Deputy Director, Finance

Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR); Singapore; On-site; SGD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading public sector R&D agency in Singapore seeks a seasoned finance leader for the Deputy Director of Finance role. This key position involves overseeing financial management, ensuring governance, leading budgeting cycles, and driving digital transformation initiatives. The ideal candidate should have a degree in Accountancy or be ACCA qualified, with at least 10 years of financial management experience, and strong leadership skills. This is a unique opportunity to shape innovation and contribute to Singapore’s research and enterprise growth.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years' experience in financial management and reporting.
• Proven ability in governance and leadership.
• Experience in stakeholder management.

Responsibilities

• Oversee full-spectrum financial management across entities.
• Lead the annual budgeting cycle and financial forecasting.
• Drive the implementation of ERP systems and digital transformation.

Skills

Financial management

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Analytical skills

Attention to detail

Results orientation

Education

Degree in Accountancy / ACCA qualified

Tools

SAP

Tableau

Job description

Empowering Innovation through Financial Excellence.

Are you a seasoned finance leader passionate about driving innovation and public accountability? Join A*STAR as the Deputy Director, Finance, where you'll lead a high-performing team to deliver strategic financial leadership, operational excellence, and digital transformation supporting the Innovation & Enterprise (I&E) and Accelerate (ACCL) Group.

The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) is Singapore's lead public sector R&D agency. Through open innovation, we collaborate with our partners in both the public and private sectors to benefit the economy and society. A*STAR's research creates economic growth and jobs for Singapore, and enhances lives by improving societal outcomes in healthcare, urban living, and sustainability.

A*STAR is recognised by many accountancy organisations: Accredited Training Organisation (ATO) for the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA), a Recognised Employer Partner with CPA Australia and others. It reaffirms our commitment to excellence in professional development, and to fostering the growth of our employees in the field of Finance and Accounting.

What You'll Do

• Oversee full-spectrum financial management including group consolidation for ACCL and all entities under I&E.
• Strengthen corporate governance, internal controls, and financial accountability across the ecosystem.
• Ensure that public funds and research budgets are managed responsibly, in line with audit, regulatory, and statutory requirements.
• Serve as the finance lead for new ventures, providing financial frameworks, operational set-up guidance, and process structure.
• Liaise with Internal Auditors/External Auditors/Banks/etc.

Business Partnering & Stakeholder Management

• Act as an effective partner to senior management, I&E leadership, National Platform Coordinating Office (NPCO), and divisional heads by providing holistic, data-driven insights from both grantor and grantee perspectives to influence decisions on funding strategies, programme delivery, and commercialisation pathways.

Financial and Management Reporting

• Lead the preparation and review of monthly management accounts and performance dashboards.
• Oversee month-end and year-end closing, statutory accounts, annual audits, and compliance reporting.
• Ensure accuracy and timely submission of corporate tax, GST, withholding tax, and statutory returns.

Grant Governance, Accountability & Compliance

• Strengthen end-to-end grant management processes, ensuring strict adherence to grant terms and funding rules.
• Oversee the review, verification and timely processing of Fund Requests (FRs) and Final Statements of Account (FSOAs) for both grantees and A*STAR submissions.
• Ensure alignment with cashflow timelines, accurate grant utilisation reporting, and timely fund disbursements.
• Partner with divisions to track grant balances, sustainability, and utilisation trends.

Budgeting, Forecasting & Long-Term Planning

• Lead the full annual budgeting cycle, mid-year reviews, and multi-year planning across research entities.
• Consolidate divisional budgets and present to senior leadership, Board-EXCO, and A*STAR Board.
• Assess financial sustainability across multiple funding sources, highlight critical issues early, and recommend mitigation strategies.
• Support the 5-year RIE tranche planning, including coordination with divisions and alignment with national research priorities.

Digital Transformation & ERP Implementation

• Drive the implementation of the new ERP system, ensuring robust financial processes, data integrity, and stakeholder readiness.
• Lead finance digitalisation initiatives such as workflow automation, data analytics adoption, and dashboard integration.
• Champion process re-engineering and continuous improvement to boost operational efficiency and transparency.

Internal Controls, Audit & Risk Management

• Review and update financial policies, procedures and guidelines to maintain strong internal controls.
• Manage end-to-end internal and external audit engagements, including AGO, statutory auditors, and grant auditors.
• Provide to staff on audit queries and ensure timely resolution of findings.

Whole-of-A*STAR Initiatives & Strategic Projects

• Lead or participate in cross-agency initiatives that enhance organisational effectiveness and financial governance.
• Represent the finance function in steering committees, workgroups, and policy-shaping platforms.
• Support strategic initiatives that align with A*STAR’s mission to advance science, innovation, and enterprise.

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, mentor and empower the HQ-RDF Finance Team responsible for I&E and ACCL, fostering a cohesive, high-performance culture.

Other Responsibilities

• Perform any other duties as assigned to support organisational objectives.

What We?re Looking For:

• Degree in Accountancy / ACCA qualified
• At least 10 years' experience in financial management, reporting, and governance
• Proven leadership, analytical, and stakeholder management skills
• Strong adaptability, attention to detail, and results orientation
• Experience with SAP and Tableau is a plus

Join us and be part of a mission-driven organisation that fuels Singapore’s research and enterprise ecosystem.

Together, let's shape innovation through financial stewardship and strategic insight.

Apply now and make your mark in advancing science, technology, and enterprise excellence.