Rochelle Frias, CPA
Quezon City, Metro Manila
Summary
Seasoned Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A) expert with over 19 years of experience at a global IT leader. Demonstrated track record of driving multi-million-dollar cost savings through strategic budgeting, forecasting, and performance reporting. Trusted partner to senior leadership, delivering actionable insights and data-driven recommendations that align financial health with business objectives. Known for adaptability, cross-functional collaboration, and a commitment to operational excellence.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Business Planning Analyst
IBM Business Services, Inc
Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines
07.2011 - 04.2025
- Spearheaded strategic financial analysis initiatives focused on identifying cost-saving opportunities, enhancing operational efficiencies, and optimizing resource utilization across the organization.
- Partnered with IT and key business units to align financial planning and spending with enterprise-wide strategic goals, ensuring investment decisions supported long-term growth and value creation.
- Delivered accurate, comprehensive monthly financial reports with a 99% accuracy rate, enabling data-driven insights and reducing executive decision-making cycle time by 20%.
- Fostered a culture of fiscal accountability across regional operations by implementing standardized financial review processes, promoting transparency, and reinforcing budget ownership among functional leaders.
Team Lead – Accounts Payable Operations
IBM Business Services, Inc
Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines
05.2009 - 06.2011
- Supervised a team of 15+ Accounts Payable Analysts handling Non-PO and utility invoice processing for a prominent entertainment client across multiple locations.
- Oversaw daily operations, managed escalations, and resolved invoice discrepancies in coordination with clients, under the guidance of the Project Lead.
- Delivered targeted mentoring, coaching, and real-time performance feedback to team members to drive continuous improvement and maintain high-quality service delivery.
- Prepared and submitted people management reports and performance assessments to both local and global project leadership, supporting decision-making on team development and engagement.
- Actively contributed to career development and succession planning initiatives by monitoring team members’ growth and providing strategic guidance for advancement opportunities.
- Reviewed and validated month-end closing deliverables to ensure the accurate recognition of vendor liabilities in alignment with the client’s financial reporting standards.
- Compiled and reported key team metrics, including invoice volume, processing timeliness, and monthly vendor cash outflows, contributing to transparency and operational insight for the client.
Team Lead – HR Accounting Operations
IBM Business Services, Inc
Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines
06.2007 - 04.2009
- Led a team of 6+ HR Accounting Analysts supporting payroll accounting and employee-related balance sheet reporting for multiple IBM entities across the ASEAN region.
- Managed operational escalations and exception handling, ensuring prompt and effective resolution of issues raised by clients, under the direction of the Project Lead.
- Provided regular coaching, mentoring, and performance feedback to team members to foster professional growth and ensure alignment with service quality expectations.
- Prepared and submitted people management assessments to both local and global project leaders, contributing to workforce planning and engagement initiatives.
- Oversaw career development and succession planning for direct reports, offering strategic guidance to enhance individual capabilities and readiness for future roles.
- Reviewed and validated month-end closing activities to ensure the accuracy and integrity of financial reporting related to payroll and employee benefit liabilities.
- Tracked and analyzed team metrics on aged balance sheet items; collaborated with the global statutory team to propose and implement solutions for long-outstanding issues.
HR Accounting Analyst
IBM Business Services, Inc
Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines
07.2006 - 05.2007
- Managed end-to-end HR accounting processes for IBM Philippines, including accurate recording of payroll transactions and reconciliation of employee-related balance sheet accounts.
- Led issue resolution for aged items and handled exceptions and client escalations in coordination with the Project Lead, ensuring timely and effective closure.
- Executed month-end closing activities, ensuring the completeness and accuracy of payroll-related financial data used in internal and external reporting.
- Maintained compliance with corporate accounting policies and contributed to the integrity of financial statements by ensuring proper reconciliation and documentation of employee liabilities.
