Business Accountant

Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI); Wellington; On-site; NZD 103,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Additional MPI leave days

Annual Wellness payment

Eye test reimbursement

Job summary

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is seeking a Business Accountant in Wellington to deliver expert financial guidance. You will support budgeting, forecasting and reporting while acting as the primary financial contact for an assigned business unit.

Strong communication and relationship-building with senior leaders are essential. Experience as a Chartered Accountant with government or commercial finance backgrounds is preferred, with proficiency in Power BI and Finance One advantageous.

Qualifications

• Chartered Accountant membership is essential.
• Management accounting experience with analytical/problem solving ability.
• Proven ability to advise and build relationships with managers.
• Solid understanding of accounting principles and practices.
• Customer-focused and collaborative across teams.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide reliable financial advice and insight to MPI managers.
• Support budgeting, forecasting and reporting processes.
• Act as the main financial point of contact for an assigned business unit.
• Build trusted relationships and deliver exceptional customer service.
• Engage with cross-functional teams to improve financial processes.

Skills

Chartered Accountant

Management accounting

Financial analysis

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

Tools

Power BI

Finance One

Job description

Job Description

Job title: Business Accountant

Role type: Full-time, Permanent

Location: Wellington

Salary band & range: $102,953 to $120,365 depending on skills and experience

About the Role - Kōrero mō te Tūranga

The Business Accountant plays a key role in building trusted relationships and delivering exceptional customer service to an assigned business unit within MPI. Acting as the main financial point of contact, the role provides reliable, consistent financial advice and insight to MPI managers, supporting core processes such as budgeting, forecasting, and reporting.

About You - Mōu

We're looking for a Chartered Accountant with a background in either the big four, government accounting, or commercial finance. You'll thrive in this role if you can work independently, hold your own in conversations with senior leaders and cost centre managers, and bring strong interpersonal skills to the table. This isn't a role for someone who prefers to stay in the background—confidence and presence are key.

You should be comfortable having challenging conversations while also being an attentive, thoughtful listener.

To thrive in this role, you'll ideally have:

• Membership of a professional accounting body (essential).
• Management accounting experience, paired with analytical and problem-solving abilities to interpret information.
• Experience in managing and building effective working relationships, providing advice.
• A sound understanding of accounting principles and practices.
• A customer centric approach, and the ability to work collaboratively within and across teams.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills are critical.
• Great time management skills and ability to prioritise in a dynamic environment.
• Additionally, experience in Central Government financial management processes and procedures and knowledge of Finance One and Power BI would be an advantage.
• A collaborative, customer-focused mindset and the ability to work well within and across teams.

About the Team - Mō tō mātou Rōpū

You'll be part of the Management Accounting team within the Finance and Procurement directorate You will join a supportive team that take pride in their work and strive for excellence. You'll be well supported in your role by the Finance Manager.

About MPI - Mō Te Manatū Ahu Matua

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) partners with New Zealand's food and fibre sector to be the world's most trusted provider of high-value food and fibre products.

Benefits of working at MPI - Ngā hua o te mahi i te Manatū Ahu Matua

• Additional MPI leave days
• Annual Wellness payment
• Bi-annual paid eye test and contribution to the costs of corrective lenses/frames

Are you ready to make a difference? - Kua rite koe mō tēnei mahi whaitake?

We are committed to being a good partner under Te Tiriti o Waitangi which includes working closely with iwi, hapū, whānau and hāpori.

We aspire to reflect the diverse communities we serve, so we welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, and identities. As an organisation, we are committed to making Manatū Ahu Matua Ministry for Primary Industries a great place to work for all.

In your cover letter we'd like to know about you, your values; your interest and motivations for this role; the abilities, strengths, personal attributes, and diverse perspectives you will bring to the role and this organisation, which may have also been gained outside of the workforce.

Applications close at midnight on Monday 5 October 2026.

If you have any questions about the role, please email [e-mail]