Setbacks in school don’t have to define your career. When Howard Brynt Fuentes failed to qualify for Accountancy in his second year of college, it could have been the end of his dream. Instead, it became the start of a journey that led him to global certifications and a thriving career in hospitality accounting.
“I transitioned to BS Accounting Technology on my third year until I graduated in 2017,” Fuentes recalls in an interview with Financial Adviser PH. “After I graduated, I decided to take certifications and licenses before becoming employed in any business sector so that I could use them as an advantage and build confidence as I presented myself to the corporate world.”
That determination set him apart. He was the first in his batch to pursue NIAT certifications—eventually earning credentials in bookkeeping, cost accounting, payroll, and taxation.
Building a foundation with certifications
Fuentes studied for weeks at Topnotch CAT Reviewers in Manila before sitting for his first exam in bookkeeping. In November 2018, he passed and became a Certified Bookkeeper under ICB-UK. Eager to push further, he passed the Registered Cost Accountant certification the following year through CMA Australia.
CAT3 in Payroll and Taxation didn’t come as easily—he failed his first attempt but refused to quit. “I retook the exam on the next available schedule and eventually passed,” he says. That resilience earned him his Certified Accounting Technician credential in February 2019 under IAT Canada.
With those certifications, Fuentes encouraged classmates to pursue the same path, sharing his review center and experience. His new credentials became both a confidence boost and a door-opener.
A leap into global work
In October 2019, he landed his first major role as Project Manager at DC&Co., a Korean brand strategy and incubating company in Gangnam, Seoul. He managed financial reports, payroll, and quality control across several business units ranging from travel agencies to luxury retail.
The experience was transformative. “I definitely learned a lot from the president of the company who became my mentor,” Fuentes says. “He molded me to become better at my work and equipped me with top-class professionalism, which Koreans are the best models of.”
That professionalism, combined with his technical skills, helped him pivot into hospitality. By mid-2019, he accepted an offer from Crimson Resort & Spa Boracay, marking the start of a new chapter.
Rising through hospitality
Fuentes joined Crimson as both Receiving Supervisor and Fixed Asset Supervisor, applying cost accounting to inventory management, purchases, and asset depreciation. His hands-on work gave him a front-row seat to the entire hospitality accounting cycle.
Over the next few years, he introduced policies, created receiving systems in Excel, and streamlined reporting processes. Management noticed. In 2022, he transitioned into general accounting as General Cashier and Payroll Officer—a supervisory role where he automated payroll computations, improved cash handling procedures, and supported successful internal and external audits.
By 2024, another opportunity came: Kitchen Manager, a role that blends finance with operations. Today, he’s responsible for recipe costing, menu engineering, and F&B inventory management—helping the Executive Chef and Food & Beverage Director make data-driven decisions.
Facing challenges head-on
Each stage brought unique obstacles. Presenting financial reports to Korean executives required cultural and technical adjustments. The pandemic forced him to rewrite receiving protocols while taking on added responsibilities after staff cuts. Transitioning into payroll meant digging through poorly endorsed files and fixing disorganized systems.
Yet, Fuentes consistently turned setbacks into systems. He automated reports, re-tagged assets during lockdown, and collaborated with IT teams to optimize newly launched hospitality software.
“I love the feeling of completing a difficult task which most people cannot do,” he says. “Achieving complex tasks gives me confidence in my career.”
Leadership shaped by accounting
Fuentes’s experiences taught him that even behind the scenes, accounting professionals shape organizational success.
“My experiences as an accounting personnel in the hospitality industry taught me that even if I am not directly engaging with our guests, I still have a big impact,” he explains. “I considered my colleagues from different departments as my guests to whom I should also give my best service and hospitality.”
Certified by his HR department as a departmental coach, he has trained staff on payroll, Excel, and professional efficiency. He also mentors interns, guided by the Golden Rule from Luke 6:31: “Do to others as you would like them to do to you.”
A milestone with NIAT
For Fuentes, NIAT certification has been more about credibility and learning than just pay increases.
“The certificates I earned didn’t directly increase my salary, but the knowledge I learned was worth it and useful,” he says. Recruiters may prioritize experience, but the credentials gave him a competitive edge and confidence in global environments.
His advice: “It is better to take the certifications prior to being employed so that you can focus on passing the exam and avoid retakes due to poor time management. NIAT certifications help you become more credible and give you an advantage compared to other applicants.”
The takeaway
From failing to qualify for Accountancy to managing hospitality costs in Boracay, Howard Brynt Fuentes’s career is proof that resilience and adaptability matter more than a flawless path. By combining certifications, persistence, and a drive for professionalism, he turned setbacks into stepping stones—building a career that now blends accounting precision with hospitality excellence.
