Rachelle Joy “Rachelle” D. Abargos, CMA® is a finance executive appointed Finance Director for Southstar Drug and Rose Pharmacy, reporting administratively to the Group GM for the Drugstore Segment and functionally to the CFO. She brings broad Gokongwei Group experience: Finance Supervisor at URC Packaging, Commercial Finance Manager at Robinsons Appliances, and Finance Head of Rose Pharmacy since 2021. Earlier roles include Accounting Assistant at UERMMC Hospital and Finance & Administration Manager at RIB iTWO Software Inc., giving her a full-stack perspective from operational accounting to commercial finance and leadership.
She holds a BS in Business Administration, major in Management Accounting (University of the East, 2008) and an MS in Financial Management (Polytechnic University of the Philippines, 2015). A Certified Management Accountant (CMA) program graduate, she applies decision-oriented finance to a fast-paced retail environment—balancing near-term targets with long-term value creation, improving cost discipline, and strengthening planning and execution alongside senior leadership.
Discovery of CMA Philippines
“I discovered CMA Philippines at a point in my career when I was already handling broader responsibilities beyond traditional accounting. I realized that while technical skills were important, what I really needed was a stronger understanding of strategy, decision-making, and leadership. Through colleagues and industry discussions, CMA Philippines stood out as a community that develops finance professionals to think and act like business partners.”
Career Growth Enabled by CMA
“Being part of CMA helped me shift my mindset from simply reporting numbers to using numbers to drive decisions. It strengthened my confidence in discussions with senior leaders, improved how I analyze performance and risks, and allowed me to contribute more meaningfully to business planning and execution.”
Applying CMA in Her Role
“In my current role, CMA principles are embedded in how I work, whether it’s evaluating costs, improving operational efficiency or supporting management decisions. In a fastpaced retail environment, CMA helps me balance short-term targets with long-term value, ensuring that decisions are both financially sound and strategically aligned.”
Advice to CMA Aspirants
“My advice is to embrace CMA not just as a certification, but as a leadership mindset. It equips professionals with skills that go beyond accounting, strategy, analytics, and decision-making that are critical for career advancement. The earlier you start, the more value you gain from applying CMA concepts in real-world situations.”