Accounting Analyst
IBM Philippines, Inc
Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines
09.2005 - 06.2006
- Executed payroll accounting activities for IBM Philippines, ensuring timely and accurate recording of all employee-related financial transactions in compliance with corporate accounting standards.
- Performed detailed balance sheet reconciliations for payroll-related accounts, maintaining the integrity and accuracy of financial records.
- Managed escalations and resolved exceptions related to aged balance sheet items in close coordination with the Project Lead, ensuring prompt issue resolution and process compliance.
- Delivered month-end closing reports that accurately reflected the financial status of employee-related liabilities, supporting internal reporting and statutory compliance.
Audit Associate
SGV & Co
Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines
07.2003 - 08.2005
- Conducted comprehensive financial audits for diverse local and multinational clients across various industries, including manufacturing, retail, and education, ensuring compliance with applicable accounting standards and regulatory requirements.
- Evaluated clients’ internal control systems to identify process strengths, control gaps, and improvement opportunities, contributing to risk mitigation and enhanced financial integrity.
- Supported the preparation and review of income tax returns and year-end financial statements for submission to both internal stakeholders and external regulatory bodies.
- Participated in special engagements, including agreed-upon procedures such as results tabulation for high-profile events like Bb. Pilipinas and the Metro Manila Film Festival Awards, ensuring accuracy and audit compliance.
- Assisted clients in the timely and accurate filing of annual income tax returns with various Philippine government agencies, including the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).
Education
Bachelor of Science - Accounting
De La Salle University
Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines08-2002
Skills
- Strategic Budgeting & Forecasting
- Financial Performance Reporting
- Cost Optimization & Variance Analysis
- Cross-Functional Stakeholder Engagement
- Data-Driven Decision Support
- SAP (S4 HANA), Cognos, MS Excel (Advanced), Power Business Intelligence (BI), A/S 400
Accomplishments
- Individual Awardee (8-time recipient): Honored with the Service Excellence Award for outstanding individual contribution to service quality and client value across multiple quarters (1Q2012, 2Q2013, 4Q2013, 1Q2014, 3Q2014, 4Q2016, 2Q2018, 4Q2022), demonstrating long-term excellence in delivery, initiative, and accountability.
- Team Awardee (10-time recipient): Recognized as part of high-performing teams for collaborative achievement and exceptional service delivery in finance operations and client support (4Q2013, 4Q2014, 3Q2014, 4Q2016, 3Q2018, 2Q2021, 3Q2021, 4Q2022, 2Q2023, 2Q2024), reflecting a strong commitment to teamwork, innovation, and results-driven performance.
Service Excellence Awards – IBM Business Services Inc.
Recognized for consistent high performance, client satisfaction, and operational excellence
Certification
Certifications – IBM Professional Development Programs
Demonstrating expertise in AI, data science, digital transformation, and leadership
- IBM WatsonX AI Assistants - June 2024
- IBM Big Data and Data Science Foundations - August 2021
- IBM Trusted Business Advisor - November 2020 & November 2016
- IBM Agile Explorer - August 2019
- IBM Watson and Cloud Foundations - May 2019
- IBM Blockchain Essentials - April 2019
- IBM Enterprise Design Thinking - May 2017
- IBM Basic Blue Leadership - April to July 2014
Languages
English
Bilingual or Proficient (C2)
Filipino
Bilingual or Proficient (C2)
Affiliations
- Certified Public Accountant
Timeline
Business Planning Analyst
IBM Business Services, Inc
07.2011 - 04.2025
Team Lead – Accounts Payable Operations
IBM Business Services, Inc
05.2009 - 06.2011
Team Lead – HR Accounting Operations
IBM Business Services, Inc
06.2007 - 04.2009
HR Accounting Analyst
IBM Business Services, Inc
07.2006 - 05.2007
Accounting Analyst
IBM Philippines, Inc
09.2005 - 06.2006
Audit Associate
SGV & Co
07.2003 - 08.2005
Bachelor of Science - Accounting
De La Salle University