Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
REFERENCE
Timeline
Generic

Devangana Thakur

Sydney,NSW

Summary

Accomplished finance and operations professional with a strong track record at the University of New South Wales, delivering excellence in financial reporting, strategic analysis, and research finance management. Recognized for driving cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder engagement while leveraging advanced data analytics and Excel expertise to ensure compliance and optimize operational performance. Known for a proactive, solutions-focused approach to process improvement, with a commitment to delivering high-impact outcomes in complex, fast-paced environments.

Overview

11
11
years of professional experience

Work History

CENTRE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER

UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES (UNSW)
10.2024 - Current
  • Partner closely with Centre leadership to implement operational strategies, drive policy compliance, and support business improvement initiatives across administrative and financial functions.
  • Lead budgeting and financial administration processes, including forecasting, expenditure tracking, and quarterly reporting to ensure sound financial governance.
  • Support research teams in developing proposal budgets using the UNSW pricing tool; coordinate with RGC and Research Finance across the research lifecycle—from project initiation to closure and fund reconciliation.
  • Manage and execute Centre-led events from end to end, including logistics, communications, stakeholder engagement, vendor coordination, and budget management.
  • Partner with the marketing team to plan promotional strategies for events, track attendance and engagement metrics, and evaluate success to inform future initiatives.
  • Oversee end-to-end asset and resource management, including procurement lifecycle, technology infrastructure readiness, and workforce onboarding; maintain operational continuity through strategic oversight of digital platforms.
  • Serve as a key point of contact for internal and external stakeholders, providing high-level administrative support, ensuring compliance, and facilitating seamless coordination across HR, Finance, and research support teams.
  • Oversee WHS compliance and asset tracking to support a productive and safe work environment.

RESEARCH & REVENUE ACCOUNTANT

UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES (UNSW)
11.2021 - 10.2024
  • Maintaining in-depth understanding of research funding, including compliance requirements, spending time frames and allowable expenditure, to proactively identify, mitigate and manage compliance risks.
  • Supporting Researchers by assisting with and delivering on many of the administrational components of research funding, in accordance with contractual obligations with agreed schedules, resolving discrepancies in timing/amount of funds received, distributing funds to appropriate projects, processing payment requests, raising invoices, recording and reconciling accounting transactions, and preparing financial statements, to ensure financials and expenditure is accurately recorded and in compliance with funding requirements. Ensuring financial reporting is accurate and compliant with grantor contractual requirements and accounting standards.
  • Monitoring the utilization of research funds and conducting analyses to mitigate financial risks. I also escalate any issues, risks, or compliance breaches to the Manager of Research Finance Services and collaborate with researchers to mitigate these risks.
  • Leveraging strong communication skills to interpret funding contracts and convey project budget information in a clear and meaningful way to non-finance stakeholders, such as researchers, to improve financial management and reduce non-compliance risks.
  • Develop and maintain an in-depth understanding of accounting policy/procedures and regulations, including the activities and operational duties performed within the scope of Research Accountants position, and the broader Finance/University to ensure end to end operational processes are carried out smoothly and risk of non-compliance is minimized.
  • Collaborating closely with School/Centre Managers to review research projects, identify financial opportunities, assess risks and compliance issues, and contribute to the development of contingency plans. This proactive approach helps minimize compliance risks.
  • Consistently producing and delivering research-related financial information that meets the requirements of granting bodies and industry partners, while also promptly resolving complex financial issues.
  • Assisting non-finance executives in understanding financial principles for managing research funds, tailoring my support to meet the specific needs and requirements of schools.
  • Providing training and support to my peers, contributing to a collaborative and knowledgeable team environment.

FINANCE SERVICES OFFICER

UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES (UNSW)
05.2021 - 11.2021
  • Performed broad financial administration duties, including raising purchase orders, billing, receipting, month end
    activities, journals and routine reporting ensuring accuracy and data integrity and monitoring for compliance with
    financial control framework, relevant policies, and funding guidelines.
  • Built and maintained strong working relationships with customers and provided appropriate guidance, advice, and support on purchasing processes, policies, and systems.
  • Supported and embedded continuous improvement of finance processes through championing change and
    seeking feedback.
  • Provided reliable, efficient, and effective customer service, ensuring timely and professional communication.
  • Fostered collaborative and productive working relationships with colleagues across finance to support effective and accurate service delivery for customers.

