Erika L. Bhandari is a senior finance professional with over 15 years of experience in management accounting and strategic finance partnering at The University of Queensland.
Erika L. Bhandari is a senior finance professional with over 15 years of experience in management accounting and strategic finance partnering at The University of Queensland.
Currently serving as the Lead Finance Partner for the Food and Beverage Accelerator (FaBA) Program—UQ’s largest-ever grant-funded initiative—she provides financial leadership, governance oversight, and strategic decision support across a complex multi-faculty research environment. Her responsibilities include overseeing funding allocation frameworks, ensuring compliance with grant and University requirements, delivering financial reporting and performance insights to executive and industry committees, and supporting reporting obligations to the Department of Education. Erika works collaboratively with stakeholders across faculties, program leadership, and central finance functions to strengthen financial governance, coordinate audited financial reporting and drive continuous improvement through the development of streamlined and automated reporting solutions.
She holds an MBA and is passionate about supporting impactful research through strong financial stewardship. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time in nature and pursuing adventurous activities.
Key capabilities
Strategic finance partnering and advisory services
Stakeholder Engagement & Business Partnering
Budget development, forecasting, and performance analysis
Financial governance, compliance, and risk management
Executive, committee, and government reporting
Complex grant and program financial management