Some finance careers start in big companies with structured training programs. For Reichelle Angelie Inderez, the path was more grounded—and more practical—built through real work, real responsibility, and a clear belief that finance only works when integrity holds.
“Honestly, my journey in finance started pretty simply,” Inderez says. She took up BS Accountancy and began her career in a small audit firm as a tax and audit assistant. The role gave her an early taste of how unforgiving numbers can be. “It gave me my first real hands-on experience.”
From there, she moved into government as an accounting assistant, supporting the full accounting process. After passing the board exam, she advanced into a more formal role: “When I passed the board exam, I was hired as an Accountant in a national government agency, which is where I’m currently working.” Today, she also carries a professional credential that reinforces her direction: she is a Certified Financial Management Professional (CFMP®).
Her reason for entering the field was personal as much as practical. “I think what really pushed me toward a finance and accounting career was my mom—she also took up commerce major in accountancy,” she says. Growing up around the profession made it familiar, and familiarity became motivation. “That definitely influenced me and made me want to follow a similar path.”
Working across both audit and government changed how she thinks about financial decisions. In an audit firm, accuracy is survival. “I learned to be really detail-oriented and careful with numbers because every client had different needs,” Inderez says. But government work reshaped her standards even further. “In government work, it’s not just about the financials—it’s also about being transparent and making sure everything follows the rules.” The result is a decision-making style built on restraint. “Because of that, I’ve become more cautious and responsible in how I make financial decisions.”
That same discipline shows up in how she leads. As head of a finance unit, she does not describe leadership as command-and-control. Instead, she calls it coaching. “My leadership style is really more on teaching and guiding,” she says. “I make sure my team understands the systematic process of each workflow and I walk them through the entire process so they feel confident and clear about what they’re doing.” In a government setup, she believes strict rules can still coexist with support. “I focus on making sure everyone follows the right steps while still feeling supported.”
Her leadership became especially visible when she decided to fix a bottleneck many offices accept as normal: slow, manual reporting. “One experience that really showed the impact of my leadership was when our office was still using a fully manual process to prepare financial reports,” she says. Rather than waiting for an external system upgrade, she built something internally. “I decided to create an automated database so we could easily track financial transactions and quickly respond to any queries from end-users.”
The benefits were practical—but also cultural. “It also helped promote transparency within the organization,” she says. The system reduced errors, saved time, and changed the team’s workflow. “Because of that, the team can focus more on analysis instead of repetitive encoding.” For Inderez, the takeaway was simple: “This project really improved our financial reporting system and showed how a small innovation can make a big difference.”
But innovation in government finance carries a deeper question: what happens when the environment itself tests your standards?
Inderez does not avoid the issue. “In the midst of challenges about the explicit corruption of government officials, accountants—especially those who are new in the profession—sometimes struggle to maintain their integrity when the environment around them isn’t ideal,” she says. In her view, staying clean is not only a personal choice—it requires systems, culture, and support. “To address this, there really needs to be transparency and integrity in every financial transaction.” She believes structure makes ethics easier to sustain: “Clear systems, proper documentation, and strict compliance procedures help a lot.” She also emphasizes people. “Mentorship and proper training can also guide young finance professionals so they feel supported when making ethical decisions.”
For her, ethics is not a poster on the wall—it is the job. “As an accountant in a government agency, ethics plays a huge role in how I lead and make decisions,” Inderez says. “Since we’re handling public funds, there’s an even bigger responsibility to make sure everything is accurate, transparent, and compliant with the rules.” She keeps her standard direct and non-negotiable: “For me, ethics means choosing what’s right even when it’s difficult.”
That mindset is part of why she pursued the Certified Financial Management Professional (CFMP®) designation in the first place. “I want to earn a certification, specifically the CFMP®, because I’m always looking to improve my knowledge and skills in financial management,” she says. It was not simply a credential—it was preparation for bigger responsibilities. “Earning the CFMP will not only help me perform better in my current role but also prepare me for bigger responsibilities in the future.”
Balancing study with work was familiar pressure. “It was challenging at times because I had to manage a heavy workload while also setting aside time to study,” she says. “Finding that balance between work responsibilities and review was definitely tough, but staying organized and disciplined helped me push through.”
The benefit, she says, was more than a title. “Beyond just earning the title, having the CFMP® credential has really boosted my confidence in handling financial matters,” Inderez explains. It also gave her tools for continued growth. “It also gives me access to free trainings and resources that help me grow professionally and navigate my career journey more effectively.”
In the end, her career story is not about glamour or speed. It is about professional steadiness—moving from audit discipline to public accountability, then reinforcing the work with systems, leadership, and credentials. In a field where trust is everything—and where public funds raise the stakes—Inderez’s approach is clear: keep the process clean, keep the team strong, and keep the standard high.
