The Ayala Corp Corp Officer Forficial Officer embodies the ‘four faces of the CFO’ as he is seen as the Ing-Finex CFO of the year 2025.
At its core, a company’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is a leader entrusted with protecting the financial health and integrity of the organization. This means ensuring that books and balance sheets tell the truth, risks are understood, and resources are used wisely towards the company’s goals.
But today’s business doesn’t accept caregivers alone, at least not anymore. As operations scale and become more complex, today’s CFOS must also point the business toward growth, transformation, and building long-term value. Working as the anchor of the company, the role requires discipline and foresight in equal measure, because the company depends on the CFO to weigh all its decisions and risk.
This is the logic behind the framework used in the country’s most respected CFO test: “the face of the CFO,” developed by Deloitte and accepted as the basis of the Ing-Finex CFO of the year award.
The model captures the full scope of what makes a CFO today. As an operator, the CFO ensures financial processes operate with accuracy and consistency. As a Manager, protect governance, control and accountability. As a foundation, they help sharpen long-term direction. And as a Catalyst, they drive change and alignment in the organization.
Good CFOs may be good at two or three. Few leaders surpass all four.
This year, Ayala Corp Corp Officer Alberto de Larlazabal was recognized as someone who did just that, as he was recognized by 19th Ing-Finex CFO of the year, the Prime Minister of the Philippines honors top financial officers.
This year’s award was given to Mr. De Larrazabal in recognition of his exemplary leadership in helping guide Ayala Corp. For major transformation through continuous operations and good governance while strengthening a strong collaborative culture within the organization. These combined contributions, bolstered by Ayala’s record performance in 2024, made him stand out in a rigorous screening process.
You are 19th The eighth recipient of the award from the Ayala Group for distinction.
Mr. De Larrazabal’s leadership has been a trend in guiding Ayala Corp. it is one of its most powerful moments. In addition to being tested on all the ‘four faces’, he was called for his performance in the year of Ayala’s record in 2024, which he reached while the political party was changing and the general reform of the organization.
Nominees are first screened by the search and selection committee (SSC) through detailed interviews and document reviews. From this pool, registrants were admitted to the Board of Judges (BoJ), made up of respected leaders from regulatory bodies, Academe, past Associations, and business luminaries. The BoJ then conducts final deliberations and decisions before choosing a winner. This multi-win process ensures that the award exemplifies high levels of leadership, integrity and strategic vision.
Ing-Finex CFO Mr. Workines is the Philippines’ long-time and hard-working respected chief financial officer. Established in partnership between the Dutch Giadia Giadia Giadiang Ing NV and the fund managers Institute of the Philippines (Finex), the country’s premier association of finance and business professionals, this award celebrates its 19th A year to recognize the beauty and inspire future generations of Philippine financial leaders.
To paint integrity in a gray world
Among the recognitions, Mr. De Larrazabal offered a vision of leadership that reflects the rigors of the role he holds.
“The role of CFO comes with a lot of trust placed on you. It’s heartwarming to hear that I was worthy of that,” said the award ceremony on November 19 at the Talmont Hotel in Makati City.
“We’re in a unique position to see everything and be completely integrated. The key will be to provide that input across the business, so better business decisions are made.”
In his words, today’s world is “grey mass,” something that has become heavy, changed quickly, and is difficult to move. For him, the only reliable compass in that area is character.
“Indeed by using integrity as a way to navigate. Integrity is our north star. He walks the talk,” Mnum de Larlazabal said.
That principle, he noted, has guided his path as a finance professional from a partner in the back of the office to a partner who looks forward to planning and execution. The role has changed, he said, “From” the gatekeeper “to” enabling, “requiring financial leaders not only to protect the business but to send it forward.
“It provides a vision, always with an understanding and a vision. That’s a big role that finance plays, so that the results, the decision, are considered much better,” said Mr.
His peers at Ayala Corp. they praise his success when measuring this important role in this company.
“Albert has been making a period where we’ve made so many changes to our portfolio. We’re doing things now that we haven’t done before.
“You can be a good CFO, a good leader, or a good director or chairman, but to find someone who can do all these things with the highest standards,” said Ayala Corp Chiever Resourmer Milán.
“Albert’s influence on Ayala is not only lasting but also dynamic. As CFO, he is not known as a gatekeeper and solutions.
Looking ahead, Mr De Larrazabal hopes that his legacy will be defined less by transactions and values than by individuals. For him, true leadership means making sure that the benefits of progress are shared, strengthening a culture of collaboration and integrity.
“I have always believed that the people closest to the problem are in the best position to give you insight into the solution. It is allowed to count as high as guidance, and at the same time, and at the same time, and at the same time, and at the same time so that people feel comfortable.”
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