Finance and Human Resources Manager

Earth & Life Symbio · Organization Builder Program · Singapore (Remote), with regional travel across Southeast Asia and East Asia

Position Overview Position Title: Finance and Human Resources Manager Classification: Strategic Leadership / Senior Management Location: Singapore (Remote), with regional travel across Southeast Asia and East Asia Reporting Structure: Reports to the Executive Director; maintains a functional reporting line to the Board Direct Reports: Finance staff, Operations/HR Administrator, Compliance Officer (structure to scale with organisational growth) Salary range: Singapore Dollar$ 7,500 - 9,300 Duration of contract. One year with possible extension About Earth & Life Symbio Earth & Life Symbio is an impact-driven non-profit registered in Singapore as a Company Limited by Guarantee, with an expanding presence in East Asia. The organisation convenes leaders from business, policy, and civil society to advance sustainable development and climate resilience, with a primary mandate to accelerate systemic decarbonisation and strengthen supply-chain accountability across high-impact sectors, including energy transitions, the auto/EV value chain, and steel and industrial decarbonisation. This work is pursued alongside the protection of nature, biodiversity, and ecosystems in key sourcing regions across Southeast Asia And Asia, in support of a just transition. Asia SIF is a sister organization of Earth & Life Symbio, and once fully established the post holder will support its development and integration of finance and operational systems. 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 Organization Builder Program, designed to help climate civil society organizations (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 organization 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.

Required Qualifications and Experience 1.Education & Certification : Bachelor's degree in Accountancy, Finance, Business Administration, Human Resource Management, Organizational Psychology or a related field. Professional certification highly desirable (e.g. CA Singapore, CPA, ACCA, or equivalent). 2.Non-Profit Financial/HR Leadership : 10 years' financial/HR management experience, including at least 5 years in a leadership role within a non-profit, foundation, or mission-driven organisation. Working knowledge of Singapore non-profit fund accounting and reporting practices; charity/IPC accounting experience an advantage. 3.Singapore Compliance : Experience coordinating statutory filings with ACRA and IRAS. Practical experience as a Data Protection Officer or managing PDPA compliance. 4.Grant & Donor Administration : Track record of managing institutional or philanthropic grant funding, including donor reporting and compliance requirements. 5.Regional & Cross-Border Capacity : Experience managing finance and operations across more than one Asian jurisdiction. Familiarity with cross-border remittance controls, prior experience with China an advantage. 6.Digital & Systems Experience : Experience managing Xero Accounting systems strongly preferred. Comfort deploying process automation and AI-assisted financial tools is desirable. Personal Characteristics and Competencies

Growth mindset and adaptability – comfortable balancing strategic vision with hands-on execution in a resource-constrained, growth-stage environment.
Proactive problem-solving – takes initiative to build internal systems and capacity from an early base.
Humility – self-reliant, yet willing to ask questions and seek guidance when navigating unfamiliar regulatory terrain.
Cross-cultural intelligence – able to build trust across Singapore, Southeast Asian, and East Asian stakeholders.
Rigorous attention to detail – sustains accuracy under compliance and reporting deadlines.
Language skills – Professional proficiency in English as a working language.
Professional proficiency in Mandarin or Bahasa Indonesia is highly desirable, given the organisation's regional programme footprint.

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I confirm my CV does not include my photo, religion, gender, or name. * Why us, why you? — In a few paragraphs, tell us why you're excited about this role and what makes you a good fit (200–300 words). * Can you work in Singapore? Please note that we are currently unable to support or apply for Work Permits for this role

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Do you hold a bachelor's degree in Accountancy, Finance, Business Administration, Human Resource Management, Organizational Psychology or a related field?

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Have you spent at least 5 years in a financial or HR leadership role within a non-profit, foundation, or mission-driven organisation?

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Describe your experience managing finance and operations. Please also indicate which accounting and operational systems have you managed (e.g. Xero, ERP, CRM). Tell us about your experience overseeing core HR functions (recruitment, payroll administration, performance frameworks) and leading or mentoring a finance/HR/administrative team. Describe your experience with Singapore non-profit financial management: fund accounting (restricted / unrestricted / programme funds), reporting under Charities Accounting Standards, the annual audit process, and statutory filings with ACRA and IRAS. If you have charity or IPC accounting experience, please say so. Tell us about your track record administering institutional or philanthropic grant funding (foundations, multilateral climate funds, corporate partners). If you do not have direct experience, tell us how you approach learning new professional skills and provide a relevant example. Where are you currently based? This role is Singapore-based (remote) with regional travel across Southeast and East Asia. Your salary expectations (SGD per month) and your earliest possible start date. Anything else you'd like us to know? I consent to my personal data being collected and processed for this recruitment process, in line with applicable data protection laws. My data is stored on a secure, access-controlled server, kept confidential, shared only with the selection team and program administrators, and deleted when no longer needed. *