Management Accountant

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora; Palmerston North; On-site; NZD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is seeking a skilled Management Accountant based in Palmerston North. You will partner with clinical and operational leaders to translate financial data into actionable insights, supporting budgeting, forecasting, and strategic planning across the MidCentral district.

You will lead financial modelling, variance analysis and reporting, collaborating with a diverse portfolio to drive financial recovery, performance improvements and service planning aligned with

Qualifications

• Experience in management accounting, financial analysis, or business partnering.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to communicate financial information clearly to non-financial audiences.
• Experience working in a complex organisation, preferably within the public sector.
• A tertiary qualification in accounting, finance, or a related discipline.
• Chartered Accountant (CA) status (or working towards it)

Responsibilities

• Lead budgeting and forecasting processes.
• Prepare financial reports and variance analysis.
• Develop financial models and scenarios for decision-making.
• Support business cases and investment proposals.
• Collaborate with managers and clinical leaders to understand key cost drivers.
• Strengthen financial reporting processes and stakeholder relationships.

Skills

Management accounting

Financial analysis

Business partnering

Communication (non-financial audiences

Collaboration in public sector

Education

Accounting/finance degree

CA status (or in progress)

Job description

• Permanent, full-time position based in Palmerston North.
• Partner with clinical and operational leaders to help shape the financial future of healthcare services across the MidCentral district.
• Join a collaborative finance team where your expertise will influence decision-making, support strategic planning, and contribute to better health outcomes for our communities.

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is the country's largest employer, delivering universal public healthcare to 5 million New Zealanders.

We provide essential hospital, specialist, and community health services across 80+ locations - from large urban centres to rural towns and remote communities.

Our goal is to improve health outcomes for all New Zealanders by delivering equitable, accessible and innovative care.

At Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora, every dollar matters because it helps us deliver safe, effective, and equitable healthcare to our communities. We are looking for a skilled and motivated Management Accountant to join our Finance team and play a key role in supporting service and clinical leaders to make informed decisions that improve health outcomes.

This is an exciting opportunity to move beyond the numbers and become a trusted business partner, providing financial insight, analysis, and advice that supports operational performance, service planning, and financial sustainability.

About the Role

As a Management Accountant, you'll be a trusted finance partner and work closely with managers and clinical leaders across a diverse portfolio. You will help translate complex financial information into practical insights, supporting accountability for budgets and enabling informed decision-making.

This is a varied and rewarding role where you'll lead budgeting and forecasting processes, prepare financial reports and variance analysis, develop financial models, and support business cases and investment proposals. You'll work alongside leaders to understand key cost drivers, identify opportunities and risks, and contribute to financial recovery and improvement initiatives where required. You'll also play an important role in strengthening financial capability across the organisation by improving reporting processes, maintaining strong relationships with stakeholders, and promoting sound financial management practices.

If you enjoy partnering with people, solving complex problems, and using financial insights to influence decisions, this is an opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to New Zealand's largest healthcare organisation.

About you

You'll be someone who enjoys partnering with people, solving problems, and helping others understand the story behind the numbers.

Ideally, you will bring:

• Experience in management accounting, financial analysis, or business partnering.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• The ability to communicate financial information clearly to non-financial audiences.
• Experience working in a complex organisation, preferably within the public sector.
• A tertiary qualification in accounting, finance, or a related discipline.
• Chartered Accountant (CA) status (or working towards it

Most importantly, you'll be collaborative, adaptable, customer-focused, and committed to working in ways that support equity and Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles.

Working for Health New Zealand

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for the people of New Zealand. We embrace a workforce that is diverse and inclusive so that we are better positioned to understand and service our community. We welcome applications from our diverse Māori, Pacific, disabled, and rainbow communities.

Job details

Job Reference:

Job Reference: HNZ/1954604

Location:

North Island - Manawatu / Whanganui - Palmerston North

Job type:

Job type: Permanent Full time

Expertise:

Non-clinical - Finance / Accounting - Finance / Accounting