Finance Business Partnering Manager

SmartRecruiters, Inc.; Hamilton; On-site; NZD 115,000 - 155,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Professional development

Wellbeing days

Health insurance

Annual health checks

Extra annual leave

Eye care support

Local discounts

Job summary

Hamilton City Council seeks a senior finance leader to head the Finance Business Partnering function, providing high-quality financial insight, guidance, and constructive challenge to support informed decisions and long-term strategy.

You will lead a team of Finance Business Partners, partnering with leaders across Council to drive planning, budgeting, and sustained financial performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or equivalent.
• CAANZ Chartered Accountant registration or an internationally recognised equivalent professional qualification.
• Significant experience in financial business partnering within a large or complex organisation (5+ years).
• Broad experience across statutory accounting, financial planning, analysis, and performance management (12+ years).
• Experience developing and reviewing business cases and investment decisions.
• Experience working within local government or a complex public sector environment preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of influential Finance Business Partners.
• Provide strategic financial advice and decision support to senior leaders.
• Partner with business units on complex and organisation-wide initiatives.
• Strengthen understanding of financial impacts across key decisions.
• Align financial advice, planning, reporting, and performance outcomes.
• Build trusted relationships across Council and IAWAI - Flowing Waters.
• Support strategic planning, budgeting, and long‑term financial sustainability.
• Contribute to a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration, and accountability.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or equivalent

CAANZ Chartered Accountant registration or equivalent

Job description

At Hamilton City Council, our people are united by a shared purpose: helping make Hamilton the best place to live, work, and play. As one of New Zealand's largest city councils, we're proud to serve a growing and vibrant community while delivering services and projects that improve the wellbeing of Hamiltonians every day.

You'll join a team that values collaboration, innovation, and community impact. Together, we're on track to being one of New Zealand's leading community-focused councils, where everyone matters and every contribution helps shape the future of our city.

If you're looking for meaningful work, a supportive team, and the opportunity to make a real difference in your community, you'll find it here.

Job Description

This is a unique opportunity to lead our Finance Business Partnering function and play a key role in connecting organisational strategy with operational delivery. As a trusted advisor to senior leaders, you'll provide high-quality financial insight, guidance, and constructive challenge that supports informed decision making and drives outcomes aligned to Council's priorities and long-term financial strategy.

Leading a team of Finance Business Partners, you'll combine people leadership with hands‑on strategic partnering. Working closely with leaders across Council and IAWAI - Flowing Waters, you'll help navigate complex decisions, influence organisational performance, and ensure financial advice, planning, and reporting come together to support a clear and consistent view of success.

What you'll be doing:

• Lead and develop a team of influential Finance Business Partners
• Provide strategic financial advice and decision support to senior leaders
• Partner with business units on complex and organisation-wide initiatives
• Strengthen understanding of financial impacts across key decisions
• Align financial advice, planning, reporting, and performance outcomes
• Build trusted relationships across Council and IAWAI - Flowing Waters
• Support strategic planning, budgeting, and long‑term financial sustainability
• Contribute to a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration, and accountability

What you'll bring:

• Proven experience in senior finance business partnering or commercial finance leadership role
• The ability to influence, challenge, and support leaders at all levels
• Strong people leadership and team development skills
• Experience translating complex financial information into practical insights
• A collaborative approach and a passion for delivering meaningful outcomes
• Strong strategic thinking, communication, and stakeholder management capabilities

This is an opportunity to make a genuine impact and help shape decisions that support the communities we serve.

Qualifications

Oo puumanawa me oo wheako | Your skills and experience

Qualifications and experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or equivalent required.
• CAANZ Chartered Accountant registration or an internationally recognised equivalent professional qualification required. Equivalent senior commercial management experience may be considered where it demonstrates comparable depth of financial leadership and judgement.
• Significant experience in financial business partnering within a large or complex organisation, supporting senior leaders and contributing to strategic and operational decision‑making. (5+ years)
• Broad experience across statutory accounting, financial planning, analysis, and performance management, contributing to an overall depth in relevant finance experience (12+ years)
• Experience developing and reviewing business cases and investment decisions
• Experience working within local government or a complex public sector environment preferred

Qualities and attributes:

• Strong influencing capability, able to drive outcomes without formal authority
• Ability to translate financial information into clear, practical advice and insight
• Strategic thinker, able to connect operational decisions to organisational outcomes
• Strong relationship‑building and stakeholder engagement skills
• Confidence to provide constructive challenge and alternative perspectives
• Ability to balance financial, operational, and organisational considerations
• Proven ability to lead and develop high performing individuals
• High level of integrity and accountability
• Resilient and adaptable in a complex and evolving environment
• Strong commitment to improving decision making and organisational performance

Additional Information

He aha te wariu o te utu kaimahi? | What's the salary?

Circa$135k dependent on skills and experience.

We invest in our people, their wellbeing, and their future. That's why we offer a range of benefits designed to support you both inside and outside of work, including:

• We support flexible ways of working that balance individual wellbeing, team and business needs. And great outcomes for our community.
• We support professional development and opportunities to grow your career.
• Two wellbeing days each year to focus on what matters most to you (after one year of service).
• Fully funded Unimed health insurance, including hospital and surgical cover, with discounted rates for family members.
• Free annual health checks and flu vaccinations.
• The option to purchase additional annual leave for greater flexibility.
• Eye care support, including reimbursement towards eye testing and prescription glasses.
• Access to a wide range of local discounts, including gyms, cafes, healthcare providers, retail stores, and more.

Applications close on the:12/10/2026

Note: We will be shortlistingas we receive applications.

Council is committed to honouring the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi/Treaty of Waitangi through its relationship with Kiingitanga, Waikato Tainui, mana whenua and maataa waka within Hamilton Kirikiriroa.

All candidates will be notified of the outcome on their application via email. Short‑listed candidates will be required to complete an interview process, reference checks and a criminal check. Further background checking will be required when relevant to the role. View more information about these checks, our commitment to the Privacy act and details for international applicants by clicking here

It is important to us that we support you throughout our selection process (interview and assessments). If you have any access needs during this process, let us know in advance so we can make sure these are met.

As a council, we believe in creating a welcoming environment where everyone feels valued and belongs. We value inclusiveness (Kotahitanga) – we respect and value the unique perspectives, experiences, and talents that everyone brings.

This role is being sourced directly. If/where Hamilton City Council requires the support of a recruitment agency, we will seek this support from our panel of selected agencies. Hamilton City Council will not be responsible for, and will not pay, any commissions, fees or other payments related to unsolicited contact.