Pearl Catindig

Can you tell me about yourself and where you’re from?

PC: I’m Pearl, FP&A Analyst at GLAS and I’m from Manila. I‘ve been working in FP&A for some time with my background mostly at tech companies. My first role was with a local firm, and after about four or five years, I moved to a UK-based company and now, I’m here with GLAS. 

What’s something people might be surprised to learn about you?

PC: I’m a national chess master in the Philippines!  

I started competing when I was six and kept going until just before college.  

During summer breaks, my mum didn’t want us sitting at home, so she’d sign us up for all sorts of activities.  

As the middle child, I usually tagged along with my older sister, but sports wasn’t really my thing. Our school offered a summer chess class, and I thought, “You know what, maybe I’ll try that instead”. 

I also have two degrees, one in Legal Management and another in Accountancy. 

What do you enjoy doing outside of work? 

PC: I have a lot of hobbies! I love reading and travelling. But one of my favourite things is watching legal trials, real ones. I like keeping my legal brain active and testing my knowledge a bit. 

I also love walking my dogs and just spending time in nature after my shifts. During the weekend, I would either take a quick short trip or watch the latest F1 race.  

How did you first hear about GLAS, and what made you want to join?

PC: I first heard about GLAS through my previous UK tech company, who were actually a client. I joined because of Callum, our Financial Controller. He was my manager at my old job and reached out to say GLAS were thinking about setting up offshore operations in the Philippines. He asked if I’d be interested, and I thought it sounded exciting, a new challenge in the finance industry, which was a bit outside my usual tech background. 

What’s it like being one of the first hires in the Philippines for GLAS? 

PC: Being one of the first hires in the PH team is exciting. It feels like a unique opportunity to lay the foundation of something that will grow and thrive over time. There’s a sense of responsibility to deliver result and represent the potential of expanding the PH team. It’s motivating to know that the work I do will have a lasting impact in how the PH team is perceived and how it integrates into the company 

Can you tell me a bit about what an FP&A analyst does at GLAS?

PC: FP&A covers budgeting and analysis. For budgeting, we collaborate with different budget managers to understand what they expect for the year and what their needs are. We help model those numbers and build a budget. Every month, we compare actuals against the budget to see how things are tracking, and we provide a narrative to explain what’s happening month by month. 

How has your role evolved since you started at GLAS?

PC: When I started at GLAS, there was no formal FP&A function yet, so we were still in the process of building it out. It’s been fun getting buy-in from different budget managers to be more proactive with their numbers. I’ve started creating Power BI dashboards to help them get more excited about seeing their numbers and being more involved in managing them. 

What skills or qualities do you think are most important in your role?

PC: Communication is number one. You need to understand what’s expected and where we’re heading each month. You must coordinate with budget holders and get their buy-in and communicate with your team when you catch things. So yes, communication is key. 

Where do you see the Philippines team heading in the next year or so? 

PC: I expect the team will continue to grow and contribute to cross-functional initiatives. I’m confident that with the right support, training, and collaboration, the PH team will be very valuable in supporting the changes and innovations within GLAS. 

What is your favourite thing about working at GLAS?

PC: Definitely the team. The people are easy to work with, and it’s easy to ask for help or to coordinate with them. You never feel lost because someone’s always there to support you. 

How would you describe the culture at GLAS, or specifically the culture of the Philippines team at GLAS?

PC: It’s really nice. Even though we’re in different roles and not all in finance, we still bond and talk to each other. We get to learn what’s happening in other departments, which helps us understand GLAS as a whole, not just our own work. 

How do you feel GLAS supports your growth and development?

PC:  There are people who guide you, but you also get challenged. It really pushes you to grow and improve. You’re not just handed tasks, you’re encouraged to think critically, take ownership, and find better ways of doing things. And if you ever feel stuck, someone’s always there to help or talk things through. It’s a good balance of support and independence, which I really appreciate. 

What advice would you give to someone thinking about joining GLAS?

PC: If you need something, just let someone know, there’s always someone willing to help. Be yourself and enjoy it, because it should be fun.