Assistant Accountant

Western Bay of Plenty District Council; Tauranga; On-site; NZD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Five weeks annual leave

Medical insurance

Flexible work arrangements

Learning & development

Wellbeing resources

Onsite parking

Job summary

Western Bay of Plenty District Council is seeking an Assistant Accountant to lead Accounts Payable and support core financial accounting across the organisation. You will oversee daily AP operations, coach a small team, and champion the AP system, including master data and purchasing modules.

You’ll contribute to balance sheet reconciliations, journal processing, month‑end/year‑end tasks, and financial reporting, while maintaining data integrity and supporting audits.

Qualifications

• Experience in Accounts Payable operations and financial accounting tasks.
• Knowledge of GST, FBT and statutory requirements.
• Strong data integrity and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day‑to‑day AP operations and support staff.
• Contribute to balance sheet reconciliations and month‑end activities.
• Maintain master data, assist with purchasing modules and reporting.

Skills

Accounts Payable

Financial accounting

Data integrity

Analytical skills

Communication skills

GST knowledge

Attention to detail

Confidentiality

Education

Accounting diploma/degree

CA progress beneficial

Tools

ERP systems

Excel

Job description

Come and make a difference with us

At Western Bay of Plenty District Council, everything we do is about making the everyday better — and helping our communities thrive, now and into the future.

Western Bay is a District undergoing significant growth and transformation. From planning for future communities to delivering the infrastructure that supports them, we’re focused on getting the fundamentals right — and preparing for what comes next.

We’re also focused on our people. At Western Bay, we believe in investing in and empowering our teams to grow, lead, and achieve their goals. Because when our people thrive, our communities do too.

If you’re motivated by making the everyday better, helping people thrive, and leaving things better than you found them — we’d love to hear from you.

The opportunity

We’re looking for an Assistant Accountant who will lead the day‑to‑day Accounts Payable function and support core financial accounting activities across the organisation. This role is key to ensuring accurate processing, strong financial controls, and high‑quality financial reporting.

You’ll oversee daily AP operations, coach and support our team of two in Accounts Payable, and act as our AP system champion — maintaining master data, supporting purchasing modules, troubleshooting issues, and helping staff understand purchasing and payment processes.

Alongside AP leadership, you’ll contribute to balance sheet reconciliations, journal processing, month‑end and year‑end activities, statutory returns, and financial reporting. You’ll help maintain data integrity across systems, support audit and treasury tasks, and identify opportunities to improve processes and controls.

This is a role where your attention to detail, relationship skills, and financial capability will make a real impact.

To set you up for success, you’ll have

• Experience in Accounts Payable operations and financial accounting tasks (local government experience advantageous).
• Strong understanding of financial systems, data integrity, and general ledger processes.
• High attention to detail, accuracy with data, and strong analytical skills.
• Confident communication and relationship‑building skills, including resolving queries and supporting staff.
• Strong computer literacy, particularly Excel, and comfort working with ERP systems.
• Knowledge of GST, FBT, and other statutory requirements.
• Ability to prioritise, organise workload, and meet deadlines.
• A customer‑focused, culturally aware approach, and commitment to confidentiality.
• Business or Accounting diploma/degree (desirable). Progress toward CA or similar beneficial.

What we offer

• Five weeks annual leave (pro-rata)
• A competitive employment package – including subsidised medical insurance
• Flexible work arrangements and a pet‑friendly work environment
• Learning and development opportunities
• Access to wellbeing resources and workplace support
• Free onsite parking

Applicants for this position should have NZ residency or a valid NZ work permit.

For further information please call 0800 926 732.