Financial Controller

Syft Technologies; Hautapu; On-site; NZD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Real Steel in Hautapu, Waikato, is seeking a Financial Controller to lead the Finance & Administration function and provide trusted financial leadership across the business.

You will oversee financial reporting, budgeting and forecasting, cash flow, working capital, compliance, costing and controls while building scalable systems and developing the finance team for future growth.

Qualifications

• CA/CPA or equivalent professional qualification.
• Seven+ years' experience in financial accounting or commercial finance with leadership.
• Experience with financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting and cash flow.
• Knowledge of NZ tax, GST and payroll processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead month-end and year-end processes with accurate reporting.
• Oversee budgeting, forecasts and variance analysis.
• Manage cash and working capital across debtors, creditors, inventory.
• Maintain strong financial controls, tax, audit and payroll reporting.
• Provide commercial insights on costing, margins and capex.
• Develop and improve finance systems and reporting.

Skills

CA/CPA or eq.

Leadership

Financial analysis

Excel

ERP systems

Budgeting & forecasting

Cash flow management

Negotiation & communication

Education

Accounting, Finance or Commerce qualification (CA/CPA or eq.)

Tools

ERP systems

Excel

Power BI

Job description

Financial Controller

Department: Production

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Waikato (6)

Description

As Real Steel continues to grow, we’re looking for a Financial Controller to strengthen our finance and administration capability and support the next stage of the business.

Based at our site in Hautapu, this is an opportunity to step into a newly established leadership role and help shape the financial systems, insights and disciplines that will support Real Steel as we continue to grow.

About Real Steel

Real Steel is a family-owned New Zealand business with a long history in steel processing and distribution. We supply steel solutions nationwide, with operations across Hautapu, Upper Hutt and Ashburton. We’re known for consistent standards, strong customer relationships and looking after our people.

Our objective is to be the fastest, highest-quality and most dependable steel processor in New Zealand, and we’re investing heavily in cutting-edge machinery, processes and our people to get there.

Find out more at www.realsteel.co.nz

About the Role

As the Financial Controller, you’ll lead Real Steel’s Finance & Administration function, providing trusted financial leadership and commercial insight across the business.

You’ll play an important role in giving the leadership team a clear view of business performance and supporting sound commercial decision-making. You’ll have oversight across financial reporting, budgeting and forecasting, cash flow, working capital, compliance, costing and financial controls, while also leading and developing the Finance & Administration team.

As a new role created to support Real Steel’s growth, there’s a real opportunity to make it your own, strengthen the way finance supports the wider business and build scalable systems and processes for the future.

What you'll be doing

• Leading month-end and year-end processes, delivering accurate and timely management, statutory and cash-flow reporting.
• Leading budgets, forecasts and performance reporting, providing clear visibility of variances, risks and opportunities.
• Managing cash and working capital across debtors, creditors, inventory, WIP and stocktakes.
• Maintaining strong financial controls, reconciliations and compliance across tax, audit and payroll-related reporting.
• Providing commercial insight across costing, margins, pricing, capital expenditure and investment decisions.
• Improving finance systems, ERP data, reporting and processes as the business continues to grow.
• Leading, coaching and developing the Finance & Administration team, creating clear expectations and accountabilities.
• Acting as a trusted finance and commercial adviser to the Managing Director and wider leadership team.

What you'll bring

• A qualification in Accounting, Finance or Commerce, with CA, CPA or an equivalent professional qualification.
• Seven or more years’ experience across financial accounting or commercial finance, including leadership experience.
• Strong experience across management and statutory reporting, budgeting, forecasting, cash flow and financial analysis.
• Sound knowledge of financial controls, audit, New Zealand tax, GST and payroll-related financial processes.
• Experience with inventory valuation, WIP, costing and working capital, ideally within manufacturing, processing or distribution.
• Strong Excel skills and experience working with ERP, accounting and reporting systems.
• Strong commercial judgement and the ability to turn financial information into clear, practical insights for non-finance stakeholders.
• A collaborative, organised and hands-on leadership style, with high integrity and attention to detail.

Experience in steel, manufacturing, processing, distribution or another asset‑intensive environment would be an advantage, along with experience in systems implementation, process improvement or Power BI.

Why join Real Steel?

• Step into a brand-new role created as the business grows
• Make your mark on how finance supports the next stage of Real Steel
• Work from Real Steel’s new purpose-built Hautapu site
• Join a family-owned New Zealand business investing in its people, technology and future
• Work closely with the Managing Director and leadership team on decisions that shape the business
• Lead and develop an established Finance & Administration function

Ready to join the Real Steel team?

If you’re an experienced finance leader who enjoys getting close to the business, bringing clarity to the numbers and building strong systems and teams, we’d love to hear from you.