SENIOR EXECUTIVE, ACCOUNT PAYABLE

Job Description:

• Manage the day-to-day operations of the Accounts Department, including Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Credit Control, and Financial Aid functions.
• Review and approve financial documents such as Payment Vouchers, Petty Cash claims and Refunds in accordance with approved limits and policies.
• Prepare financial reports, presentations, and slides for meetings as required by the Finance Manager, General Manager, and Chief Executive Officer.
• Participate in the development and review of fee structures for new programmes and fee revisions.
• Attend and provide financial input at key meetings, including Executive Management Committee (EMC), Academic Management Meetings (AMM), Student Engagement Committee Meetings (SECM), and new intake meetings.
• Identify training and development needs for team members to enhance competency and performance.
• Participate in finance system implementation and system enhancement projects (e.g., HITS, CMS Sky).
• Perform cash flow forecasting and monitor operational costs to support effective financial planning.
• Manage and monitor expenditure, implement cost control measures, and initiate corrective actions where necessary.
• Evaluate overall operational cost efficiency and provide strategic recommendations for improvement.
• Establish, review, and maintain accounting policies, procedures and internal controls to ensure compliance with regulatory and organisational requirements.
• Conduct periodic financial analysis and evaluations to identify cost reduction opportunities.
• Ensure timely preparation of monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports and management accounts.
• Handle banking matters, including confirmations for over-the-counter transactions (Finance and HR-related).
• Liaise with banks, external organisations, and potential partners/investors for financial matters and collaborations.
• Oversee student billing, collections, and financial aid disbursement to ensure accuracy and timeliness.
• Support budget preparation, monitoring, and variance analysis in collaboration with relevant departments.
• Bursary Function: Prepare financial evaluation papers/slides for endorsement from a finance perspective; liaise with the Registrar and relevant stakeholders during pre-EMC discussions on budget requests or financial allocations prior to tabling at EMC.
• Liaise with Internal Audit and Quality Assurance teams on audit matters, including ISO-related audits for the Finance Department, and ensure timely compliance with audit requirements, findings, and corrective actions.
• Perform any other duties as assigned from time to time.

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field. Professional qualification (e.g. ACCA, CIMA, CPA) is an added advantage.

Knowledge and Experiences:

• Minimum 4–5 years of relevant experience in finance and accounting, with exposure to full set of accounts, financial reporting, and operational finance (e.g. billing, collections, or credit control).
• Experience in higher education or service-based industries is an added advantage.
• Good interpersonal and negotiation skills Familiarity with university fee structures and academic billing cycles.

Skills & Competencies:

• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel (e.g. pivot tables, data analysis, basic modelling)
• Ability to manage full set of accounts independently
• Good understanding of financial operations, including billing cycles and cash flow management.

Technical skills required

• Receivable, General Ledger, and preparation of financial and management reports.
• Strong capability in budgeting, cash flow forecasting, cost control, and variance analysis to support financial planning and decision-making.
• Experienced in student finance operations, including billing, collections, credit control, and financial aid administration.
• Skilled in account reconciliations (bank, student accounts, sponsorships) and monitoring outstanding receivables, including debt recovery processes. Knowledgeable in finance systems (e.g., HITS, CMS Sky), audit processes (internal, external, ISO), and regulatory compliance requirements (e.g., SST, PDPA, institutional policies).

Special skills required

• Strong analytical skills with ability to interpret financial data and provide actionable insights
• Ability to analyse debtor ageing and implement effective collection strategies
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills across internal and external parties
• Experience preparing reports and presentations for management and committees
• High attention to detail and accuracy in financial reporting and compliance

Personal attributes

Detail-oriented with strong sense of accountability

Proactive and able to work independently in a fast-paced environment

Strong work ethics and ability to meet tight deadlines

Hands-on and willing to support operational finance activities

Ability to take ownership of financial processes and drive improvements in efficiency and controls.

Good understanding of financial impact on business performance, including margin, cost control, and revenue optimisation.