Senior Assistant Director, Budgeting & Resource Management

A*STAR - Agency for Science, Technology and Research; Singapore; On-site; SGD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

A*STAR Research in Singapore seeks a Senior Assistant Director in FP&A to drive strategic financial planning, governance and cross‑functional coordination within a complex public‑sector research environment. You will partner with the CFO Office and finance teams to deliver data‑enabled insights, business cases and transformation initiatives, aligning resources with strategic priorities.

The role requires strong analytics, sound judgement and the ability to manage multiple workstreams and senior

Qualifications

• 7–10 years of FP&A, corporate finance, corporate strategy, transformation or finance chief‑of‑staff experience.
• Degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business or related discipline; professional accounting qualifications advantageous.
• Strong analytical, written and presentation skills for senior stakeholders.
• Proven ability to manage multiple workstreams and coordinate stakeholders.
• Experience in the public sector, research, technology or a large matrixed organisation would be advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Initiatives and Projects: support CFO-sponsored initiatives and finance transformation.
• Conduct financial analysis, develop business cases and assess trade-offs for new capabilities and major initiatives.
• Support finance automation and modernisation, including AI-enabled workflows, data analytics and reporting tools.
• Executive Secretariat and Governance: prepare materials for senior management, Board, EXCO and ministry engagements.
• Coordinate inputs across Finance functions to support timely decision‑making and implementation.
• Track progress against Finance priorities, KPIs and OKRs, highlighting risks and dependencies.
• Financial Strategy and Finance‑wide Coordination: assist in long‑term strategies and cross‑functional initiatives.
• Review governance requirements and change-management needs to improve efficiency and service delivery.

Skills

Analytical skills

Written communication

Presentation skills

Stakeholder management

Multi-tasking

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Finance/Accounting/Economics/Business

Job description

Role Purpose

As A*STAR embarks on the RIE2030 funding tranche and deploys its new digital ecosystem, the Finance function is evolving towards a more strategic and data-enabled advisory role.

Working closely with the CFO Office leadership and Finance teams, the Senior Assistant Director supports priority transformation initiatives, executive engagements and Finance-wide coordination. The role requires strong analytical ability, sound judgement and the ability to work effectively across a complex public-sector research environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Initiatives and Projects
• Support CFO-sponsored initiatives, including Finance transformation, operating-model reviews, process improvements and special projects.
• Conduct financial analysis, develop business cases and assess trade-offs for new capabilities, resource proposals and major initiatives.
• Support finance automation and modernisation efforts, including AI-enabled workflows, data analytics and management reporting tools.
• Executive Secretariat and Governance
• Prepare and coordinate presentation materials, papers and follow-up actions for senior-management, Board, EXCO and ministry/shareholder engagements.
• Coordinate inputs across Finance functions and stakeholders to support timely decision‑making and implementation.
• Track progress against Finance strategic priorities, KPIs and OKRs, and highlight key risks, dependencies and decisions for management attention.
• Financial Strategy and Finance‑wide Coordination
• Support CFO in developing long‑term financial strategies, enterprise resource‑allocation principles and cross‑functional initiatives.
• Review operational pain points, governance requirements and change‑management needs across Finance, and support initiatives that improve efficiency and service delivery.

Qualifications And Requirements

• At least 7 to 10 years of relevant experience in FP&A, corporate finance, corporate strategy, management consulting, transformation or a finance chief‑of‑staff role.
• Degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business or a related discipline. Professional accounting qualifications are advantageous.
• Strong analytical, written and presentation skills, with the ability to synthesise complex information for senior stakeholders.
• Proven ability to manage multiple workstreams, coordinate stakeholders and deliver independently in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience in the public sector, research, technology or a large matrixed organisation would be advantageous