Principal Advisor - Budget

New Zealand Government; Wellington; Hybrid; NZD 172,000 - 202,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work arrangements

Five weeks annual leave

Health and wellbeing initiatives

Job summary

The Treasury – Te Tai Ōhanga in Wellington is seeking a Principal Advisor to lead the delivery of high‑quality economic and financial advice to Ministers as part of the Budget team. You will influence decisions, manage priorities, and build capability across projects through coaching and stakeholder engagement.

You'll collaborate across the Treasury and with Ministers and senior officials, applying policy thinking to practical solutions and ensuring robust, evidence-based recommendations that

Qualifications

• Interest in Budget/public financial management or economics.
• Experience applying expertise to complex policy/business issues.
• Strong interpersonal skills to influence and collaborate across stakeholders.
• Understanding of government environment and Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of high-quality, influential advice to Ministers and senior Treasury officials across the Budget process.
• Provide specialist expertise and apply policy thinking to develop innovative, practical, evidence-based solutions.
• Lead critical Budget processes, manage priorities to ensure timely delivery.
• Build capability through coaching, mentoring, and learning initiatives.
• Represent the Treasury with authority, communicating strategic direction to Ministers.

Job description

# Principal Advisor - Budget at The Treasury, Wellington## Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role**About Us | The Treasury – Te Tai Ōhanga** At the Treasury – Te Tai Ōhanga, we’re focused on securing a better future for Aotearoa New Zealand and the people who call it home. As the Government’s lead economic and financial advisor, we work to lift living standards now and for generations to come. We want Aotearoa to be prosperous, and for that prosperity to be sustainable and inclusive so all New Zealander’s can take part in a healthy and resilient economy and society.Our talented people bring their diverse experience to some of the country’s most complex and inter-connected issues, including child wellbeing, climate change, health, housing and sustainable public financing. Every day, they influence, advise, and support Ministers, Crown Chief Executives and Government decision-makers to shape a thriving future for Aotearoa.The Budget and Fiscal Strategy Division delivers high-quality advice on macroeconomic management and fiscal choices, ensures delivery of a robust Budget process that evolves to ensure it remains fit for purpose in delivering high-quality outcomes, and produces quality analysis on planning and executing a programme of capital investment and developing a strategy to manage the Crown’s assets and liabilities, and stewardship on the infrastructure policy system.The **Budget** team has the primary responsibility for coordinating the Budget process, including working closely with the Minister of Finance and their office. The Budget team supports the Government and the wider public service by leading each phase of the annual Budget process, including Budget strategy, design, ministerial decision-making and production.**Kōrero mō te tūranga | About the Role**As a Principal Advisor, you will work closely with teams from across the Treasury while you provide intellectual and people leadership for the development and delivery of high quality economic and financial advice to Ministers in order to influence government decisions and improve the living standards of New Zealanders. Principal Advisors in the Budget team play a critical leadership role in the annual Budget process.This role is high-profile and will provide plenty of opportunities for personal growth and stretch. As well as having responsibility for delivering specific outputs, you'll be part of a supportive and close-knit team working together on one of the Treasury's key products.As Principal Advisor you will work alongside our high performing team to:* Lead the delivery of high-quality, influential advice to Ministers and senior Treasury officials across the Budget process, including on complex and sensitive issues.* Provide specialist expertise and apply current policy thinking to develop innovative, practical, and evidence-based solutions, particularly to public financial management matters.* Lead critical Budget processes, managing priorities to ensure timely and effective delivery.* Build capability through coaching, mentoring, and contributing to learning and development initiatives.* Provide leadership across projects and strategic initiatives, supporting team direction and organisational objectives.* Engage and influence internal and external stakeholders to ensure advice is well-informed, credible, and impactful.* Represent the Treasury with authority, clearly communicating strategic direction and influencing decision-making, including at Ministerial level. This is a permanent, full-time position (40 hours per week) based in Wellington, New Zealand.**Ō pūmanawa | About You**To succeed in this role, you will have:* An interest in the Budget and/or public financial management and/or economics.* Substantial experience applying this expertise to complex issues in a policy or business context.* Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to develop successful relationships, including with Ministers, with the ability to influence and collaborate across diverse stakeholders.* Understanding (and preferably experience) of the government environment.* Well-developed written communication skills.* Show an awareness of, and a commitment to, the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.* Advanced Tertiary qualification in relevant fields, or related discipline or equivalent experience.**Ko ngā hua | What we Offer**This is an important job and that's why we'll do all we can to support your success. Flexible work arrangements and five weeks annual leave, along with a range of other health and wellbeing initiatives, will help you to enjoy a positive work/life balance. Our numerous social events, sports teams and employee networks will enable you to connect and have fun.The wharenui, at the heart of our workplace, embodies our commitment to diversity and making this an inclusive place that will welcome the unique experiences and perspectives you bring to our collaborative team culture.We'll prioritise your development, offering you opportunities to train and advance your chosen career. The work will stimulate and challenge you, helping you learn, grow and build valuable experience and skills.The base salary range for this role is: $171,542.75 to $201,815.00. Appointments will be made based on the successful candidate’s skills, experience, and alignment with the requirements of the role.**T****ono mai ināianei | Apply Now to shape your, and New Zealand’s, tomorrow.**Apply online. Applications close at 11:55pm on Wednesday, 30 September 2026.