Finance Manager

Harrows Contract Furniture; Timaru; On-site; NZD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Harrows Contract Furniture in Timaru, NZ is seeking a hands-on Finance Manager to own the finance function and partner with the GM, Leadership Team and Directors. The role blends financial control, commercial partnering, and a growing pathway toward CFO responsibilities.

You will lead day-to-day finance activities, manage month-end, cashflow, budgeting and statutory compliance while supporting Australian operations. This is a broad, influential role with room to grow as the business expands.

Qualifications

• Qualified CA/CPA or progressing towards equivalent

Responsibilities

• Lead month-end reporting for NZ & AU entities
• Manage cashflow, working capital, and debtors
• Provide commercial advice to GM, Leadership Team and Directors
• Analyse gross margin, stock, WIP, and product costing
• Lead budgeting, forecasting, year-end and statutory compliance
• Oversee accounts payable/receivable and banking
• Support Australian operations and group entities
• Drive ERP and process improvements

Skills

Financial analysis

Budgeting & forecasting

Cashflow management

ERP systems

Excel

Commercial acumen

Leadership

Education

CA / CPA qualified

Tools

ERP systems

Excel

Job description

A hands-on finance leadership role with a pathway to CFO-level responsibility.

Harrows is a family-owned New Zealand furniture design and manufacturing business based in Timaru. We design and manufacture functionally clever furniture for social interaction, supplying projects across New Zealand and growing our presence in Australia.

We are looking for a Finance Manager to take ownership of our finance function and become a key commercial partner to the General Manager, Leadership Team and Directors. This is a broad role: part financial controller, part business partner, and increasingly CFO-level as the business grows.

About the role:

You will lead the day-to-day finance function, supported by part-time administration for routine processing. Your focus will be on accurate reporting, cashflow, controls, planning and commercial insight, while still being comfortable getting into the detail when needed.

Key responsibilities:

• Own month-end reporting, including P&L, balance sheet, cashflow, budgets, forecasts and management reporting for both NZ & AU entities.
• Maintain strong visibility of cashflow, working capital, debtors and upcoming commitments.
• Provide practical commercial advice to the General Manager, Leadership Team and Directors.
• Analyse gross margin, stock, WIP, labour, product cost and other manufacturing performance drivers.
• Lead budgeting, forecasting, year-end and statutory compliance alongside external advisers.
• Responsible for accounts payable, accounts receivable, banking and finance administration, with routine tasks delegated where appropriate.
• Support financial management of Harrows Australia and other group entities as required.
• Improve finance systems, reporting and processes, and play an active role in future ERP and automation projects.

About you:

You might be a Senior Accountant in an accounting firm looking for your first full commercial role, an experienced Accountant ready to step up, or a Financial Controller who wants broader influence and a path toward CFO responsibility.

• CA / CPA qualified or well progressed toward an equivalent qualification.
• Strong grounding in financial accounting, management reporting, budgeting and cashflow.
• Commercially curious and able to turn financial data into clear recommendations.
• Confident with Excel and comfortable learning and improving finance and ERP systems.
• Hands-on, organised and accurate, with the confidence to challenge constructively.
• Manufacturing experience is useful, but strong commercial judgement and the ability to learn are more important.

Why Harrows:

This is a chance to move beyond producing accounts and become closely involved in the decisions that shape a growing New Zealand manufacturer. You will work directly with the General Manager, Directors and leadership team, with exposure to manufacturing, product costing, investment decisions, Australia, systems improvement and strategy.

The role is based at our Timaru head office and manufacturing site. If you are looking for a finance role with ownership, variety and room to grow, we would like to hear from you.

About us

Harrows is a family-owned New Zealand furniture design and manufacturing business based in Timaru. We design and manufacture functionally clever furniture for social interaction, supplying projects across New Zealand and growing our presence in Australia.