Senior Manager (Research Finance Business Partner)

Company description:

The National University of Singapore is the national research university of Singapore. Founded in 1905 as the Straits Settlements and Federated Malay States Government Medical School, NUS is the oldest higher education institution in Singapore

Job description:

About Us

Join the National University of Singapore (NUS) Finance Team - Where Innovation Meets Excellence

At NUS, the Office of Finance stands as a dynamic and strategic partner, driving financial sustainability and operational excellence. Our team plays a crucial role in overseeing financial planning, optimising resources, and enabling the University's ambition and innovation.

We are at the forefront of formulating, reviewing, and analysing the University's operating, strategic, and capital budgets. Through strong governance, robust financial processes, and cutting-edge systems, we ensure every dollar is put to its best use, fueling research, education, and transformation.

• Make an Impact: Play a key role in shaping financial strategies that influence the University's growth and global standing.
• Growth & Development: We believe in continuous learning, offering mentorship, career development, and upskilling opportunities.
• Collaborative Culture: Join a high-performing team that values trust, innovation, and excellence.
• Finance Transformation: Be part of initiatives leveraging SAP S4 Hana, AI-driven analytics, and digital finance solutions to drive efficiency and future-ready finance operations.

If you are passionate about finance, thrive in a dynamic environment, and want to be part of a team that drives meaningful impact, we'd love to hear from you!

Join us and be a part of shaping the future of finance at NUS!

Website: https://www.nus.edu.sg/finance

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nus-office-of-finance/

Job Description

Reporting to Research Cluster Lead, the incumbent will:

• Serve as Team Lead, supporting the Research Finance Cluster Lead in leading and managing the research finance cluster team.
• Assume the Finance Business Partner role for the assigned RIC/RCE within the E3/E3A/TLab Cluster. Provide strategic support to the RIC/RCE management and PIs through proactive monitoring of financial activities, delivery of institute-specific financial reporting, and communication of actionable financial insights.
• Provide financial and management advisories to the RIC/RCE 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 and Responsibilities:

• Lead and guide a team of 6 staff (both direct and indirect reports), fostering capability development and ensuring effective team delivery.
• Oversee the day-to-day financial operations of the Research Centre of Excellence (RCE) and Research Institutes and Centres (RICs) within the cluster, including maintaining robust financial controls over budget utilisation, revenue collection, and financial reporting.
• Drive the annual budgeting and forecasting cycle, coordinating budget movements and ensuring timely and accurate submissions to central teams.
• Participate in strategic meetings and budget planning sessions with the RCE/RIC's management, providing sound financial advice and insights to support decision-making.
• Partner closely with RCE/RICs to identify and implement cost-efficiency initiatives and resource optimisation strategies, delivering measurable improvements in operational expenditure.
• Analyse financial positions and funding status of the RCE/RICs, providing clear insights and recommendations through regular reporting to support management decisions.
• Prepare and present financial performance reports to the RCE/RIC Governing Board, ensuring clarity, accuracy, and relevance of information.

• Partner closely with RCE/RICs, as host institutions, to support effective grant administration by providing financial guidance across the grant lifecycle and facilitating budget allocation across various projects and funding sources, thereby strengthening financial sustainability and enabling research objectives.
• Collaborate with Principal Investigators in the stewardship of grants and funds, proactively identifying issues, resolving them in a timely manner, and ensuring optimal utilisation of funding.
• Ensure a thorough understanding of, and strict compliance with, grant terms and conditions as set out in the letters of award and collaboration agreements.
• Prepare and submit grant claims to funding agencies in a timely manner, ensuring completeness and accuracy of supporting documentation, while coordinating with auditors, fulfilling audit requirements, and responding promptly to queries to enable a smooth and efficient audit process.
• Work in close partnership with RCE/RIC stakeholders, research administration, and central shared services teams during financial year-end and grant closure processes, ensuring all valid transactions are accurately posted and financial reports are complete and reliable.

• Ensure compliance with all relevant tax requirements, including GST, withholding tax, and the treatment of taxable benefits arising from personal claims.
• Perform Risk Control Matrix (RCM) testing in a timely manner, investigate and address exceptions to mitigate financial risks.
• Liaise with internal auditors on all internal audit matters, where required.
• Coordinate and oversee the annual fixed assets verification exercise of RCE/RICs. Work collaboratively with RCE/RICs to ensure compliance with the verification procedures and maintain accurate records of fixed assets.

• Contribute to the team's strategic planning efforts by helping to develop objectives, strategies, and key performance indicators (KPIs) to improve overall effectiveness and outcomes.
• Exercise sound judgment in complex situations, providing clear direction while considering broader organisational implications.
• Identify capability and talent gaps, and actively mentor and coach team members to strengthen leadership, problem-solving, and strategic thinking skills.
• Support the team through change initiatives, helping to manage transitions and maintain alignment with evolving strategies and organisational priorities

• Engage proactively with RCE/RIC stakeholders to understand their needs, challenges and goals, and respond with appropriate support.
• Provide clear and timely guidance on finance policies, guidelines, and procedures, ensuring consistent understanding and application.
• Identify and recommend improvements to policies and processes, streamlining workflows to enhance operational efficiency and optimise resource allocation.
• Lead or contribute to change initiatives, including projects and system implementations, as assigned.
• Undertake ad hoc assignments assigned by the Research Finance Cluster Lead

• Degree in Accounting, ACCA, or equivalent professional qualification, with at least 10 years of relevant experience.
• Minimum 3 years of leadership experience, with demonstrated ability to guide teams, manage workloads, and drive operational effectiveness.
• Exposure to grant budgeting, funding agency regulations, and financial compliance within a research or education environment will be advantageous.
• Technically competent with up-to-date knowledge of accounting and audit standards and practices.
• Ability to quickly learn and grasp the implications of terms and conditions for each research grant assigned.
• Highly customer 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 strong problem-solving and organisational skills.
• Self-driven and able to work independently in a dynamic environment with competing priorities.
• A keen sense of ownership and accountability, with the ability to work with urgency to meet tight deadlines.
• Experience in SAP and proficient in MS Office applications, with and adaptability to new systems and software applications.

The position is only open to Singaporeans and Permanent Residents.