Manager, Workforce Planning & Cost Management (Contract)

Singapore Telecommunications Limited; Singapore; On-site; SGD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Singapore Telecommunications Limited is seeking a senior workforce planning and FP&A professional to lead manpower planning, staff cost forecasting, and budgeting across Singtel entities in Singapore. You will drive end-to-end planning cycles, ensure cost allocation governance, and deliver timely management reporting.

Responsibilities include managing AOP, data governance, and system integrity, while collaborating with Finance, People & Culture, and business leaders to provide strategic insights

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, HR, Accounting or related field.
• 5–7 years of relevant experience in workforce planning, FP&A, HR planning, budgeting, forecasting, or related field.
• Proven experience in annual operating budget planning, manpower planning, forecasting, and staff cost management in large/complex organizations.
• Strong financial and analytical capabilities including cost allocation, variance analysis, headcount trends, and management reporting.
• Experience with enterprise planning and reporting systems such as Tagetik, SAP BPC, SAP, Workday, Oracle or equivalent.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Power BI with ability to translate data into insights.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills; ability to partner with Finance, HR, and business leaders.
• Good understanding of governance, internal controls, data integrity, and operational risk management.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet tight deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Lead the preparation and management of the Annual Operating Plan for HR, including monthly manpower planning and staff cost forecasting.
• Manage end-to-end workforce planning cycles to align with business priorities and financial objectives.
• Oversee cost allocation methodologies across Singtel entities in Singapore.
• Deliver timely monthly reporting of manpower and staff costs to Management Committee.
• Provide insights on headcount trends and cost drivers to support strategic planning across budgeting cycles.
• Ensure reliability and integrity of manpower planning systems and data with governance standards.
• Oversee travel, BCP governance, and HR administration budgets and cost allocation.
• Lead stakeholder advisory and translate workforce data into actionable insights for decision-making.
• Drive continuous improvement in processes, tools, and governance frameworks.

Skills

Financial analysis

Excel

Power BI

Stakeholder management

Data governance

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, HR, Accounting

Professional certification in Finance, HR, Data Analytics, or Project Management

Tools

Tagetik

SAP BPC

SAP

Workday

Oracle

Job description

This role leads workforce planning and staff cost management, with responsibility for manpower planning, budgeting, forecasting, reporting, cost allocation and governance. Working closely with Finance, People & Culture and business leaders, the role provides strategic insights and strengthens planning processes to support informed workforce and business decisions.

Key Responsibilities

1. Planning & Forecasting

• Lead the preparation and management of the Annual Operating Plan (AOP) for HR, including monthly manpower planning and staff cost forecasting.

• Manage end-to-end workforce planning cycles, ensuring manpower and cost plans are aligned with overall business priorities and financial objectives.

2. Cost Management & Allocation

• Oversee and ensure effective cost allocation methodologies across Singtel entities in Singapore.

• Ensure consistency, transparency, and integrity in cost attribution, in line with financial governance principles and business requirements.

3. Reporting & Analysis

• Drive timely and accurate monthly reporting of manpower and staff costs to members of the Management Committee.

• Deliver insightful analysis on headcount trends, key cost drivers, and variances to support strategic decision-making and financial planning across the 6+6, 9+3, and AOP budgeting cycles.

4. Systems & Data Governance

• Ensure the reliability, accuracy, and integrity of manpower planning systems and data to support effective workforce planning and reporting.

• Establish and maintain robust system processes, controls, and data governance standards, ensuring consistency and compliance across planning and reporting activities.

• Oversee and manage pre-trip approval workflows and system update requests, ensuring efficient processing, appropriate controls, and timely resolution.

5. Administration & Governance

a) Corporate Business Travel & Business Continuity Planning (BCP) Governance.

• Oversee corporate travel services and BCP-related arrangements, including the management of key service providers such as International SOS for Singapore and PACE First for Australia.

• Establish and maintain governance and approval guidelines for pre-trip requests and travel-related expenses.

b) Annual Report & Group Sustainability Reporting

• Oversee the validation and consolidation of statistics for corporate reporting.

• Coordinate and consolidate MD&A reporting, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and timely submission.

c) HR Administration

• Manage HR admin budgets, cost allocation, variance analysis and procurement of staff-related benefits across Singtel entities in Singapore.

• Oversee administrative operations including HR assets management, personal files management and Corporate Mobile Phone budgeting and cost allocation.

6. Stakeholder Advisory & functional Leadership

• Serve as the functional lead for manpower and staff cost planning, providing subject matter expertise and advisory support to People & Culture, Finance, and key stakeholders.

• Translate workforce and cost data into actionable insights to support informed business decision-making.

• Drive continuous improvement in processes, tools and governance frameworks

7. Projects & Continuous Improvement

• Lead or support strategic projects and initiatives.

The ideal candidate should have/be:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Human Resources, Accounting, or a related discipline.
• At least 5-7 years of relevant experience in workforce planning, FP&A, HR planning, budgeting, forecasting, or a related field.
• Proven experience in annual operating budget planning, manpower planning, forecasting, and staff cost management within a large or complex organisation.
• Strong financial and analytical capabilities, including cost allocation, variance analysis, headcount trends, and management reporting.
• Experience with enterprise planning and reporting systems, such as Tagetik, SAP BPC, SAP, Workday, Oracle, or equivalent platforms.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Power BI, with the ability to analyse and translate data into actionable business insights.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills, with proven ability to partner with Finance, HR, and business leaders.
• Good understanding of governance, internal controls, data integrity, and operational risk management.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver within tight timelines.
• Professional certification in Finance, HR, Data Analytics, or Project Management would be an advantage.