Finance and Human Resources Manager

Position Purpose

The Finance and Human Resources Manager provides strategic financial leadership and operational oversight to ensure the sustainability, compliance, and controlled growth of Earth & Life Symbio as it establishes its Singapore headquarters and expands into East Asia. The position manages and implements financial planning, budgeting, statutory compliance, human resources, data protection, and IT infrastructure, and partners closely with the Executive Director and the Board to translate strategic priorities into robust operational plans that uphold the highest standards of financial governance and public trust.This role is part of the Organisation Builder Program, designed to help climate civil society organisations (CSOs) scale their impact by building essential operational capacity. The program directly solves operational bottlenecks faced by many climate CSO leaders by recruiting experienced, strategic operations experts into CSOs to build the systems, processes, and governance necessary for sustainable growth.To support your transition into the climate sector, and in addition to the role, the program provides structured climate education, mentorship and coaching, and a strong peer network. Ultimately, this role serves as your launchpad for a long-term career in the climate sector.

Key Accountabilities

Financial Strategy and Stewardship

• Direct and implement financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and resource allocation in alignment with the organisation's mission and strategic plan.
• Establish fund accounting practices appropriate to a Singapore-registered non-profit, maintaining clear separation of restricted, unrestricted, and programme-specific funds.
• Prepare financial statements and disclosures for Board review and statutory filing on Charities Accounting Standards.
• Principal liaison to the Board Finance and Audit Committee, providing data-driven financial reports, and recommendations.
• Manage financial operations, cash-flow management, the annual audit process and filing of accounts with ACRA and IRAS.

Domestic and Regional Operations

• Select and oversee core financial and operational systems appropriate to the organisation's current scale, with a roadmap for ERP and CRM integration.
• Implement workflow to streamline accounts payable, expense management, and administrative approvals.
• Design and implement financial, legal, and administrative operations of regional offices as the organisation's presence develops.
• Manage international remittances and cross-border payments in compliance with Singapore's Payment Services Act, MAS AML/CFT requirements, and destination-country capital controls.

People Management and Cross-Cultural Leadership

• Provide leadership, mentoring, and professional development to the finance, HR, and administrative team.
• Support cross-cultural collaboration between the Singapore headquarters and regional/country contacts as the organisation's Southeast and East Asia presence develops, with specific experience working with teams in China and Indonesia.
• Oversee core HR functions, including recruitment, payroll administration, and performance frameworks.
• Formulate procurement guidelines and manage contracts for international consultants and regional partners in Southeast and East Asia, ensuring compliance with local withholding tax, employment regulations, and organisation culture.

Grant, Donor, and Programme Fund Administration

• Financial administration of programme funding from foundations, multilateral climate funds, and corporate/private-sector partners across all programmes.
• Establish segregated accounting codes to track programme income and expenditure in compliance with donor agreements.
• Maintain documentation – grant agreements, disbursement records, and audit files – to the retention standards required for public and donor audits.

Regulatory Compliance, Risk, and Data Protection

• Ensure adherence to the Companies Act and all regulatory requirements applicable to a Singapore Company Limited by Guarantee, including any obligations that include charity or IPC registration.
• Serve as Data Protection Officer under the PDPA 2012, maintaining data protection policies, access controls, and breach-notification readiness across donor, partner, and staff data.
• Maintain an Enterprise Risk Management register and internal controls to safeguard assets and support the organisation's public credibility as a multi-stakeholder convenor.
• Coordinate governance disclosures and reporting required of Singapore non-profits, scaling processes as the organisation grows.