Job Purpose

Leadership of UGS Finance & Administration function, encompassing planning, management reporting, financial systems and transactional support ensuring the financial performance, integrity and long-term viability of the organisation.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1. Responsible for the provision of operational leadership to UGS in a manner that facilitates the achievement of its strategic objectives, including specialist financial expertise and advice.

Responsibilities include:

Delivery of the financial elements of the Strategic Plan. Formulate budgets for the Director & Management Team's consideration. Operate as a key member of the local Management team to drive the growth of the Company.
Ensure transactional support is delivered in an efficient and effective manner. The role has the potential for further expansion to include financial oversight of the University of Glasgow’s activities in SE Asia and Asia. As a result, some limited travel in SE Asia, Asia and the UK may be involved in the role.

2. Responsible for financial systems and operational management of the finance and administration functions including: Providing a full range of financial services including all transactions and processing activities relating to payables, receivables, cash and banking, ensuring transactions are processed in a timely and accurate manner.
Preparation of the quarterly goods and services tax (GST) return. Ensure all reconciliations and suspense accounts are reviewed and reconciled monthly. Ensure that procedures are in place so that all invoices are paid according to supplier terms and all issues are dealt with appropriately.
Ensure that outstanding debt is identified promptly and dealt with appropriately.

Acts as the main point of contact locally for all employment matters related to UGS.

3. Responsible for the implementation & maintenance of financial procedures and controls to ensure compliance with current legislation, Glasgow University Policy, and relevant Accounting Standards.

4. Financial risk management including: Preparation of the annual budget, to identify, evaluate and manage financial risk, in conjunction with the Director of UGS and in consultation with Finance team in Glasgow. Production of accounts in both monthly management & annual statutory formats, for consolidation within the published accounts of Glasgow University. Identification of budget variances and proactive in providing solutions to the management team enabling effective budgetary control.
Ensure that any research or commercial opportunities are robustly evaluated and that sound financial advice is provided to colleagues, the Director and UGS Management Team.

5. Management of third party service contracts:

Manage third party payroll providers to ensure that payroll costs are accurately and promptly processed and that any relevant external returns are filed promptly and accurately. Manage third party tax advisers to ensure that tax returns are accurately and promptly processed.

6. Responsible for the cradle to grave financial management of all research and commercial projects: Responsible for effective project evaluation and subsequent financial management ensuring delivery in line with budget.
Develop pricing strategies for research and commercial work. Advising and supporting UGS staff with price negotiations on research and commercial projects participating in those negotiations as appropriate.

Ensure research and commercial contracts are administered in accordance with the terms and conditions of external funding bodies. Work in conjunction with the Research Support Office in Glasgow University to ensure that internal policies on the management of research and commercial activities are observed.

7. To operationally manage the administrative staff in UGS by ensuring that the support functions and structures underpin an effective and efficient delivery of the company’s strategic aim of delivering a high quality student experience. This will involve liaison with the School of Engineering, the School of Computing Science and the School of Nursing at the University of Glasgow.

8. Other responsibilities & duties include: Preparation of a complete Audit file and annual accounts in a statutory format.
Liaise with Glasgow University with respect to consolidation of financial statements & Audit inspection Manage & maintain excellent relationships with Auditors, Banks, Research Funders, partner Universities and other stakeholders. Deal with highly sensitive strategic issues in a professional manner observing confidentiality Provision of financial and administrative advice to all staff with respect to UGS and Glasgow University's Policies.

9. Perform the above duties with a higher degree of independence, leadership and responsibility.

10. Manage and oversee all general and operational administration within UGS by working closely with the UGS Director and the Director of People and OD Operations.

11. Direct supervision of the UGS Learning and Teaching Administrators ensuring that all aspects of people management, development and review are in place across the team.

12. The role holder will be expected to have continuing engagement in developing their professional capability.

13. The role holder will contribute to the enhancement of the University’s international profile in line with the Internationalisation objective of enhancing our global reputation and partnership development.

Knowledge, Qualifications, Skills and Experience

Knowledge/Qualifications

Essential:

A1 Qualified to degree standard.

A2 Chartered Accountant or equivalent.

A3 Comprehensive knowledge of business processes, management information systems and value drivers of management accounting.

A4 Comprehensive up-to-date knowledge of relevant Singaporean governance including but not limited to the Ministries of Manpower and Finance.

Desirable:

B1 Knowledge of relevant Singapore employment & financial law and regulations.

Skills

Essential:

C1 An ability to add rigour to business decisions through active business partnership and the application of well-established tools and techniques.

C2 Strong analytical and data interrogation skills.
C3 Highly effective oral and written communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to challenge with diplomacy.

C4 Attention to detail.

C5 An ability to demystify complex financial concepts for non-financial colleagues.

C6 Effective team worker.

C7 Resilient and durable, able to maintain momentum in the face of obstacles and setbacks.

C8 Is able to prioritise and juggle competing demands from a variety of stakeholders.

C9 Advanced skills in the use of Microsoft packages such as Excel, Word, Access, PowerPoint and accounting software packages.

C10 Significant leadership and management skills relevant to a financial setting.

Experience

Essential:

E1 Significant post-qualification financial and management accounting experience.

E2 Successful track record of working with non-financial managers to drive improvements in financial analysis leading to additional insight and improved decision-making.

E3 Track record of developing business cases with non-finance professionals.

E4 Track record of managing budgeting and strategic planning within a complex environment.

E5 Proven experience of working as part of a multidisciplinary team.

E6 Experience of working within a matrix organisational structure.

E7 Experience of staff supervision in a financial setting.

E8 Significant practical experience of using computerised financial systems.

Terms and Conditions

Salary will be Grade 8, (Singapore Dollars) SGD101,352 - SGD132,902 per annum. Salary will be commensurate with experience and agreed on appointment.

This post is full time (35 hours p/w) and open ended.

The successful candidate will be employed by UGlasgow Singapore Pte Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of the University of Glasgow.

Closing date: 8 April 2026

The University of Glasgow has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK. If you require a Skilled Worker visa to work in the UK, you will be required to meet the eligibility requirements of the visa route to be assigned a Certificate of Sponsorship.
Please note that this post may be eligible to be sponsored under the Skilled Worker visa route if tradeable points can be used under the Skilled Worker visa rules. For more information please visit: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa.

As a valued member of our team, you can expect: 

1 A warm welcoming and engaging organisational culture, where your talents are developed and nurtured, and success is celebrated and shared.

2 An excellent employment package with generous terms and conditions including 41 days of leave for full time staff, pension - pensions handbook https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/payandpensions/pensions/, benefits and discount packages.

3 A flexible approach to working.

4 A commitment to support your health and wellbeing, including a free 6-month UofG Sport membership for all new staff joining the University  https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/staff/healthwellbeing/.

We believe that we can only reach our full potential through the talents of all. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values. Applications are particularly welcome from across our communities and in particular people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and other protected characteristics who are under-represented within the University. Read more on how the University promotes and embeds all aspects of equality and diversity within our community https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/.

We endorse the principles of Athena Swan https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/athenaswan/ and hold bronze, silver and gold awards across the University.

We are investing in our organisation, and we will invest in you too. Please visit our website https://www.gla.ac.uk/explore/jobs/ for more information.