This role leads workforce planning and staff cost management, with responsibility for manpower planning, budgeting, forecasting, reporting, cost allocation and governance. Working closely with Finance, People & Culture and business leaders, the role provides strategic insights and strengthens planning processes to support informed workforce and business decisions.
Key Responsibilities
1. Planning & Forecasting
- Lead the preparation and management of the Annual Operating Plan (AOP) for HR, including monthly manpower planning and staff cost forecasting.
- Manage end-to-end workforce planning cycles, ensuring manpower and cost plans are aligned with overall business priorities and financial objectives.
2. Cost Management & Allocation
- Oversee and ensure effective cost allocation methodologies across Singtel entities in Singapore.
- Ensure consistency, transparency, and integrity in cost attribution, in line with financial governance principles and business requirements.
3. Reporting & Analysis
- Drive timely and accurate monthly reporting of manpower and staff costs to members of the Management Committee.
- Deliver insightful analysis on headcount trends, key cost drivers, and variances to support strategic decision-making and financial planning across the 6+6, 9+3, and AOP budgeting cycles.
4. Systems & Data Governance
- Ensure the reliability, accuracy, and integrity of manpower planning systems and data to support effective workforce planning and reporting.
- Establish and maintain robust system processes, controls, and data governance standards, ensuring consistency and compliance across planning and reporting activities.
- Oversee and manage pre-trip approval workflows and system update requests, ensuring efficient processing, appropriate controls, and timely resolution.
5. Administration & Governance
a) Corporate Business Travel & Business Continuity Planning (BCP) Governance.
- Oversee corporate travel services and BCP-related arrangements, including the management of key service providers such as International SOS for Singapore and PACE First for Australia.
- Establish and maintain governance and approval guidelines for pre-trip requests and travel-related expenses.
b) Annual Report & Group Sustainability Reporting
- Oversee the validation and consolidation of statistics for corporate reporting.
- Coordinate and consolidate MD&A reporting, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and timely submission.
c) HR Administration
- Manage HR admin budgets, cost allocation, variance analysis and procurement of staff-related benefits across Singtel entities in Singapore.
- Oversee administrative operations including HR assets management, personal files management and Corporate Mobile Phone budgeting and cost allocation.
6. Stakeholder Advisory & functional Leadership
- Serve as the functional lead for manpower and staff cost planning, providing subject matter expertise and advisory support to People & Culture, Finance, and key stakeholders.
- Translate workforce and cost data into actionable insights to support informed business decision-making.
- Drive continuous improvement in processes, tools and governance frameworks
7. Projects & Continuous Improvement
- Lead or support strategic projects and initiatives.
The ideal candidate should have/be:
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Human Resources, Accounting, or a related discipline.
- At least 5–7 years of relevant experience in workforce planning, FP&A, HR planning, budgeting, forecasting, or a related field.
- Proven experience in annual operating budget planning, manpower planning, forecasting, and staff cost management within a large or complex organisation.
- Strong financial and analytical capabilities, including cost allocation, variance analysis, headcount trends, and management reporting.
- Experience with enterprise planning and reporting systems, such as Tagetik, SAP BPC, SAP, Workday, Oracle, or equivalent platforms.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Power BI, with the ability to analyse and translate data into actionable business insights.
- Strong stakeholder management and communication skills, with proven ability to partner with Finance, HR, and business leaders.
- Good understanding of governance, internal controls, data integrity, and operational risk management.
- Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver within tight timelines.
- Professional certification in Finance, HR, Data Analytics, or Project Management would be an advantage.
The Singtel Group is Asia's leading communications group, providing a wide spectrum of multimedia and infocomms technology (ICT) solutions across 3 global business units.
Group Consumer focuses on next-generation communication, infotainment and technology services to consumers and small businesses. Group Enterprise provides innovative and comprehensive ICT solutions, i.e. satellite services, international data and managed services, cloud computing, enterprise mobility services, and end-to-end solutions. Group Digital L!fe strives to bring people together with a cutting edge mix of digital services such as NextGen TV, e-books, music, digital concierge, cloud-based gaming and hyperlocal content.
Headquartered in Singapore, Singtel’s 130 years of operating experience has played a pivotal role in the country’s transformation into a major communications hub. Our Australian arm, Optus is an innovative leader in integrated telecommunications. Through our strategic investments in five regional mobile operators, Telkomsel, Globe Telecom, Advanced Info Service, PBTL, and Bharti Airtel, we are a major communications player in Asia and Africa.
Singtel is the largest listed company on the Singapore Exchange by market capitalisation. We have a vast network of offices in countries and territories throughout Asia Pacific, in Europe, USA and Australia. The Group employs more than 21,000 staff worldwide and has served 468 million mobile customers globally as of 31 March 2013.