Walter III Abela, CPA
Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila
Summary
An accomplished General Accounting Manager with a proven track record at Watsons Personal Care Store (Philippines), Inc., where significantly enhanced financial reporting efficiency. He is an expert in statutory accounting and adept at managing multiple stakeholders. He excel in improving internal controls and fostering professional development within teams. He is committed to introducing changes to achieve continuous improvement and successfully influencing processes driving operational excellence. He is also a well-qualified financial systems leader offering demonstrated skill and success in managing internal accounting processes, improving controls and strengthening systems for optimal performance.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
Work History
General Accounting Manager
Watsons Personal Care Store (Philippines), Inc.
Pasay, Metro Manila
04.2023 - Current
- Ensured compliance with GAAP and other regulatory requirements through diligent review of financial records and documentation.
- Implemented robust internal controls to safeguard company assets and minimize risk exposure.
- Reduced month-end closing time by streamlining procedures, allowing for quicker access to crucial financial information.
- Served as a subject matter expert for accounting software implementation, ensuring seamless integration into existing processes.
- Led a team of accountants, providing guidance on day-to-day tasks and supporting their professional development.
- Established strong working relationships with cross-functional teams to ensure accurate recording of intercompany transactions.
- Collaborated with internal and external auditors to facilitate smooth audit processes and address any findings promptly.
- Assisted executive leadership in making data-driven decisions by providing timely financial insights and analysis.
- Managed the general ledger, ensuring accurate coding and allocation of transactions for effective financial management.
- Investigated daily variances and corrected errors to resolve discrepancies.
- Prepared internal and regulatory financial reports, balance sheets and income statements.
- Implemented and regularly reviewed financial controls to generate accurate and reliable financial data.
Senior IT Auditor
Deloitte Philippines
Taguig, Metro Manila
01.2021 - 04.2023
- Provided detailed documentation on audit findings, facilitating swift corrective action when necessary.
- Maintained confidentiality, handling sensitive information discreetly throughout all stages of the audit process.
- Ensured compliance with regulatory requirements by performing regular audits and staying up-to-date on industry standards.
- Streamlined audit processes, improving efficiency and reducing time spent on each audit engagement.
- Planned and executed follow-up audits at appropriate intervals.
- Planned audits and audit activities to allocate necessary resources and determine consistency of plans with audit objectives.
- Adapted plans and schedules to meet changing priorities of work objectives, resources and workload demands.
- Enhanced financial accuracy by conducting thorough audits and identifying discrepancies in financial statements.
- Interviewed business owners to understand needs and explain audit scope.
- Contributed to the development of new auditing techniques, staying ahead in a rapidly evolving information technology landscape.
- Reduced the risk of fraud by implementing effective internal controls and monitoring systems.
Senior Financial Auditor
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC Philippines)
Makati City, Metro Manila
07.2019 - 10.2020
- Played a key role in the implementation of new accounting software, resulting in improved efficiency and data accuracy within the finance department.
- Assisted with the development and execution of annual audit plans, contributing to an organized and effective approach to auditing activities.
- Reduced operational risks by conducting detailed reviews of key business processes, identifying vulnerabilities, and recommending corrective actions to mitigate potential issues.
- Contributed to successful external audits by liaising with external auditors, providing required documentation, and addressing queries promptly.
- Facilitated cross-departmental collaboration during audits to ensure seamless information flow among various stakeholders involved in the process.
- Streamlined internal controls for enhanced efficiency and reduced risk of fraud through meticulous evaluation and recommendations.
- Maintained up-to-date knowledge on relevant accounting standards, industry regulations, and best practices for effective auditing techniques.
- Highly adept in account analysis, reconciliation methods, flowcharting and documentation.
- Conducted confidential and specialized investigations into potential fraud situations.
- Assessed risks and internal controls by identifying areas of non-compliance and evaluating manual and automated financial processes.
Financial Auditor
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC Philippines)
Makati City, Metro Manila
08.2016 - 06.2019
- Prepares clients’ service plan for the engagement
- Assists clients in compliance with the Bureau of Internal Revenue
- Conducts process review as part of end-to-end understanding of significant business processes and testing of operating effectiveness of key controls
- Assists in audit procedures for highly complex accounts and judgmental areas
- Assists in evaluation of the impact of control deficiencies identified in the audit of internal control over financial reporting and provides value-adding recommendations
- Assists in preparation of the financial statements, income tax calculations and other regulatory reports for statutory audits
- Work with the team for Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) engagements for Publicly Listed Clients
- Reviews general ledger and subsidiary ledger reconciliation
Education
Bachelor of Science - Accountancy
San Beda University
Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines05.2015
Skills
Monthly reporting, quarterly reporting, year end closing – timely delivery with quality with different accounting systems
Multiple stakeholder management in matrix organization to deliver financial report as needed
Communication with different business line, service line, group, region, legal and etc
Problem solving : find a root cause and solution with multiple stakeholders
Budget and Forecast (monthly, quarterly and annually)
Statutory accounting and audit for all the entities under responsibilities
High quality balance sheet management – full reconciliation (audit trail)
Improving/reinforcing the Internal compliance and internal control
Generate financial reports for country, validate/review and sign off
Full analysis on overdue and tracking to control overdue and cashflow
Timeline
General Accounting Manager
Watsons Personal Care Store (Philippines), Inc.
04.2023 - Current
Senior IT Auditor
Deloitte Philippines
01.2021 - 04.2023
Senior Financial Auditor
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC Philippines)
07.2019 - 10.2020
Financial Auditor
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC Philippines)
08.2016 - 06.2019
Bachelor of Science - Accountancy
San Beda University