The Finance Manager will oversee the company’s accounting, financial reporting, tax compliance, audit, and internal control activities in the Philippines and supported by AP and GL accountants. This is a hands-on management role responsible for ensuring accurate and timely financial reporting, a disciplined month-end close, and full compliance with Philippine tax and statutory requirements.
The Finance Manager will also directly supervise a Tax Associate, review all material tax filings and reconciliations, manage BIR examinations, and provide technical guidance on the tax implications of business transactions.
Key Responsibilities:
Financial Accounting and Reporting
- Lead the monthly, quarterly, and annual financial closing processes.
- Review journal entries, account reconciliations, schedules, accruals, and financial statements.
- Ensure financial records are accurate, complete, and compliant with company policies and applicable accounting standards.
- Analyse financial results and provide meaningful explanations for material variances.
- Ensure balance sheet accounts are properly reconciled and outstanding items are resolved promptly.
- Coordinate with regional or group Finance teams on reporting requirements and deadlines.
- Support budgeting, forecasting, and cash-flow management where required.
Tax Compliance and Advisory
- Take overall ownership of the company’s Philippine tax compliance and reporting.
- Review tax returns and supporting schedules prepared by the Tax Associate, including VAT, expanded withholding tax, final withholding tax, corporate income tax, and other applicable taxes.
- Ensure that all tax filings, payments, alphalists, and tax certificates are accurate and submitted on time.
- Review tax reconciliations against the general ledger and ensure differences are investigated and resolved.
- Advise business and Finance stakeholders on the appropriate tax treatment of transactions.
- Monitor changes in Philippine tax regulations and assess their impact on the company.
- Oversee BIR audits, Letters of Authority, tax assessments, and requests for information.
- Coordinate with external tax advisers, auditors, legal counsel, and government agencies when necessary.
- Identify potential tax exposures and recommend appropriate corrective or mitigating actions.
- Directly supervise, coach, and develop the finance team members.
- Review the tax associate’s work and provide technical guidance on complex tax matters.
- Set clear deliverables, filing calendars, performance expectations, and development goals.
- Ensure adequate segregation of duties, review controls, and backup arrangements within the Finance team.
- Promote accountability, accuracy, timely escalation, and strong documentation practices.
Audit, Compliance, and Internal Controls
- Lead the preparation of schedules and supporting documents for internal and external audits.
- Ensure all accounting and tax records are complete, properly maintained, and audit-ready.
- Develop and strengthen financial controls, policies, and standard operating procedures.
- Monitor compliance with company approval limits, procurement requirements, and payment controls.
- Identify control gaps and implement practical process improvements.
- Support statutory reporting, business permit renewals, and other regulatory requirements.
Business Partnership
- Work closely with Operations, Commercial, Procurement, Legal, Payroll, and other departments on financial and tax matters.
- Evaluate the accounting, tax, cash-flow, and control implications of new initiatives and commercial arrangements.
- Provide management with timely financial insights, risk assessments, and recommendations.
- Support automation and process-improvement initiatives across Finance.
Qualifications and Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Accountancy, Finance, or a related field.
- Certified Public Accountant qualification is strongly preferred.
- At least five years of relevant experience in accounting and Philippine taxation, including at least two years in a supervisory or managerial capacity.
- Prior experience in a commercial or corporate environment is preferred.
- Strong working knowledge of Philippine taxation, BIR regulations, statutory compliance, and financial reporting requirements.
- Demonstrated experience reviewing tax returns, reconciliations, alphalists, and supporting schedules.
- Experience handling BIR audits, Letters of Authority, and tax assessments.
- Strong understanding of month-end closing, general ledger accounting, balance sheet reconciliations, and financial controls.
- Familiarity with eFPS, eBIRForms, and other relevant government filing platforms.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets; experience with Netsuite is preferred.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organisational skills.
- Ability to manage competing priorities and deliver accurately under tight deadlines.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- High level of integrity, professional judgement, and attention to detail.
- Financial and tax technical expertise
- Leadership and people development
- Ownership and accountability
- Analytical and commercial judgement
- Planning and deadline management
- Internal control awareness
- Clear communication and escalation
- Process improvement
- Integrity and confidentiality
Performance Expectations
- Accurate and timely completion of monthly and annual financial reporting.
- Full and timely compliance with tax and statutory requirements.
- Strong review and supervision of the team’s work
- Complete, organised, and audit-ready accounting and tax documentation.
- Prompt identification and resolution of accounting, tax, and control issues.
- Effective management of BIR audits and other regulatory matters.
- Continuous improvement in Finance processes, controls, and team capability.