Senior Manager, Finance

Private Advertiser; Singapore; On-site; SGD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

An educational institution in Singapore seeks a Senior Manager, Finance to oversee financial operations, ensure compliance with Singapore regulations, and provide financial insights to support strategic decision-making. The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance, Chartered Accountant qualification and a minimum of 10 years in finance management, preferably in a school or non-profit environment. Strong leadership and analytical skills are essential, as well as a commitment to upholding the values of the institution.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of relevant experience in finance management.
• Strong knowledge of Singapore’s regulatory, tax, and accounting requirements.
• Experience in school, non-profit, or public-sector environments.

Responsibilities

• Manage all school financial matters and ensure compliance with regulations.
• Lead financial planning, budgeting, and forecasting.
• Prepare and present financial reports to school leaders and boards.

Skills

Leadership

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Problem-solving skills

Integrity

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business or equivalent

Chartered Accountant (Singapore) or equivalent

Job description

METHODIST GIRLS’ SCHOOL

Our School’s Motto: To Master. To Grow. To Serve.

We have opening for Senior Manager, Finance in Methodist Girls’ School Secondary and we invite candidates with positive attitude and willingness to serve to apply.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

Responsible for managing and overseeing all school financial matters, including day-to-day finance operations, budgeting, forecasting, financial assistance schemes to students, fixed asset management, policies, systems and finance reporting, to ensure they meet school strategic/operational objectives effectively and compliance with all relevant accounting standards, regulations according to MOE’s policies and statutory requirements.

1. Financial Strategy & Leadership
   1. Lead financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and long-term financial modelling.
   2. Provide strategic advice to the School Leaders and Board on financial sustainability, investment strategy, and risk management.
   3. Support and collaborate with School Leaders to provide financial insights, analysis and recommendations to support school strategic decision-making.
   4. Translate financial insights into actionable plans that support the school’s mission and priorities.
2. Financial Governance & Compliance
   1. Ensure compliance with Singapore’s regulatory requirements, including accounting standards, IRAS regulations, Charities Act, tax laws and regulations, and relevant government reporting. This includes serving as approver of quarterly GST submission to IRAS.
   2. Establish and maintain strong internal controls, financial policies, and procedures.
   3. Liaise with external auditors, regulators, and government agencies.
3. Financial Operations Oversight
   1. Oversee day-to-day financial operations, including accounts receivable/payable, procurement, treasury, and cash flow management.
   2. Supervise month-end and year-end closing, financial reporting, and audit preparation.
   3. Ensure accurate, timely, and transparent financial statements for management, Board, donors, and regulators.
4. Investment & Treasury Management
   1. Oversee investment portfolios in line with Board-approved strategies.
   2. Manage cash flow planning, bank relationships, and treasury functions.
   3. Review investment mandates, activation of accounts, and fund utilisation to ensure optimal financial stewardship.
5. Grants, Funds, and Donor Stewardship
   1. Oversee grant management, ensuring compliance with government agencies and funders.
   2. Ensure proper accounting of restricted and unrestricted funds.
   3. Responsible for school fundraising policies, to support/collaborate with School Leaders/staff on all fundraising activities and accounting/tax-exemption matters. Liaise with MOE charities branch / charity agencies on the rules and regulations governing fundraising matters.
   4. Liaise and coordinate with MOE Finance Division on matters related to school Capitation Grant income, and all related MOE financial grants.
   5. Liaise with approved MGS bankers to explore cost efficiencies in processing government grants and incentives.
   6. Provide financial reporting for grants, donors, and fundraising initiatives.
6. Financial Reporting to Governance Bodies
   1. Prepare and present financial reports to the School Leaders, Board and relevant committees (e.g. Finance Sub-committee and Investment Sub-committee).
   2. Liaise and coordinate MOE audit and Board initiated audit and to ensure submission of annual audited financial statements to the relevant authorities for the Full School.
7. Leadership (Middle Management) & Team Management
   1. Lead, mentor, and develop the Finance team to ensure high performance and professionalism.
   2. Strengthen cross-department collaboration on budgeting, procurement, operations, and programmes.
   3. Drive a culture of accountability, transparency, and service excellence.
   4. Responsible for presentation items on finance matter to the MGS Board of management, School-level briefing (e.g. teachers contact time and staff contact time) and other forums when required.
8. Other duties (not exhaustive list)
   1. Safety member in the school emergency organization.
   2. Attend and perform duties at school wide organized activities and events when required.
   3. Secretariat of MGS Finance Sub-committee and MGS Investment Sub-committee.
   4. Working secretariat for Middle Manager meeting when assigned.

REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business or equivalent.
• Chartered Accountant (Singapore) or equivalent professional qualification strongly preferred (CPA, ACCA, CA, etc.).
• Minimum 10 years of relevant experience.
• Experience in a school, non-profit, or public-sector environment is highly advantageous.
• Strong knowledge of Singapore’s regulatory, tax, and accounting requirements; familiarity with Charities Act, Code of Governance, and grant frameworks preferred.
• Proven ability to work with Boards, committees, auditors, and government agencies.

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES AND OTHERS

• Strong leadership, integrity, and excellent judgement.
• Mission-driven with a commitment to the organisation’s values.
• Strong analytical, organisational, and problem-solving skills.
• Collaborative, with clear and effective communication skills.
• Proactive, adaptable, and able to manage complexity under pressure.