Business Services Manager (Financial Operations)- NTI Operations

Position Overview

The Business Services Manager (Financial Operations) plays a pivotal role within NTI Operations, reporting directly to the Director of NTI Operations. This position is designed to lead and manage critical business services functions across NTI, ensuring seamless execution of procurement, contracting, financial operations, and revenue-related processes. The role is instrumental in maintaining operational excellence by aligning all activities with KAUST policies, institutional governance standards, and NTI’s strategic objectives. The successful candidate will serve as a strategic operational enabler, fostering structured processes, robust financial controls, and consistent service delivery to support NTI’s mission-driven initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

As the Business Services Manager, you will be responsible for the following core functions:

• Procure-to-Pay (P2P) Leadership – NTI Wide:
  • Lead the end-to-end procurement lifecycle across NTI, ensuring strict adherence to KAUST procurement policies and procedures.
  • Oversee requisitions, purchase orders, contract coordination, invoice validation, and payment follow-up in collaboration with central finance teams.
  • Ensure all procurement transactions are fully documented, approved, and comply with delegation of authority requirements.
  • Provide expert guidance to NTI units on procurement best practices, contract structuring, and vendor engagement strategies.
  • Monitor procurement cycle timelines and proactively identify opportunities for process optimization and efficiency gains.
  • Serve as the primary liaison between NTI units, central Procurement, Finance, and Legal teams to facilitate seamless execution of high-value and strategic procurements.
• Revenue Management – NTI:
  • Oversee NTI’s revenue management processes in coordination with relevant units and finance teams.
  • Ensure accurate tracking, recognition, and financial coding of revenue in SAP, in alignment with accounting principles.
  • Support the development and maintenance of revenue reporting dashboards to monitor performance and financial health.
  • Coordinate milestone tracking and financial validation for NTI projects and commercial engagements to ensure alignment between operational delivery and revenue recognition.
• Financial Operations:
  • Oversee NTI’s operational financial processes, including expense management, accrual coordination, and cost allocation.
  • Ensure all financial transactions are recorded accurately and comply with KAUST financial policies and regulatory requirements.
  • Collaborate with Finance Business Partners to support budget planning, expenditure monitoring, and financial forecasting across NTI.
  • Ensure proper utilization of cost centers and Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) in SAP for financial transparency and accountability.
• Contract & Vendor Management:
  • Oversee vendor onboarding, due diligence, and compliance documentation to mitigate operational and financial risks.
  • Ensure contracts incorporate appropriate payment terms, risk allocation, and financial safeguards to protect NTI’s interests.
  • Collaborate with Legal, Procurement, and Finance teams to resolve contract-related operational issues and disputes.
  • Monitor vendor performance from both financial and service delivery perspectives to ensure accountability and value realization.
• Governance, Compliance & Risk Management:
  • Ensure full adherence to KAUST procurement and financial governance frameworks, including internal policies and external regulations.
  • Maintain audit-ready documentation across all procurement and financial activities to support internal and external audits.
  • Proactively identify operational, financial, and contractual risks within NTI’s service model and implement mitigation strategies.
  • Strengthen internal controls and enforce segregation of duties within the business services function to safeguard institutional assets.
• Process Optimization & Continuous Improvement:
  • Identify and implement enhancements to NTI Business Services workflows to drive efficiency and reduce operational bottlenecks.
  • Collaborate with IT and Finance teams to optimize SAP usage, reporting capabilities, and data integrity.
  • Standardize processes across NTI units to ensure consistency, control, and scalability in service delivery.
  • Develop and maintain performance dashboards and metrics to track operational efficiency, cost savings, and service quality.

Qualifications & Competencies

The ideal candidate will possess the following qualifications and competencies:

• Technical Expertise: In-depth knowledge of the Procure-to-Pay lifecycle, financial control frameworks, and SAP modules (P2P, finance).
• Governance & Compliance: Strong understanding of procurement and financial governance, risk management, and internal controls.
• Contract & Vendor Management: Awareness of contract structuring, vendor risk assessment, and performance monitoring.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Exceptional stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence and collaborate across diverse teams, including senior leadership.
• Operational Agility: Capacity to balance operational urgency with policy compliance, ensuring timely delivery without compromising governance.
• Process Excellence: Proven ability to design, implement, and optimize workflows to enhance efficiency and scalability.
• Leadership & Team Management: Demonstrated leadership in managing teams, fostering a culture of accountability, and driving performance.
• Analytical & Problem-Solving Skills: Strong analytical mindset with the ability to interpret financial data, identify trends, and resolve complex operational challenges.
• Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex concepts clearly and concisely.

This role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the strategic and operational success of NTI Operations while shaping the future of business services within KAUST. The successful candidate will be a forward-thinking leader capable of driving excellence in financial operations, procurement, and revenue management.