Job Description

• Act as a Finance Business Partner to the designated Research Centre/ Institutes within the cluster and provide strategic support to its management and budget holders by proactively monitoring financial activities and financial reporting specific to the Institutes, and clearly communicating results of the analyses. 
• As a team leader supporting Cluster lead in leading and managing the research finance cluster.
• Provide financial and business advisories to the Institutes that are critical to the decision-making purposes and ensure compliance with University’s financial policies and procedures, and funding agencies’ terms & conditions / guidelines.
• Foster and maintain a regular working relationship within the Institutes, central shared services teams, and other functional partners. 

Duties & Responsibilities:

Financial Management and Oversight

• Lead a team of 3-4 staff (direct and indirect), where applicable
• Ensure smooth day-to-day financial operations of the Research Centre (RCE) / Institutes (RICs) within the cluster, including exercising financial control over budget expenditure, revenue collection and financial reporting.
• Drive the annual budget and forecast exercises by coordinating all movements of budget, ensuring timely submission of budgets to central teams.
• Participate in strategic meetings and budget planning sessions with the Institutes’ management, providing valuable financial insights to aid decision-making.
• Partner closely with Institutes to guide cost-efficiency initiatives and offer expertise in implementing resource optimization strategies, leading to a reduction in operational expenses.
• Analyse Institutes’ financial positions and funding status, offer insights and recommendations for periodic reporting to the Institutes’ management for decision-making processes.
• Prepare and present financial performance reports to the Institutes’ Governing Board/ Strategic Board, etc, ensuring clarity and accuracy of information.

Grant and Fund Management

• Partner closely with Institutes (as host institution) for effective grant administration, provide financial guidance throughout the grant lifecycle and facilitate budget allocation for various projects and funding sources, to enhance the host institute’s financial stability and research pursuits.
• Collaborate with budget owners to manage grants / funds and proactively identify issues for timely solutions and ensure optimal utilisation of funds.
• Ensure full understanding and compliance with the terms and conditions of the grants as predetermined in the signed letter of awards / agreements.
• Oversee grant claim statements preparation and timely submission to funding agencies, including liaison with auditors and fulfilment of audit requirements, and prompt response to queries for a smooth and timely audit fieldwork.
• Work collaboratively with the Institutes’ stakeholders and central shared services teams during financial year-end closing and grants’ closing activities to ensure all legitimate transactions are properly recorded and all financial reports are accurately prepared.

Governance, Controls and Compliance

• Ensure compliance with related tax filing matters including GST, withholding tax and taxable benefits for personal claims.
• Timely perform Risk Control Matrix (RCM) testing and address anomalies to mitigate financial risks, and ensure certification sign-off by Institute’s HOA before the financial year’s closing deadline.
• Liaise with internal auditors on all internal audit matters, where required.
• Coordinate and oversee the annual fixed assets verification exercise of the designated Institutes.  Work collaboratively with Institutes’ stakeholders to ensure compliance with the verification procedures and maintain accurate records of fixed assets.

Leadership

• Drive strategic planning efforts, outlining objectives, strategies and key performance indicators (KPIs) to ensure the team’s success.
• Make critical decisions and provide guidance to the team in complex situations, considering broader implications.
• Identify talent gaps.  Mentor and coach team members on leadership, problem-solving and strategic thinking.
• Guide the team through changes, effectively managing transitions and ensuring team members are aligned with new strategies or initiatives.
• Represent the cluster in cross-cluster meetings and strategic discussions, advocating for team needs and accomplishments.

Process Improvement and Stakeholder Communication

• Proactively engage with Institutes’ stakeholders to understand their needs, challenges and goals.
• Provide guidance and updates to stakeholders on finance policies, guidelines and procedures, as and when required.
• Identify opportunities to develop guidelines and streamline financial processes for operational efficiency and resource optimization.
• Lead change initiatives such as projects, system implementation and other assignments as may be directed from time to time.
• Undertake ad-hoc tasks as requested by Institutes or assigned by Cluster lead.

Qualifications

• Accounting Degree/ACCA or equivalent with at least 10 years of relevant working experience
• Exposure to grant budgets, funding agencies’ regulations and financial compliance requirements in a research or education environment will be advantageous
• Technically competent with up-to-date knowledge of accounting / audit standards and practices
• Ability to quickly learn and grasp the implications of terms and conditions for each managed grant
• Highly stakeholder service-focused and strong in communication skills with the ability to build positive working relations and work collaboratively with people at all levels
• Highly analytical with exceptional problem-solving and organisational skills
• Self-motivated individual and able to work with minimal supervision in a dynamic environment with competing demands for resources
• A keen sense of ownership and accountability, and act with a sense of urgency to meet tight deadlines
• Proficient in using MS Office and has relevant experience in SAP accounting system and flexibility to adapt new software applications, where applicable

More Information

Location: Kent Ridge Campus

Organization: [[National University of Singapore]]

Department : [[Office of Finance]]

Employee Referral Eligible: Yes

Job requisition ID : 27370