Principal Assurance Advisor

Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment; Wellington; On-site; NZD 118,000 - 144,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Kiwisaver

Wellness Benefit

Job summary

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) is seeking a Principal Assurance Advisor to lead high-impact internal assurance work in Wellington. You will deliver independent reviews, advise senior leaders, and strengthen assurance maturity across MBIE.

In this permanent, full-time role you’ll influence, innovate and collaborate with the Head of Internal Assurance and Practice Lead to deliver high-quality risk-based reviews and build internal capability.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in internal assurance or audit within the third line.
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders and build credibility.
• Excellent communication skills and a strategic mindset.
• Chartered Accountant or Certified Internal Auditor preferred or relevant tertiary quals.
• Must have the legal right to live and work in New Zealand.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and delivery of high-quality, risk-based internal assurance reviews.
• Strengthen MBIE’s assurance frameworks, practices, and processes.
• Build internal capability and foster a culture of self-assurance and continuous improvement.

Skills

Internal assurance

Stakeholder influence

Communication

Strategic mindset

Education

Chartered Accountant (CA) / Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) preferred

Job description

• Lead high-impact internal assurance work at MBIE


• Permanent, full-time position based in our central Wellington offices


• Salary $118,390 - $143,639 + Kiwisaver + Wellness Benefit

About the Role - Tēnei tūranga:

As Principal Assurance Advisor, you’ll play a pivotal role in delivering independent and objective assurance and advisory services across MBIE. You’ll lead complex reviews, provide expert advice to senior leaders, and help build a culture of continuous improvement and assurance maturity.

This is a principal level role where your ability to influence, innovate, and collaborate will be key to your success.

You’ll work closely with the Head of Internal Assurance and the Practice Lead to:

• Lead the development and delivery of high-quality, risk-based internal assurance reviews.


• Strengthen MBIE’s assurance frameworks, practices, and processes.


• Build internal capability and foster a culture of self-assurance and continuous improvement.

Skills And Experience Required

• Significant experience in internal assurance or, audit within the third line, or risk advisory at a senior level.


• Can build trust and credibility with senior stakeholders and influence across the organisation.


• Has excellent communication skills and a strategic mindset.


• Chartered Accountant or Certified Internal Auditor preferred or a relevant tertiary qualification and/or comparable relevant experience in internal auditing


• Must have the legal right to live and work in New Zealand.

About MBIE - Ētahi kōrero mō MBIE:

MBIE's goal is to create a resilient and high-performing economy that delivers real and ongoing quality of life for all New Zealanders.

We do this by working with others to create an environment that supports businesses to be more productive and internationally competitive, enables all New Zealanders to participate in the economy through improved job opportunities and by working to ensure quality housing is more affordable.

People are at the heart of our mahi, our way of working is guided by our values which shape our behaviours.

• Mahi Tahi – Better Together


• Māia – Bold and brave


• Pae Kahurangi – Build our Future


• Pono Me Te Tika – Own It

Our aspirations are echoed in our Māori identity – Hīkina Whakatutuki – which broadly means ‘lifting to make successful'.

MBIE recognises the partnership founded under Te Tiriti o Waitangi between Māori and the Crown and is committed to giving effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. We will do this through enduring, meaningful and effective partnerships with iwi, Māori, other Māori groups/organisations and the Crown, as this is critical to enable economic and social development, both for Māori and for wider Aotearoa New Zealand. We are committed to continuing to partner with iwi in order to find new sustainable solutions to address long standing systemic and cross-cutting issues facing Māori and wider Aotearoa New Zealand and we are also committed to identifying opportunities for iwi to lead and creating an enabling environment for iwi to leverage these opportunities.

E mōhio ana a Hīkina Whakatutuki i puea ake te kōtuinga I waenganui i a ngāi Māori me te Karauna i Te Tiriti o Waitangi, ā, kei te whai ia ki te whakaū ake i Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Mā te whai kiko o ngā kōtuinga ahunga roa o ngā iwi, o ngāi Māori, me ētahi atu rōpū Māori ki te Karauna, ka tutuki tēnei. He āhuatanga nui tēnei e āhei ai ngā mahi whanaketanga ā-ohanga, ā-pāpori hoki ki a ngāi Māori me Aotearoa whānui. E whai tonu ana mātou ki te kōtui atu ki ngā iwi mō te rapu huarahi hou ki te whakaara i ngā kaupapa kua roa nei e tāmi ana i a ngāi Māori me Aotearoa whānui, ā, e whai ana hoki ki te tautohu i ngā āheinga kōkiritanga mā ngā iwi, me te tautoko i ngā iwi kia whai mana ake ai ēnei āheinga.

Applications close on 19th October 2026