Head of Strategic Finance

Tiaki Wai; Wellington; On-site; NZD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

WFH up to 2 days

Wellbeing programme with a paid day

Professional development opportunities

5 weeks annual leave after 2 years

Job summary

Tiaki Wai is seeking a senior finance leader to shape its strategic finance function and enterprise productivity framework. Based in Petone, Lower Hutt, this permanent full-time role reports to the CFO and leads a small team of advisors, linking long-term financial strategy with investment priorities and service outcomes.

You’ll drive economic modelling, support the Water Services Strategy, and foster a culture of value-for-money in a growing regional water utility.

Qualifications

• Substantial senior experience in strategic finance, economic appraisal or investment decision support.
• Ability to influence executive and Board-level decisions.
• Comfort with ambiguity and understanding the links between investment, affordability, funding, and service performance.
• Experience in infrastructure, utilities or economically regulated environments; knowledge of AI/data for performance is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead the strategic finance function and contribute to the Water Services Strategy.
• Build and lead a small team of advisors.
• Develop and operate Tiaki Wai’s enterprise productivity and efficiency framework.
• Translate long-term financial strategy into annual planning and investment decisions.
• Provide clear advice to executives and the Board on major decisions.

Skills

Strategic finance leadership

Economic appraisal

Investment decision support

Stakeholder influence

Education

Chartered accountancy

Relevant qualification or postgraduate study

Job description

• Play a leading role in Tiaki Wai’s development.
• Build strategic finance capability and lead our productivity and efficiency framework.
• Permanent, full-time position based in Petone, Lower Hutt.

The opportunity

Tiaki Wai is beginning an exciting journey to build an integrated regional water utility. The decisions we make now will shape water services, infrastructure and affordability for generations. Finance has an important part to play, helping the organisation make informed choices and turn its ambitions into practical, sustainable outcomes.

Reporting directly to the Chief Financial Officer, you’ll join the Finance Leadership Team and help shape our strategic finance function. You’ll build and lead a small team of advisors, bring together expertise from across Tiaki Wai, and provide clear advice on some of our most significant decisions.

Your work will connect long-term financial strategy with investment priorities, service outcomes and the annual planning process. You’ll lead Finance’s contribution to the Water Services Strategy, develop our economic and financial modelling capability, and help decision-makers understand their options and the consequences for customers and the organisation.

You’ll lead the development and ongoing operation of Tiaki Wai’s enterprise productivity and efficiency framework, partnering with leaders across the organisation to identify and prioritise improvement opportunities, support delivery, and measure benefits. Spanning investment decisions, operations, technology, data, and commercial and procurement activities, the role requires curiosity, constructive challenge, and the ability to bring people together around shared outcomes.

This is an opportunity to establish an enduring capability at a formative stage in Tiaki Wai’s development. You’ll have scope to shape the approach, develop your team and see your work influence both major strategic choices and everyday improvements

About You

You’ll bring substantial senior experience in strategic finance, economic appraisal or investment decision support, together with a record of improving value for money in a complex organisation. You will need to be comfortable with ambiguity and understand the connections between investment, affordability, funding, service performance and long-term financial sustainability.

You will have experience developing staff and can influence decisions at executive and Board level. You combine analytical depth with practical judgement and follow through to ensure your advice supports action.

Experience in infrastructure, utilities or another economically regulated environment would be valuable. An understanding of how technology, data and AI can improve performance would also serve you well.

You’ll bring a relevant qualification or equivalent professional experience. Chartered accountancy, comparable finance accreditation or postgraduate study in a relevant discipline would be an advantage.

Benefits

At Tiaki Wai, our purpose extends beyond delivering great water services for the region; we foster a thriving community, support a diverse workforce, and offer supportive development opportunities. We genuinely care about your safety and wellbeing.

Our Benefits Include

• Flexible working arrangements including up to 2 days working from home
• Comprehensive wellbeing programme, including one paid wellbeing day annually
• Formal and informal professional development opportunities
• 5 weeks annual leave accrual will be available following 2 years of continual service

For a full list of our employee benefits click here.

About Us

Tiaki Wai is a council-owned organisation responsible for managing the delivery of drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater services across Hutt Valley, Porirua, and Wellington.

We manage public-owned extensive water infrastructure and oversee the delivery of safe and reliable services for our communities. We focus on long-term investment, asset management, maintenance, and delivering major infrastructure projects that support public health, environmental protection, and regional growth.

Water is a precious taonga. At Tiaki Wai, we put care into every drop and are guided by our values of Integrity, Care, and Leadership. We work directly with water consumers and in partnership with councils and mana whenua to deliver better water outcomes for current and future generations.

Applications close: Tuesday, 10 November

For further information, email: [e-mail]

Applicants for safety sensitive roles will be required to undergo drug and alcohol testing prior to commencing employment with Tiaki Wai. You must also be legally entitled to work long-term in New Zealand or eligible to obtain a working visa.