Senior Manager / Manager (Resource Personnel) (Finance)

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 recognized by many accountancy organizations: ISCA, ACCA, CPA Australia, and ICAEW. It reaffirms our commitment to excellence in professional development, and to fostering the growth of our employees in the field of Finance and Accounting.

The Research Entity (RE) receives competitive grant awards as part of its overall funding.

The role of the Resource Personnel is to support the Research Entity / Principal Investigators (PIs) in managing the processes related to the management of the grant including budgeting, proper cost allocation and charging, making quarterly projections, making grants requisition, liaising with auditor of the grant, and submitting the requisite reports as required within the terms and conditions of the grants and reporting on the utilisation.

Key job scope includes

Grant Management

• Budgeting of required manpower cost (EOM) based on the inputs by the PIs and ensuring the usage of correct EOM rate for grant proposals
• Checking of budget and headcount availability of manpower requisition for staff to be hired for the project
• Monthly checks with PI on the names of staff and percentage of time spent on a project
• Update SAP to ensure that specific staff cost is right charged after checking against the budget and headcount items specified in the grants award
• Monitor and track the actual FTE headcount hired/EOM spent vs budget for each project
• Review charging information to ensure postings are done correctly and make corrective action in event of wrong charging
• Ensure proper allocation of bonuses to projects
• Monitor the actual grant usage, alert PI when grant balance runs low and take necessary action

Fund Requisition and Final Statement of Accounts

• To make accurate and timely submission of required Fund Requisitions and Final Statement of Accounts
• Project manpower utilisation in Fund Requisitions
• Ensure that the financial accounts are reconciled with the fund requisitions
• Review the grant expenditure to be submitted and anticipate the common issues raised by the grantors and have them addressed before submitting the grant requisition for a faster reimbursement
• Explain the variances, reclassifications made

Grant audit:

• Support the audit of the grants such as providing documentary evidence to the auditor support the manpower expenditure, explain variances, address the auditor?s queries

Reporting:

• Extract information and provide trend / statistical analysis for reporting
• Propose improvements to policy, procedures
• Other duties as may be assigned
• Open to Singaporeans and Singapore Permanent Residents (PRs)
  

Job requirements:

• Educational background in Business Administration/Finance
• 1 to 2 years of experience in resource or grant management would be advantageous
• Good interpersonal and communication skills
• Able to work independently and as a team
• Strong Excel skills with a keen eye for details
• Experience in SAP will be an advantage