Principal Advisor, Finance and Risk

Greater Wellington; Wellington; On-site; NZD 137,000 - 206,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working policy

Learning and development opportunities

Medical and trauma insurance

Employee assistance programme

Five weeks annual leave with Tangihang

Inclusive culture and social clubs

Great working environments

Job summary

Greater Wellington seeks a Principal Advisor Finance and Risk to lead strategic financial policy advice and the development of funding approaches within the Finance & Risk Group in Wellington. The role supports major decisions through robust analysis and clear reporting.

You will work with senior leaders on policy frameworks, legislation, and financial strategy, including Long-Term Plans and Annual Plans, while building trusted relationships across the organisation and with external partners.

Qualifications

• A relevant tertiary qualification in business, finance, economics, public policy or related discipline, or equivalent experience.
• Seven years' experience in finance, financial policy, funding or financial strategy, including senior advisory experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic advice on funding, financial policy and legislative requirements.
• Prepare clear, evidence-based briefs and recommendations for senior leaders.
• Lead development/review of externally facing financial policies and strategies (Revenue and Financing Policy, rates remission and postponement policies, Financial Strategy, Fees and Charges).
• Coordinate research, analysis and modelling to support policy and funding advice.
• Monitor legislative, funding and sector issues and advise implications for Greater Wellington.
• Build relationships with mana whenua, elected members, staff and external stakeholders.
• Present complex issues in plain language for diverse audiences.
• Identify opportunities to simplify and strengthen financial policies, processes and controls.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Policy advisory

Stakeholder engagement

Communication skills

Analytical/problem-solving

Māori capability understanding

Education

Tertiary qualification in business/finance/economics/public policy or equivalent

Job description

We're looking for a Principal Advisor Finance and Risk to join our collaborative and high-performing Finance & Risk team. This permanent, full-time role is based in our central Wellington office.

About the role:

This is a key role within the Finance & Risk Group, providing strategic financial policy advice that supports some of Greater Wellington's most important decisions.

As Principal Advisor Finance and Risk, you'll lead the development and review of financial policies, strategies and funding approaches that help shape the future of our region. You'll work closely with senior leaders across the organisation, supporting decision-making through robust analysis, practical advice and well-crafted reporting.

The role plays a critical part in major organisational processes including the Long-Term Plan, Annual Plan, Revenue and Financing Policy reviews, funding and affordability assessments, and broader financial strategy development.

You'll be responsible for:

• Providing strategic advice on funding, financial policy and relevant legislative requirements.
• Preparing clear, evidence-based advice, briefings and recommendations for senior leaders,
• Leading the development and review of externally facing financial policies and strategies, including the Revenue and Financing Policy, rates remission and postponement policies, the Financial Strategy, and Fees and Charges Policy for the Executive Leadership Team, Council and committees.
• Undertaking and coordinating research, analysis and modelling to support robust policy and funding advice.
• Monitoring emerging legislative, funding and sector issues and advising on their implications for Greater Wellington.
• Building trusted relationships with mana whenua, elected members, staff, central and local government, auditors and sector specialists.
• Presenting complex financial policy issues in plain English for technical and non-technical audiences.
• Identifying opportunities to simplify and strengthen financial policies, processes and controls.
• Building strong relationships across Greater Wellington and with external stakeholders.
• Identifying opportunities to improve financial policy frameworks and decision-making practices.

Skills and experience required

We're looking for a strategic thinker who combines strong technical expertise with excellent communication and relationship management skills.

Ideally you'll bring:

• A relevant tertiary qualification in business, finance, economics, public policy or a related discipline, or equivalent relevant experience.
• At least seven years' experience in finance, financial policy, funding or financial strategy, including at least three years providing senior-level strategic advice in a large or complex organisation.
• Strong experience developing, reviewing and implementing policy frameworks.
• Knowledge of local government funding legislation, particularly the Local Government Act 2002 and the Local Government (Rating) Act 2002.
• Highly developed strategic, conceptual, analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to resolve ambiguous and complex issues.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to make complex issues clear for elected members, senior leaders and diverse audiences.
• Strong influencing, facilitation, engagement, planning and prioritisation skills.
• Capability in te ao Māori in line with Greater Wellington's Māori Capability Framework, or a commitment to continue developing this capab

Experience within local government or the wider public sector would be advantageous.

What we offer:

• Work to suit your life and whānau with our flexible working policy.
• We'll encourage you to grow and prosper with a range of learning and development opportunities, internal secondments and career progression.
• Your wellbeing is our priority - we'll provide medical and trauma insurance, support through our employee assistance programme, including Rongoā Māori partner providers, five weeks annual leave along with Tangihanga leave and support.
• We want you to have a sense of belonging, where you can reflect your personal and cultural identity in the way that you work.
• Social clubs, staff networks and a friendly and inclusive culture.
• Great working environments across our beautiful region.

Come help treasure and grow our rohe together

Our rohe and its lands, waterways, animals, plants and people can only grow stronger if they are nurtured.

To join our team is to step up and commit to playing an active part in this important mahi. That means restoring nature, connecting people and places, reducing environmental impacts and helping this rohe and its people prosper.

We are part of a collective movement alongside mana whenua and community members whose hopes for the future of this region are just as high as your own.

Our efforts across environmental management, public transport, flood protection, regional parks and water supply are interconnected and integral to treasuring our rohe and growing our future.

For further information, please contact Alison Trustrum-Rainey, Group Manager Finance & Risk via email to [e-mail]

Applications close: 5.00pm, Sunday 15 November 2026. However, we will be shortlisting applications as they come in and will interview as soon as possible to secure the right person.

Greater Wellington is an accredited Living Wage Employer. We're committed to making sure our people, including people in our supply chain, earn enough to meet life's basic needs, support their whānau, and participate fully in their communities.

The total remuneration for this position, including all benefits, is $137,059 - $205,588 per annum, with a midpoint of $171,324. Starting remuneration will depend on the skills and experience of the successful applicant.