Financial Control Analyst

Manulife Financial · Quezon City

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The Financial Control Analyst performs structured yet increasingly complex financial and accounting activities to ensure the accuracy of financial records, compliance with internal and external requirements, and delivery of relevant insights to support business decisions. This role is essential in maintaining the integrity of financial data across General Ledger and Sub-Ledger processes, including journal entries, reconciliations, accruals, inter-company transactions, and financial reporting.

The Financial Control Analyst applies technical accounting knowledge and financial analysis skills to support business planning, reporting, and compliance. This role requires a working understanding of professional accounting standards, financial systems, and business processes, with growing capability in applying analytical tools and contributing to process improvements.

Operating under general guidance, the Financial Control Analyst works independently to resolve moderately complex issues, support cross-functional initiatives, and ensure timely and accurate financial outputs. The role improves the efficiency and work quality of multiple teams through effective coordination and guidance and requires sound judgment to manage escalated exceptions. The analyst also contributes to enterprise strategy by identifying financial risks and opportunities, aligning accounting practices with business objectives, and supporting strategic initiatives through financial insights.

Position Responsibilities:

1) Accounting and Reporting

• Record-to-Report Execution: Apply professional accounting standards to accurately record transactions, maintain supporting documentation (including review/validation of intercompany agreements to support accurate accounting entries), and take full accountability for the accuracy and completeness of financial records (including investigating T&E expenses outside of budget). Recommend suitable accounting treatments for transactions and demonstrate awareness of relevant standards.
• Period Close: Take ownership of the month-end close process by independently performing journal entries, accruals, and reclasses; reconciling sub-ledgers to the general ledger; evaluating accounts for legitimacy and substantiation; review account reconciliation and provide signoff; approve and release journal entries in accordance with internal controls and compliance standards; and ensuring timely and accurate financial submissions.
• Benefits and Compensation Process: Support financial oversight and analysis of MFC employee benefits and compensation programs. Activities may include:
  • Ensuring that the accounting and financial reporting processes for compensation-related expenses (such as salaries, bonuses, and benefits accruals) comply with internal controls, accounting standards, and regulatory requirements.
  • Strategically collaborating with HR to ensure the validity of payroll inputs, incentive payouts, and benefits costs.
  • Review variance analysis and monitoring of compensation trends to effectively support budgeting and forecasting activities.
• Financial Reporting & Compliance: Effectively review and support financial statement preparation of statutory and management reporting by ensuring accuracy, completeness, and compliance with internal policies and external regulations.
• Reporting and Analytical Support: Design and develop reporting analyses aligned with accounting standards to support ad-hoc decision-making.
  • Conduct targeted ad-hoc analyses to address specific needs of stakeholders.
  • Review preparation and present marketing allowance reports for management and financial analysts, ensuring clarity and actionable insights.
  • Validate and sign off on sales incentive compensation accruals and payouts, providing analytical support and ensuring accuracy.
  • Review and manage employee compensation accruals for Deferred Incentive Plans (DIP).
• Accounting Advisory Support: Providing expert guidance on complex accounting matters.
  • Provide guidance to cross-functional teams during new business model evaluations, project initiatives, and resolution of ad-hoc accounting inquiries.
  • Interpret and apply new accounting standards, ensuring accurate implementation and alignment with corporate policies.
  • Actively participate in meetings, calls, and reporting activities related to changes in booking methodologies, regulatory studies, and financial reporting requirements.
  • Collaborate with business leaders to assess the financial impact of strategic initiatives, identify areas of financial risk or opportunity, and ensure alignment of accounting treatments with enterprise goals.

2) Cost Management & Planning

• Cost Accounting: Apply relevant cost accounting concepts to support operational and financial needs, identify and update unit costs, and analyze cost drivers and variances to provide actionable insights.
• Budgeting & Forecasting: Support budgeting, forecasting, and business planning activities by ensuring accurate preparation of inputs, reviewing variance analyses, and delivering insights that support strategic decision-making.
• Expense Management: Take accountability to conduct effective expense management by reviewing the calculation and recording of expenses and expense allocations, conducting expense analysis and variance analysis, audit of the general expenses by legal entities, and supervising the credit card/cash suspense accounts reconciliation for T&E.

