Finance Manager

Role Overview

BukuWarung Philippines is hiring a Finance Manager to be the first and founding finance person on the ground in the Philippines. This is not an executor role — it is a builder role. The person we are looking for has been here before: they know what it means to set up a finance function from zero, operate as a true individual contributor (IC) without a team to delegate to on day one, and make sound judgment calls in an environment where processes, systems, and policies do not yet fully exist.

This person will own all finance operations for the PH entity — treasury, accounting, reporting, tax and statutory compliance, regulatory engagement, and internal controls — while simultaneously building the infrastructure that will support the entity as it scales. A critical dimension of this role is regulatory readiness: BukuWarung Philippines is on a path toward obtaining a payment license from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), and the Finance Manager will play a key role in preparing the entity for that process.

What We Are Looking For

• You have operated as the sole finance person in a company before — not as part of a large team, but as the person who built the function.
• You are a problem-identifier and solution-proposer. When you see a risk or a gap, your instinct is to map the options and bring a recommendation — not to wait for direction.
• You understand the tension between building a business and building controls, and you know how to sequence both without letting either break.
• You are execution-oriented without being an executor. You can write the SOP and also run the process while the team is being built.
• You are comfortable with ambiguity and can make reasonable judgment calls without a full playbook.
  
  
  

• Design and implement the end-to-end finance operating model for the PH entity, including chart of accounts, approval matrices, payment workflows, and month-end close procedures.
• Build finance policies and SOPs from scratch — covering AP, AR, treasury, expense management, and financial reporting — with an audit-readiness standard from day one.
• Identify gaps in controls or processes proactively; propose and implement solutions without waiting to be asked.
• Evaluate, select, and implement accounting and finance tools appropriate for the current stage of the business.
• Balance the need for rigorous process against speed of business execution — know when to enforce a control and when a pragmatic workaround is appropriate for the stage of the company.
  
  
  

• Own all banking relationships in the Philippines, including account opening and maintenance for local and USD currency accounts.
• Manage daily cash positioning, fund transfers, and time deposit placements to optimise liquidity.
• Prepare short-term and rolling cash flow forecasts; flag liquidity risks to the Head of Finance proactively.
• Process and oversee vendor and operational payments, ensuring accuracy, proper approvals, and timely settlement.
• Perform bank and cash reconciliations on a regular basis; ensure all reconciling items are resolved promptly.
• Manage accounts receivable — client invoicing, collections tracking, and payment recording.
  
  
  

• Own the full month-end and year-end close process, including journal entries, accruals, balance sheet schedules, and reconciliations, in compliance with IFRS / GAAP.
• Prepare accurate and timely monthly financial reporting packages for the Head of Finance and regional finance leadership.
• Coordinate with the headquarters team in Jakarta for group consolidation and intercompany accounting.
• Manage the annual statutory audit — act as primary point of contact for external auditors, prepare audit schedules, and drive resolution of findings.
• Support inventory reconciliation between physical counts, operational records, and accounting balances; investigate and resolve variances.
  
  
  

• Own end-to-end local tax compliance, including VAT, expanded withholding tax (EWT), corporate income tax (CIT), and all BIR filing obligations.
• Manage SEC annual reporting, GIS filing, and other statutory corporate requirements.
• Liaise with external tax advisors and auditors; manage timelines and deliverables for all statutory filings.
• Monitor changes in Philippine tax and regulatory requirements and assess their business impact; communicate proactively to management.
  
  
  

• Develop a working understanding of the BSP regulatory framework for payment service providers (PSPs), including EMI and non-bank financial institution licensing requirements.
• Map the financial and compliance prerequisites for a BSP payment license application; identify gaps and build a roadmap to address them.
• Coordinate with legal, compliance, and external advisors to ensure the entitys financial records, capital adequacy, and governance structures meet BSP expectations.
• Build and maintain the financial documentation and reporting frameworks required to support a regulatory application and ongoing regulatory reporting post-license.
• Act as the finance point of contact for any BSP, SEC, or other regulatory engagement.
  
  
  

• Proactively identify financial, operational, and compliance risks; document risks and propose mitigation options with a clear recommendation.
• Design and implement an internal control framework appropriate for the size and stage of the PH entity, with a view to scaling it as the team grows.
• Ensure segregation of duties is maintained even in a lean team structure; flag exceptions to management.
• Support fraud prevention measures, particularly in the context of payment and treasury operations.
  
  
  

• Act as the primary finance interface for all PH business functions — commercial, operations, and product — providing financial insight to support business decisions.
• Manage relationships with banks, external auditors, tax consultants, and regulatory bodies independently.
  
  
  

• Bachelors degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field — required. CPA (Philippines) is strongly preferred.
• Minimum 8-9 years of relevant experience in finance or accounting, with progressive responsibility.
• Demonstrated experience as an individual contributor (IC) — has operated as the sole or founding finance person in a company, not just as part of a large finance team.
• Strong understanding of IFRS / GAAP and Philippine tax regulations (VAT, EWT, CIT, BIR filings, SEC compliance).
• Prior experience in a startup, fintech, or early-stage company — understands what it means to build vs. maintain, and has done both.
• Background in external audit (Big 4 or mid-tier) is highly preferred.
• Exposure to BSP regulatory requirements or PSP / fintech licensing frameworks is a strong plus.
• Experience managing an annual statutory audit as the primary finance contact.
• Detail-oriented, structured, and able to operate independently with minimal supervision.
• Comfortable in a fast-paced, ambiguous, and evolving environment where not everything has a playbook.
• Good written and verbal communication skills in English.
  
  
  

• Be the first finance person on the ground in the Philippines — with real ownership and real impact from day one.
• Play a direct role in shaping BukuWarungs regulatory and financial foundation as the PH entity grows toward a BSP payment license.
• Work closely with a regional finance leadership team with Big 4, investment banking, and fintech operating backgrounds.
• Competitive compensation benchmarked to the Philippine market, with performance-based upside.
• Strong career growth trajectory — as the PH entity scales, this role is the natural foundation for a senior finance leadership position.