Manager Finance

Waipa District Council; Cambridge; On-site; NZD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and life insurance

Additional leave

Flexible working arrangements

Local staff discounts

Offices in Cambridge and Te Awamutu

Meaningful work

Job summary

Waipā District Council is seeking a senior finance leader to head financial control, statutory reporting, treasury and budgeting. Reporting to the Finance and Commercial Director, you'll shape the district's financial future with sound governance and strategic advice.

Based in Cambridge with offices in Te Awamutu, you will lead a high‑performing Finance team, drive continuous improvement, and partner with executive and elected members to deliver sustainable growth for one of New Zealand's

Qualifications

• CA ANZ or equivalent professional qualification.
• Significant senior finance leadership experience in a large, regulated environment.
• Strong knowledge of New Zealand accounting standards, treasury, taxation and financial governance.
• Experience leading statutory reporting, financial control and organisational budgeting.
• Collaborative leadership style with ability to influence, coach and develop others.

Responsibilities

• Lead financial control, statutory reporting, governance and compliance functions.
• Support delivery of the Long Term Plan, Annual Plan, budgeting, forecasting and treasury activities.
• Provide strategic financial advice and analysis to senior leaders, the Executive Leadership Team and elected members.
• Ensure robust financial governance, internal controls and effective risk management.
• Lead a high-performing Finance team while driving continuous improvement across finance systems, reporting and processes.
• Build strong relationships across the organisation to support sound financial decision-making.

Skills

Finance leadership

Strategic thinking

Stakeholder management

Financial governance

Treasury

Budgeting

Education

CA ANZ or equivalent

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.

Rich in heritage and proudly known as the Home of Champions, Waipā District is one of New Zealand’s fastest-growing districts. Home to thriving towns, strong rural communities, internationally recognised sporting excellence and significant cultural heritage, Waipā continues to attract new residents, businesses and investment. Every investment decision we make today helps shape the infrastructure, services and communities our district will rely on tomorrow.

At Waipā District Council, we’re proud to consistently punch above our weight. We’re focused on delivering smart, financially sustainable outcomes that support our communities today while planning confidently for the future.

Local government is evolving as councils respond to growth, increasing infrastructure investment and changing expectations. At Waipā, we see this as an opportunity to innovate, strengthen how we work and build an organisation that is future-focused, commercially astute and community-led.

To support this next chapter, we’re investing in our Finance leadership team with two complementary senior leadership opportunities. This role works alongside our Manager Commercial & Financial Partnering to help shape Waipā’s future. If your strengths align more closely with strategic business partnering and commercial leadership, we encourage you to explore that opportunity too.

Reporting to the Finance and Commercial Director, the Manager Finance leads Council’s core finance function, providing the financial stewardship that underpins everything we do.

You’ll lead financial control, accounting, statutory reporting, treasury, budgeting support and transactional finance, while ensuring the integrity of Council’s financial information and compliance with legislative and statutory obligations. You’ll also provide trusted financial advice that supports significant organisational decisions, long-term investment and sustainable growth.

Working closely with the Executive Leadership Team, senior leaders and elected members, you’ll help ensure Council remains financially resilient while delivering outstanding outcomes for our communities.

Partnering closely with the Manager Commercial & Financial Partnering, you’ll help build a modern, high-performing Finance function that combines strong governance with commercial insight.

This is a role where your expertise will influence significant investment decisions, strengthen financial sustainability and help shape the future of one of New Zealand's fastest-growing districts.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading Council's financial control, statutory reporting, governance and compliance functions.
• Supporting delivery of the Long Term Plan, Annual Plan, budgeting, forecasting and treasury activities.
• Providing strategic financial advice and analysis to senior leaders, the Executive Leadership Team and elected members.
• Ensuring robust financial governance, internal controls and effective risk management.
• Leading a high-performing Finance team while driving continuous improvement across finance systems, reporting and processes.
• Building strong relationships across the organisation to support sound financial decision-making.

Ko wai koe | About you

Great financial stewardship isn't just about compliance, it's about enabling confident decision-making, managing risk and supporting long-term organisational success.

You’re an experienced finance leader who combines technical excellence with strategic thinking, enjoys developing people and builds trusted relationships across an organisation.

You’ll bring:

• Chartered Accountant (CA ANZ) or equivalent professional qualification.
• Significant senior finance leadership experience, ideally within local government or another large, complex and highly regulated environment.
• Strong knowledge of New Zealand accounting standards, treasury, taxation and financial governance.
• Experience leading statutory reporting, financial control and organisational budgeting.
• Strong systems capability and a continuous improvement mindset.
• A collaborative leadership style with the ability to influence, coach and develop others.

This is a rare opportunity to influence the financial future of one of New Zealand's fastest-growing districts while helping build a modern Finance function alongside an experienced leadership team.

• Health and life insurance.
• Additional leave provisions.
• Flexible working arrangements.
• Local staff discounts.
• Offices in both Cambridge and Te Awamutu.
• Meaningful work that directly supports the future of our communities

Applications close: Tuesday, 18th August at 10pm.

}