Assistant Director Finance Planning

Job Responsibilities: Finance – Accounts Payable, Staff Claims and Fixed Assets: - Responsible for ensuring timely and accurate payments are made to vendors and staff. - Oversee financial operations relating to Accounts Payable, General Ledger, Fixed Assets, staff claims and month-end closing activities to ensure operational effectiveness and compliance with financial policies and procedures. - Review and approve selected high-value, complex or sensitive financial transactions, after payment proposals have been verified by Asst Managers/Executives. - Provide guidance on operational finance matters where required. - Support timely financial closing, reconciliations and preparation of management and statutory reporting requirements. - Review operational workflows and internal controls to enhance efficiency, accuracy and governance standards. - Provide oversight, guidance and support to Finance staff on operational and reporting matters. Finance – General Ledger, Financial Closing & Statutory Reporting: - Responsible for ensuring that timely financial records are maintained and disseminated to internal and external stakeholders. - Oversee monthly financial closing activities and review financial reporting submissions to NTU, Management and other stakeholders to ensure accuracy, completeness and timeliness. - Support the presentation and analysis of quarterly and annual financial results to Management, Audit Committee and the Board where required. - Review yearly financial reporting and audited financial statements for Audit Committee and Board approval, and coordinate with internal and external auditors on audit-related matters. - Oversee statutory reporting and regulatory submissions, including GST reporting, annual statutory accounts, Charity Portal filings and Department of Statistics returns, ensuring compliance with applicable requirements and timelines. - Provide operational oversight and support for General Ledger and reporting functions, including involvement in hands-on financial operations and review work where required in a lean operating environment. - Review and strengthen financial reporting processes, controls and workflows to enhance operational effectiveness, governance and audit readiness. Budgeting, Forecasting & Financial Sustainability: - Responsible for ensuring the prudent use of NIEC’s financial resources to support overall financial sustainability. - Lead annual budgeting and forecast exercises, including consolidation, analysis and review of submissions from divisions and campuses. - Support financial sustainability planning through analysis of budget utilisation trends, projections and cost drivers. - Prepare and present financial analysis, variance reports and budget recommendations to Management and ExCo. - Lead costing reviews and analysis for CPD courses, programmes, projects and other strategic initiatives to support financial sustainability and management decision-making. - Support the Director in reviewing NIEC’s cost structures and financial trends, and provide recommendations to enhance operational efficiency, resource optimisation and long-term sustainability. Financial Governance: - Support the Director in matters relating to the Audit Committee (AC), including coordination of meetings, papers, audit matters and follow-up actions. - Coordinate with auditors and internal stakeholders on internal and external audit matters and tracking of remediation actions. - Review and strengthen finance SOPs, controls and governance processes to support operational effectiveness and compliance requirements. - Drive continuous improvement initiatives relating to finance governance, reporting and operational workflows. Any other assignments: - Lead or support Finance-related projects and transformation initiatives, including system enhancements, process improvements and implementation of new workflows. - Support the Director in finance-related planning, reporting and institutional initiatives. - Progressively support procurement governance matters relating to policy alignment, stewardship and review of selected procurement matters where required. - Undertake any other duties assigned by the Director, Finance & Procurement or Senior Management. Job Requirements: - Degree in Accountancy, Finance or related discipline with at least 8–10 years of relevant experience in finance, accounting or audit functions. - Experience in financial operations, budgeting, reporting and governance functions. - Prior experience in a supervisory, reviewer or operational leadership capacity. - Experience in the public sector, Institutes of Higher Learning or publicly funded organisations. - Good understanding and experience in key Finance functions including financial reporting, Accounts Payable, General Ledger, budgeting, forecasting, audits and internal controls. - Good knowledge of accounting standards and financial governance requirements. - Strong analytical, problem-solving and organisational skills. - Ability to balance operational involvement with strategic and governance responsibilities. - Ability to review, streamline and improve financial processes and workflows. - Meticulous, detail-oriented and hands-on when required. - Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage stakeholders across different levels. - Able to work independently and exercise sound judgment in a dynamic operating environment. - Strong ethics, professional integrity and sense of accountability. - Proficient in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel and PowerPoint. - Experience with Accounting/Enterprise Resource Planning systems (e.g. SAP). Perks & Benefits: - Flexible Hybrid Work Arrangement - Learning & Professional Development - Comprehensive Benefits Package (attractive leaves schemes, flexible benefits, dental coverage etc.)