Manager, Corporate Services, SUTD Academy (Contract)

SUTD (Singapore University of Technology & Design); Singapore; On-site; SGD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

SUTD Academy is seeking a senior finance operations leader for the Corporate Services Unit. You will oversee financial administration, funding management, and governance for CET activities, ensuring accurate reporting and robust controls.

You will drive system enhancements and collaborate across Finance, Ops-Tech, and programme teams to enable scalable growth. You will lead a team, manage stakeholder communications, and spearhead process improvements in funding administration and financial

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration or related discipline.
• 8–10 years in finance operations, corporate services, financial administration or related functions, including supervisory experience.
• Strong hands-on experience in financial operations, reconciliation, management reporting and internal controls.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and handling large financial datasets.
• Experience with ERP and enterprise systems; knowledge of CET funding administrations is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Lead CSU day-to-day operations including billing, collections, receivables and payables.
• Oversee CET financial and management reporting, including I&E, revenue and expenditure monitoring.
• Support budgeting, forecasting, cash-flow planning and variance analysis.
• Oversee CET funding administration, including SWDA claims, TPGateway submissions and audits.
• Ensure transactions reconciled across TMS/iLEAP, SAP and other records with proper documentation.
• Establish and maintain financial and operational controls and audit trails.
• Champion use and improvement of systems supporting CSU operations and end-to-end workflows.
• Identify opportunities to streamline processes and reduce manual work.
• Lead and develop CSU team, setting priorities and service standards.

Skills

Financial operations

Analytical skills

Excel proficiency

ERP / enterprise systems

System implementation & automation

Stakeholder management

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance/Accounting/Business Administration

Tools

SAP

TMS/iLEAP

TPGateway

Job description

This role will lead SUTD Academy's Corporate Services Unit (CSU), overseeing financial operations, funding administration, reconciliation, management reporting, governance and operational controls for the Academy's Continuing Education and Training (CET) activities.

The selected candidate will ensure the accuracy and timeliness of financial and operational information, maintain effective controls, and drive system and process improvements. They will also lead the CSU team and work closely with Finance, Ops-Tech, programme teams and other stakeholders to strengthen operational efficiency and support the Academy's growth.

What You'll Do

• Lead the day-to-day operations of CSU, including billing, collections, receivables, payables, reconciliation and related financial administration.
• Oversee CET financial and management reporting, including Income & Expenditure (I&E) reporting, revenue and expenditure monitoring, accruals and relevant revenue or profit-sharing computations.
• Support budgeting, forecasting, cash-flow planning and variance analysis, and provide management with timely insights on financial performance, risks and outstanding matters.
• Oversee CET funding administration, including SWDA claims, TPGateway submissions, funding reconciliation, reporting and audit requirements.
• Ensure financial and operational transactions across TMS/iLEAP, SAP, TPGateway and other relevant records are accurately reconciled and supported by proper documentation.
• Investigate discrepancies and exceptions, identify root causes and work with relevant stakeholders to ensure timely resolution.
• Establish and maintain appropriate financial and operational controls, clear audit trails and effective exception-management processes.
• Ensure compliance with relevant university policies, financial procedures, funding requirements and regulatory obligations, and coordinate internal and external audit requirements.
• Champion effective use and continuous improvement of systems supporting CSU operations, working with Ops-Tech, Finance, IT/vendors and programme teams to improve end-to-end workflows.
• Identify opportunities to streamline and automate processes, reduce unnecessary manual work and duplicate data entry, and improve data integrity and management reporting.
• Support system enhancements through process mapping, requirements gathering, testing/UAT, implementation and user adoption.
• Periodically review processes, SOPs and controls and implement sustainable improvements to strengthen operational effectiveness and scalability.
• Lead and develop the CSU team by establishing clear priorities, responsibilities and service standards, while building capability and cross-coverage of critical functions.
• Partner with internal and external stakeholders to resolve financial, funding, system and operational matters and support Academy-wide improvement initiatives.

Who We Are Looking For

• A bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration or a related discipline.
• Preferably 8-10 years of relevant experience in finance operations, corporate services, financial administration or related functions, including supervisory or team leadership experience.
• Strong hands-on experience in financial operations, reconciliation, management reporting and internal controls.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to investigate discrepancies, identify root causes and follow issues through to resolution.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel and confidence working with large or complex financial and operational datasets.
• Experience with ERP, Training Management Systems or other enterprise operational systems.
• Experience in system implementation, process redesign, automation or digital improvement initiatives would be advantageous.
• Experience in CET operations, SWDA funding administrations, TPGateway or government-funded programmes would be advantageous.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively across Finance, programme teams, management, government agencies, vendors and other stakeholders.
• Meticulous and control-conscious, with a strong focus on accuracy, traceability and audit readiness.
• Highly motivated and hands-on leader who takes ownership, develops the team and drives issues through to completion.
• Systems-oriented and improvement-focused, with the ability to identify inefficient processes and implement practical, sustainable solutions.
• Adaptable and comfortable working in a dynamic environment where systems, funding requirements and operational needs continue to evolve.