banking, investments, and other financial needs as necessary.
- Track the company's financial status and performance to identify areas for potential improvement.
- Identify methods for minimizing financial risk to the company.
- Provide insightful information and expectations to senior executives to aid in long-term and short-term decision-making.
- Review monthly financial reports and variance reports; provide inputs on accuracy as needed.
- Present financial reports to board members, stakeholders, executives, and clients in formal meetings.
Financial Controller
BCOCOTP · Bonifacio Global City · May 2014 – February 2018
- Prepare financial records related to the general ledger, payroll, budget, income, and expenses.
- Assist in account receivable and account payable activities.
- Manage all client accounts for payment settlements.
- Maintain accurate bank records by performing bank reconciliation.
- Follow standard accounting processes for financial analysis and reporting activities.
- Assist in developing and managing budgeting systems.
- Monitor and manage expenses within the allotted budget.
- Perform account reconciliation and prepare financial reports.
- Assist the Chairman in ad hoc tasks and deliverables.
Finance Consultant/Account Manager
NCOC( · Quezon City · March 2013 – May 2014
- Ensure high-level performance and partnership with client cooperatives, providing knowledge and practical base services.
- Prepare and negotiate proposals and Service Level Agreements (SLA) for member cooperatives.
- Review and integrate existing manuals and conduct regular reviews and enhancements together with the Client Management System (CMS).
- Conduct diagnostics of primary cooperatives, analyze credit and risk portfolio, prepare reports, present results, and make necessary recommendations and action items to Client Cooperative Management and Board of Directors.
Senior Financial Data Extraction Analyst
ANZ(BGSAO · Makati City · September 2010 – September 2012
- Provide customer support to Frontline Relationship staff by interpreting financial statements through ratios.
- Extract and perform preliminary interpretation of financial data for new and existing customers on a timely and accurate basis.
- Liaison with Lending Processing teams in Australia and India.
- Ensure work requests are completed in a timely manner.
- Resolve or escalate complex matters to the Line manager as required.
Senior Lead Operations Specialist
JMCB · October 2005 – September 2010
- Analyze borrower financial information to determine options for resolving delinquent accounts.
- Reschedule loan payments, modify loan terms, or defer payments to create realistic repayment plans.
- Negotiate settlements with borrowers for other options, such as a short sale or deed in lieu of foreclosure.
- Communicate with borrowers to keep them updated on available options and gather necessary documentation to process loss mitigation requests.
- Collaborate with internal and external teams, such as legal and loan servicing, to ensure compliance with regulatory guidelines during the loss mitigation process.
- Create reports to track loss mitigation progress and effectiveness.