3) Process, Controls & Systems

• Process Compliance & Improvement: Adhere to established processes and operating procedures, identify areas for improvement, and support implementation of process enhancements.  Ensure adherence to SOX Controls.
• Systems Proficiency: Utilize ERP and accounting systems effectively, understand system functionality, and identify opportunities for automation and optimization. Manage and support systems such as Fieldglass and Ivalua.
• System Admin Maintenance: Review set-up of cost centers, accounting units, and account structures to ensure alignment to functional requirements and proper flow of entries.

4) Collaboration, Projects & Stakeholders

• Stakeholder Engagement: Effectively communicate complex financial information, including sensitive or nuanced data, to diverse stakeholders across functions. Tailor messaging to audience needs, ensuring clarity, transparency, and actionable understanding.
• Project Participation: Participate in planning and execution of projects including process transitions, system enhancements, and audits by estimating actions, resources, and timelines.
• Finance Process Modernization: Proactively support in-flight transformation projects and contribute to change initiatives.
• Teamwork & Coaching: Coordinate day-to-day tasks, monitor work quality and progress, and provide guidance to less experienced team members to enhance performance and efficiency.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Demonstrate strong interpersonal skills by navigating cross-functional discussions with tact, resolving conflicts constructively, and fostering a collaborative environment that supports team and organizational success.

Required Qualifications

• Education & Certification
  • Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, or related field.
• Experience
  • 3 to 5 years’ relevant experience in accounting processes, including Record-to-Report (R2R), Procure-to-Pay (P2P), and Order-to-Cash (O2C), as well as financial reporting, cost management, and compliance.
  • Experience coordinating tasks and coaching/mentoring is an advantage.
  • Exposure to cross-functional collaboration and participation in financial projects or process improvement initiatives.
• Technical Skills
  • Solid understanding and application of professional accounting standards (e.g., IFRS, US GAAP).
  • Proficiency in transactional accounting, period-end close activities, and financial reporting.
  • Working knowledge of cost accounting methods and financial planning techniques.
  • Ability to identify and recommend system enhancements and automation opportunities.
• Soft Skills
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with sound judgment in resolving moderately complex issues.
  • Effective communication skills, including the ability to present financial data clearly to diverse stakeholders.
  • Demonstrated ability to collaborate across functions and manage stakeholder relationships.
  • Adaptability to change and proactive support of transformation initiatives.
• Successful Behaviors
  • Embrace diverse perspectives and collaborate effectively across teams through active listening, inclusive interaction, and cooperative teamwork.
  • Take full ownership of assigned objectives, proactively drive work to completion, and consistently deliver high-quality outputs aligned with deadlines.
  • Demonstrate accountability and initiative in managing tasks and contributing to team and business unit goals.
  • Understand business direction and evaluate the impact of change management on financial processes and responsibilities.
  • Maintain a continuous improvement mindset and contribute to process optimization and modernization efforts.

Preferred Qualifications:

• CPA (or equivalent professional certification) preferred
• Proficiency in ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle) and accounting applications; familiarity with tools such as Fieldglass and Ivalua is an advantage.

When you join our team:

• We’ll empower you to learn and grow the career you want.

• We’ll recognize and support you in a flexible environment where well-being and inclusion are more than just words.

• As part of our global team, we’ll support you in shaping the future you want to see.

About Manulife and John Hancock

Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider, helping people make their decisions easier and lives better. To learn more about us, visit https://www.manulife.com/en/about/our-story.html.

Manulife is an Equal Opportunity Employer

At Manulife/John Hancock, we embrace our diversity. We strive to attract, develop and retain a workforce that is as diverse as the customers we serve and to foster an inclusive work environment that embraces the strength of cultures and individuals. We are committed to fair recruitment, retention, advancement and compensation, and we administer all of our practices and programs without discrimination on the basis of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, religion or religious beliefs, creed, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions), sexual orientation, genetic characteristics, veteran status, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, family status, disability, or any other ground protected by applicable law.

It is our priority to remove barriers to provide equal access to employment. A Human Resources representative will work with applicants who request a reasonable accommodation during the application process. All information shared during the accommodation request process will be stored and used in a manner that is consistent with applicable laws and Manulife/John Hancock policies. To request a reasonable accommodation in the application process, contact hr@manulife.com.

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