Katrina Joana Distrajo
Finance And Accounting Professional
Makati City, Metro Manila
Summary
Dynamic Finance Manager with extensive experience at DDB Group Philippines, excelling in financial reporting and budget management. Proven track record in optimizing cash flow and negotiating vendor contracts, resulting in significant cost savings. Strong team leader, fostering professional development while ensuring regulatory compliance and enhancing internal controls for improved operational efficiency.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
Work History
FINANCE MANAGER
DDB Group Philippines
10.2012 - 02.2024
- Strengthened internal controls through regular audits and adherence to regulatory requirements.
- Trained new and existing staff members in various financial procedures to prepare for job requirements.
- Prepared monthly reconciliation of bank accounts and took corrective actions on deviations.
- Negotiated favorable terms with vendors, resulting in significant cost savings for the company.
- Processed invoices and contacted appropriate parties for timely payment receipt.
- Optimized cash flow with diligent monitoring of accounts receivable and payable.
- Enhanced budget management by implementing expense tracking and cost reduction strategies.
- Monitored budget and revenue trends, compiling reports for company leadership to inform decision-making.
- Mentored junior finance staff, fostering professional development and strong team dynamics.
- Developed comprehensive financial reports for executive decision-making support.
- Optimized cash flow management, leading to improved liquidity for the organization.
- Handled accounts payable and receivable functions, ensuring timely payment processing and collection efforts.
- Successfully managed multiple audits, ensuring a timely and accurate completion while maintaining positive relationships with external auditors.
- Reduced operational costs by implementing effective cost control measures and optimizing resource allocation.
- Ensured regulatory compliance by establishing robust internal controls and staying up-to-date on relevant legislation changes affecting the finance industry.
- Improved cash flow management with proactive monitoring of accounts receivable and payable, leading to increased liquidity.
- Secured favorable financing terms through strong relationships with banks and other lending institutions, supporting company growth initiatives.
- Spearheaded efforts towards creating an annual budget that aligned with company goals and objectives.
- Implemented an efficient month-end closing process, reducing the time required for accurate financial statement preparation.
- Supervised a team of finance professionals, fostering a collaborative work environment focused on continuous improvement and professional development.
- Executed vendor setup and payment, administration of bank accounts and account reconciliations.
- Prepared internal and regulatory financial reports, balance sheets and income statements.
- Checked payroll, vendor payments, commissions and other accounting disbursements for accuracy and compliance.
- Performed banking, business administration and financial tasks to guarantee five-star service for clients.
- Reviewed historical records, current operational data and forecasting information to identify and capitalize on system enhancement opportunities.
- Supported financial director with special projects and additional job duties.
- Evaluated and negotiated contracts to procure favorable financial terms.
Finance Supervisor
DDB Group Philippines
10.2007 - 09.2012
- Streamlined month-end closing procedures, reducing time spent on reconciliations and ensuring timely financial statement preparation.
- Managed a high-performing finance team, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and professional development opportunities for staff members.
- Improved financial reporting accuracy by streamlining data collection processes and implementing stringent review procedures.
- Assisted in the successful completion of external audits by providing comprehensive documentation and addressing auditor inquiries efficiently.
- Prepared and presented budget proposals with detailed explanations of anticipated revenue and expenses, aligning resource allocation with strategic priorities.
- Maintained cash flow by monitoring bank balances and cash requirements.
- Achieved timely financial reporting through proactive management of deadlines and priorities.
- Safeguarded company assets through vigilant internal controls implementation and risk mitigation efforts.
- Established effective pricing structures through rigorous competitor analysis to optimize revenue generation.
- Maintained strong relationships with banks, auditors, insurance providers, vendors, and tax authorities to ensure smooth business operations.
- Identified areas for process improvement resulting in cost savings by conducting periodic audits of departmental operations.
- Maximized profitability with thorough cost analysis and strategic expense management.
- Improved the accuracy of financial projections through detailed variance analysis and adjustments.
- Increased cash flow by diligently monitoring receivables and collections activities.
- Disciplined and motivated accounting team to maximize performance.
Junior Associate Auditor
KPMG Global Services
06.2006 - 09.2007
- Verified accuracy, compliance and completeness of team auditing work.
- Trained junior auditors in best practices, improving overall team performance and skill sets.
- Conducted thorough reviews of financial statements, ensuring compliance with GAAP and other regulatory requirements.
- Built strong relationships with clients, fostering trust and open communication to facilitate accurate audits.
- Presented clear, concise audit findings reports to management, detailing observations and recommended corrective actions for identified issues.
- Improved financial reporting accuracy by identifying and addressing internal control deficiencies.
- Recommended strategies for improving compliance and success of internal controls.
- Enhanced audit efficiency by implementing risk-based auditing strategies.
- Evaluated the effectiveness of internal controls, recommending improvements to enhance operational efficiency and mitigate risks.
- Assisted clients in preparing for external audits by conducting pre-audit assessments and providing recommendations for improvement.
- Maintained up-to-date knowledge of industry best practices and emerging trends, ensuring the provision of high-quality audit services to clients.
- Assessed company controls and potential risks against benchmarks.
- Conducted regular follow-ups with clients to ensure ongoing implementation of agreed-upon recommendations from prior audits.
- Provided valuable insights to management through comprehensive analyses of financial data and performance trends.
- Ensured timely completion of audit engagements, consistently meeting or exceeding deadlines while maintaining high quality results.
- Assessed compliance with applicable laws and regulations concerning taxes, employee benefits, environmental obligations, among others.
- Liaised between clients and internal audit staff to address concerns with procedures, scheduling or results.
- Streamlined audit processes, reducing time spent on routine tasks and focusing on high-risk areas.
- Allocated auditing work to junior and staff auditors to cover demand.
- Developed presentations of audit findings for company leadership.
- Prioritized projects based on periodic schedules and immediate need.
- Prepared working papers, reports and supporting documentation for audit findings.
- Collected and reported monthly expense variances and explanations.
- Reviewed accounts, resolved coding areas, and tracked recurring expenses for accrual entry.
- Provided journal entries and performed accounting on accrual basis.
- Tracked funds, prepared deposits and reconciled accounts.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Accounting
Saint Paul School of Professional Studies
Palo Leyte 04.2001 -
Skills
Financial reporting
Budget management
Cash flow management
Regulatory compliance
Vendor negotiation
Team leadership
Budget forecasting
Revenue recognition
Verbal and written communication
Internal controls
Timeline
FINANCE MANAGER
DDB Group Philippines
10.2012 - 02.2024
Finance Supervisor
DDB Group Philippines
10.2007 - 09.2012
Junior Associate Auditor
KPMG Global Services
06.2006 - 09.2007
Bachelor of Science - Accounting
Saint Paul School of Professional Studies
04.2001 -