Maria O.

Financial Controller

Philippines20+ years experienceAvailable now$5,000/mo

Compare at US rates $15,000/mo?

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 a previous company Bank, where she handled complex loss mitigation and cross-border financial data operations.

Skills

Financial statementsbudgetingvariance analysismonth-end closeyear-end closeinternal controlscash flow managementbank reconciliationaccounts payableaccounts receivablegeneral ledgerfinancial reportingaudit coordinationpayrolltax complianceBAS/GST lodgmentsjournal entriesbalance sheet reconciliationteam leadership

Work Experience

Financial Controller

SXS · Apr 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 Business Activity Statements and Income Activity Statements preparation.
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 · Jun 2023 - Nov 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.
Prepare BAS/GST/IAS lodgments and coordinate with external accountants and auditors.
Manage accounts with lenders.
Administer lender pricing and margin.
Coordinate with Accounts Team for proper recording of commissions income.
Manage staff performance and ensure compliance with company policies.
Work with junior team members, providing guidance and support.
Research, consolidate, and document relevant financial and business information to support the firm's Builder Financial Review program, including corporate structure, existing contracts, large projects, insolvency events, statutory compliance with ATO and OSR, and employee benefits analysis.
Review all existing company insurances.
Analyze and interpret comparative financial statements, commentary, and key financial metrics to provide financial insights and support developer decision-making.
Perform Subcontractor Payment Cycle Test.
Review and comment on 12-month cash flow projections, including forward book, overheads, and margins.
Assess current PCG Report, QS Report, and Job Costing System.
Present financial findings and recommendations to Developer's key stakeholders in a clear and concise manner.
Identify and recommend opportunities for process improvements.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to gather financial data, provide insights, and contribute to strategic decision-making processes.

Assistant Accounting Manager (Project Based)

VI · Ortigas · Jul 2022 - Jun 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 month-end and year-end close processes, 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 - Jul 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.
Seek out 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 - Feb 2018

Prepare financial records related to the general ledger, payroll, budget, income, and expenses.
Assist in accounts receivable and accounts payable activities.
Manage all client accounts for payment settlements.
Maintain accurate bank records by performing bank reconciliations.
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 · Mar 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 other Client Management System (CMS) components.
Conduct diagnostics of primary coops, 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

a previous company · Makati City · Sep 2010 - Sep 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.
Liaise 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 · Oct 2005 - Sep 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.