Finance Business Partner - Research

University of Auckland; Auckland; On-site; NZD 118,000 - 136,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Five weeks annual leave

Discounted public transport

KiwiSaver match up to 6.75%

Flexible working arrangements

Parental leave provisions

Career development opportunities

Job summary

The University of Auckland is seeking a strategic Finance Business Partner to support the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research portfolio. You will provide trusted financial advice, planning, and performance insights that enable informed decision-making and help deliver the University's research and organisational objectives.

This is a 12-month fixed-term, full-time role with leadership responsibilities and mentoring across the finance team, working closely with senior leaders and faculties.

Qualifications

• Commercially astute finance professional with experience partnering with senior leaders.
• Proven ability to influence strategic and operational decision-making with rigorous analysis.
• Strong relationship, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills across diverse groups.
• Experience leading change initiatives and driving continuous improvement in a large organisation.
• Balance strategic thinking with delivery-focused execution and team mentoring.

Responsibilities

• Partner with senior academic and professional leaders to develop financial strategies, annual plans, budgets, and forecasts.
• Provide high-quality financial analysis, reporting, and decision support for planning and resource allocation.
• Act as trusted adviser to leadership translating financial data into practical insights.
• Lead initiatives to improve financial performance, operational effectiveness, and organisational capability.
• Develop strong cross-faculty relationships to ensure collaborative business partnering.
• Support governance and compliance with appropriate controls and performance frameworks.
• Provide leadership and mentoring to finance team members and promote continuous improvement.

Skills

Stakeholder engagement

Analytical capability

Relationship management

Communication

Change management

Leadership mentoring

Strategic thinking

Digital literacy

Education

CA/CPA qualification

Accounting/commerce degree

Job description

Company Description

The University of Auckland

12-Month Fixed-Term Opportunity

This is a strategic Finance Business Partner role supporting the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research portfolio. Working closely with senior leaders, you will provide trusted financial advice, planning, and performance insights that support informed decision-making and help deliver the University's research and organisational objectives. You will play a key role in strengthening financial capability, driving continuous improvement, and ensuring financial sustainability across a complex and dynamic environment.

• Partner with senior academic and professional leaders to develop financial strategies, annual plans, budgets, and forecasts aligned to organisational priorities.
• Provide high-quality financial analysis, reporting, and decision support to enable effective planning, performance monitoring, and resource allocation.
• Act as a trusted adviser to leadership teams, translating financial information into practical insights and recommendations that support strategic outcomes.
• Lead and contribute to initiatives that improve financial performance, operational effectiveness, and organisational capability across the portfolio.
• Develop strong relationships across faculties, research institutes, service divisions, and the wider finance community to ensure a collaborative and consistent approach to business partnering.
• Support financial governance and compliance by ensuring appropriate controls, policies, and performance frameworks are in place and effectively applied.
• Provide leadership and mentoring to finance team members while contributing to a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and service excellence.

Company Description

Waipapa Taumata Rau

The University of Auckland

Job Description

Te Whiwhinga mahi | The opportunity

12-Month Fixed-Term Opportunity

This is a strategic Finance Business Partner role supporting the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research portfolio. Working closely with senior leaders, you will provide trusted financial advice, planning, and performance insights that support informed decision-making and help deliver the University's research and organisational objectives. You will play a key role in strengthening financial capability, driving continuous improvement, and ensuring financial sustainability across a complex and dynamic environment.

• Partner with senior academic and professional leaders to develop financial strategies, annual plans, budgets, and forecasts aligned to organisational priorities.
• Provide high-quality financial analysis, reporting, and decision support to enable effective planning, performance monitoring, and resource allocation.
• Act as a trusted adviser to leadership teams, translating financial information into practical insights and recommendations that support strategic outcomes.
• Lead and contribute to initiatives that improve financial performance, operational effectiveness, and organisational capability across the portfolio.
• Develop strong relationships across faculties, research institutes, service divisions, and the wider finance community to ensure a collaborative and consistent approach to business partnering.
• Support financial governance and compliance by ensuring appropriate controls, policies, and performance frameworks are in place and effectively applied.
• Provide leadership and mentoring to finance team members while contributing to a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and service excellence.

This is a 12-month secondment/fixed-term, full-time role (37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday).

The salary range for this role is $118,000-$136,000 depending on skills and experience.

For more information, please see Position Description.

He kōrero mōu | About You

You are a commercially astute finance professional who enjoys building strong relationships and influencing positive outcomes. Comfortable working in a complex organisation, you bring a collaborative approach, strong analytical capability, and the confidence to engage with senior stakeholders on both strategic and operational matters.

• A tertiary qualification in accounting, commerce, or a related discipline, together with Chartered Accountant status (CA ANZ, CPA, or equivalent).
• Significant experience in finance business partnering, financial planning, budgeting, and performance management within a large and complex organisation.
• Demonstrated ability to build credibility with senior leaders and provide clear, evidence-based advice that supports sound decision-making.
• Strong relationship management, communication, influencing, and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to work across diverse groups and priorities.
• Experience leading or contributing to change initiatives, continuous improvement programmes, and the development of innovative solutions to business challenges.
• Proven ability to balance strategic thinking with operational delivery, while managing competing priorities and delivering high-quality outcomes.
• A collaborative leadership style with experience mentoring, supporting, or developing team members to achieve shared goals.
• Strong digital literacy, including an interest in emerging technologies and the ability to apply sound judgement when evaluating and using new tools.

Ngā āhuatanga kei a mātou | What we offer

Guided by our values, we work collaboratively to advance knowledge, foster equity and inclusion, and contribute meaningfully to New Zealand’s social, cultural, and economic well-being.

We cultivate an environment that supports your growth and rewards excellence with a range of staff benefits, including:

• Competitive salary and five weeks of annual leave
• Discounted public Transport for permanent and long-term fixed term staff
• Superannuation/KiwiSaver, matching up to 6.75%
• Flexible working arrangements, including working from home and flexible hours
• Leading, and inclusive parental leave provisions
• Career development opportunities and a range of benefits, including discounted insurance, memberships, and on‑site amenities

Equity

The University is committed to meeting its obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi and achieving equity outcomes for staff and students in a safe, inclusive, and equitable environment. For further information on services for Māori, Pacific, women, LGBTQIATakatāpu iMVPFAFF+ , people with disabilities, parenting support, flexible work and other personal circumstances go to www.equity.auckland.ac.nz