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE OFFICER

UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES (UNSW)
09.2017 - 05.2021
  • Verified, classified, computed, posted and recorded accounts payable data and reconciled monthly statements and transactions to keep records accurate and current.
  • Vendor masterfile management, with the approval of the Team Leader, whilst ensuring that all information is reviewed and checked, to ensure adherence to sound data management practices.
  • Performed daily, weekly and monthly reporting duties to minimize duplicate payments, eliminate duplicate vendors and maintain the vendor approval process.
  • Collaborated extensively with auditors during preliminary and year-end audit processes.
  • Liaised and collaborated with a wide range of stakeholders to acquire expense data at the end of each year, resolve user-reported purchase and payment system issues, and give technical and troubleshooting support.
  • Assisted with vendor process mapping and performed all testing in order to effectively implement robotics for vendor maintenance, as well as liaising with IT on a daily basis to enhance and resolve issues.
  • Assisted in the development, testing, and refinement of the EFTSure procedure for third-party bank verification.
  • Demonstrated well developed communication, customer service, interpersonal, and collaboration skills.

ACCOUNTING OFFICER AND COST ACCOUNTANT

JEWEL FINE FOODS (now acquired by COLES)
06.2015 - 09.2017
  • Managed costs, inventory, and metrics across the business by developing and maintaining a costing model and
    standard costings in the system.
  • Calculated, reviewed, and ensured accuracy in standard costs including review of purchase price variance and
    production variance.
  • Supported daily costing processes and annual standard cost settings along with stock revaluation analysis and processing.
  • Regular liaison with key stakeholders of the business and provided direct input with continuous assessment of operational needs across the enterprise and participated in development and direction of the business.
  • Ensuring compliance of all financial controls are followed including inventory management and cycle counts.
  • Performed variance analysis and report monthly on budget to actuals.
  • Coordinate with business & operations regular physical inventory count and physical fixed asset count.
  • Prepared monthly, quarterly and year-end closing statements and associated reports.
  • Utilized financial data to advise company management regarding appropriate costing.
  • Processed high volumes of invoices, credit notes, supplier statements, and employee/credit card expense
    reconciliations, adhering to payment terms. Managed reimbursement of travel expenses and settlement of travel accounts. Oversaw pay cycles for casual labor and small value suppliers, ensuring weekly and fortnightly payments.
  • Coordinated with internal departments to address invoicing and collections queries, managing potential doubtful
    debts, and resolving outstanding debts with clients. Conducted receipting and collections processing. Identified process inefficiencies, developed actionable improvements, and presented findings to management. Prepared
    monthly and year-end closing statements, financial documents, and invoices. Conducted bank reconciliations, including PayPal, and investigated and resolved discrepancies in monthly bank accounts.

FINANCE ANALYST

AMERICAN EXPRESS
01.2014 - 12.2014
  • Reviewed and analyzed the financial statements and current financial performances against past and current financial reports and data.
  • Analyzed financial data to identify trends, patterns and strategies.
  • Compiled analytical data into reports.
  • Monitored and analyzed key performance indicators and financial ratios.
  • Executed and reported variance and gap analysis.
  • Risk Analysis of the corporate client to assess the credit worthiness.

Education

MASTER OF COMMERCE (Hons) -

University of Delhi
05.2017

ICMAI – Cost & Management Accountant (Intermediate) -

The Institute of Cost Accountants of India
12.2013

BACHELOR OF COMMERCE (Hons) -

University of Delhi
06.2012

Skills

  • Expertise in financial reporting, variance analysis, and strategic insights generation
  • Skilled in research finance operations, accounts payable/receivable, and procurement
  • Advanced Excel user with strong data analysis and reporting capabilities
  • Strong analytical mindset with meticulous attention to financial and operational detail
  • Effective time management and problem-solving skills in high-demand environments
  • Clear and professional communicator with strong interpersonal and collaboration abilities
  • Proven stakeholder management and cross-functional coordination experience
  • Strategic thinker with a process improvement mindset and initiative-driven approach
  • Strong planning and organizational skills with a focus on delivering results
  • Proficient in ERP systems including PeopleSoft, MYOB, Sage, and Microsoft Dynamics GP

REFERENCE

Available on request.

Timeline

CENTRE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER

UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES (UNSW)
10.2024 - Current

RESEARCH & REVENUE ACCOUNTANT

UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES (UNSW)
11.2021 - 10.2024

FINANCE SERVICES OFFICER

UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES (UNSW)
05.2021 - 11.2021

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE OFFICER

UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES (UNSW)
09.2017 - 05.2021

ACCOUNTING OFFICER AND COST ACCOUNTANT

JEWEL FINE FOODS (now acquired by COLES)
06.2015 - 09.2017

FINANCE ANALYST

AMERICAN EXPRESS
01.2014 - 12.2014

MASTER OF COMMERCE (Hons) -

University of Delhi

ICMAI – Cost & Management Accountant (Intermediate) -

The Institute of Cost Accountants of India

BACHELOR OF COMMERCE (Hons) -

University of Delhi

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Devangana Thakur