General Manager Finance and Corporate

Sheffield Group; Wellington; On-site; NZD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Central Districts Water is seeking a CA/CPA-qualified senior finance leader responsible for enterprise-wide financial integrity, commercial performance and corporate health. You will oversee treasury, debt management, financial control, external audit and the contracts/procurement framework, reporting to the Chief Executive and the Board.

The role drives strategic financial direction, builds lean processes, guides transformation and ensures public service delivery across Palmerston North,

Qualifications

• CA or CPA qualified senior finance executive.
• Experience in capital-intensive, regulated or public sector environments.
• Depth in treasury and debt management, financial control and external audit.
• Ability to structure contracts, shared services and procurement arrangements.
• Establishment or transformation experience is valuable and a lean function is preferred.
• Commitment to public service and communities CDW exists to serve.

Responsibilities

• Lead enterprise-level financial integrity, commercial performance and corporate health.
• Set the financial strategy aligning investment needs with community affordability.
• Oversee treasury/debt management, relationships with lenders and information disclosure readiness.
• Lead core financial systems and provide independent organisational health view.
• Report to Chief Executive and Board; manage finance, treasury, commercial, legal, risk and assurance functions.

Skills

Treasury & debt management

Financial control

External audit

Contract & procurement

Strategic leadership

Education

CA or CPA qualified

Job description

Jora New Zealand will close on 9th September 2026. Thank you for being with us, we are cheering you on as you continue your career journey.

Sheffield Group – Wellington Central, North Island

Central Districts Water is the new water services organisation for Palmerston North, Rangitīkei and Horowhenua. From 1 July 2027 we will deliver drinking water, wastewater and stormwater services to around 54,000 connections across the three districts, managing a $1.7 billion asset base and a capital programme of $1.4 billion.

We are jointly owned by Palmerston North City Council, Rangitīkei District Council and Horowhenua District Council, and established in partnership with Ngā Tapuwae o Hau, the alliance of tangata whenua across our three districts. We are being formed under the Local Government (Water Services) Act 2025.

Our kaupapa is to provide safe, reliable, affordable water services, delivered with care for the awa, the whenua and the communities that depend on them, both now and into the future.

Come and join us.

About the role | Mō te tūnga

As General Manager Finance and Corporate, you will hold enterprise level accountability for the financial integrity, commercial performance and corporate health of Central Districts Water. You will report directly to the Chief Executive and lead the finance, treasury, commercial, legal, risk and assurance functions, including the Chief Financial Officer, Manager Corporate and Commercial, and Manager Legal, Risk and Assurance.

CDW is projected to have close to $300 million of debt on day one (which is projected to grow to around $1 billion after 10 years), a $1.4 billion capital programme and approximately $100 million of annual revenue. You will set the financial strategy that holds the line between the investment this region needs and what its households can afford. You will lead treasury and debt management, the relationship with the New Zealand Local Government Funding Agency and other lenders, and the organisation's readiness for economic regulation and information disclosure.

This role is also accountable (along with the CFO) for putting the core financial systems in place. It is also the position on which the Chief Executive and the Board rely for an accurate and independent view of organisational health.

About you | Mōhou ake

You will be a CA or CPA qualified senior finance executive with experience in a capital intensive, regulated or public sector environment. You will bring depth in treasury and debt management, financial control and external audit, and the commercial judgement to structure contracts, shared services and procurement arrangements well.

Establishment or transformation experience is also valuable, as is the ability to build a lean function that supports the front end of the organisation. The successful appointee will be collegial, credible and willing to challenge when required. Underpinning all of this will be a commitment to public service and to the communities CDW exists to serve.

For more information please phone Nick Buck on [phone].