Senior Financial Accountant

Hamilton City Council; Hamilton; On-site; NZD 108,000 - 132,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Professional development

Wellbeing days

Unimed health insurance

Free annual health checks

Additional annual leave option

Eye care support

Local discounts

Job summary

Hamilton City Council in Hamilton, NZ is seeking a senior finance professional to lead treasury management, accounting, and financial control across a large organisation. You will provide technical accounting guidance, support month-end processes, and work with senior leaders and external stakeholders to ensure robust financial reporting.

To succeed, you will bring a CA or equivalent, 12+ years in finance, and 5+ years in financial accounting within complex environments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor level degree in Accounting, Finance, Commerce, or equivalent.
• CA ANZ Chartered Accountant registration or internationally recognised equivalent professional qualification.
• 12+ years' experience in finance within a large or complex organisation, including roles in financial planning, financial accounting, performance reporting, business partnering, financial analysis, decision support, or related finance disciplines.
• 5+ years' experience in a financial accounting role, including statutory reporting, financial statements preparation, audit management, financial controls, treasury, taxation, compliance, or related accounting activities.
• Experience working with senior leaders, auditors, regulators, and external stakeholders to support governance, compliance, and financial reporting requirements.
• Experience in local government, infrastructure, or other complex organisational environments is desirable.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy
• Good understanding of accounting standards and financial controls
• Ability to apply technical accounting in practical situations
• Strong organisational and time management skills
• Ability to work collaboratively across teams
• Good communication skills
• High level of integrity and accountability
• Continuous improvement mindset

Responsibilities

• Take primary responsibility for the day-to-day management treasury activities, including swaps, borrowings, cash flow and liquidity management, monitoring compliance with Treasury Management Policy limits.
• Financial accounting, reporting, audit, technical accounting, compliance and financial control oversight of our Council-Controlled Organisations.
• Preparing and reviewing journals, reconciliations and supporting financial information.
• Supporting month-end and year-end processes, including statutory financial statements and disclosures.
• Providing practical technical accounting advice and helping with more complex or non-routine accounting matters.
• Supporting capital and asset accounting, including WIP, capitalisation, depreciation, disposals and revaluations.
• Working with our capital and infrastructure teams to ensure projects are accounted for accurately.
• Supporting audit requirements and maintaining strong financial controls and compliance with accounting standards.
• Working across Finance to ensure accurate, consistent data and a joined-up view of our financial position.
• Identifying opportunities to simplify processes, strengthen controls and improve the way we work.

Skills

Communication

Collaboration

Time management

Integrity

Analytical thinking

Continuous improvement mindset

Education

Bachelor level degree in Accounting, Finance, Commerce, or equivalent

CA ANZ Chartered Accountant registration or internationally recognised equivalent

Job description

At Hamilton City Council, our people are united by a shared purpose: to improve the wellbeing of Hamiltonians. As one of New Zealand's largest city councils, we're proud to serve a growing and vibrant community while delivering services and projects that improve the wellbeing of Hamiltonians every day.

You'll join a team that values collaboration, innovation, and community impact. Together, we're on track to being one of New Zealand’s leading community-focused councils, where everyone matters and every contribution helps shape the future of our city.

If you're looking for meaningful work, a supportive team, and the opportunity to make a real difference in your community, you'll find it here.

Job Description

He angituutanga: The opportunity

This is a great opportunity to join our Finance and Enabling Services group and play an important part in delivering accurate, reliable financial information across Council. Working across financial accounting, capital and assets, reporting and financial support services, you’ll help make sure our numbers stack up and our accounting practices are consistent and well managed. It’s a varied role where you’ll provide practical accounting advice, work alongside teams across the organisation, support our month and year-end processes, and look for better, smarter ways of working.

Some of the key things you’ll be doing:

• Take primary responsibility for the day-to-day management treasury activities, including swaps, borrowings, cash flow and liquidity management, monitoring compliance with Treasury Management Policy limits.
• Financial accounting, reporting, audit, technical accounting, compliance and financial control oversight of our Council-Controlled Organisations.
• Preparing and reviewing journals, reconciliations and supporting financial information.
• Supporting month-end and year-end processes, including statutory financial statements and disclosures.
• Providing practical technical accounting advice and helping with more complex or non-routine accounting matters.
• Supporting capital and asset accounting, including WIP, capitalisation, depreciation, disposals and revaluations.
• Working with our capital and infrastructure teams to ensure projects are accounted for accurately.
• Supporting audit requirements and maintaining strong financial controls and compliance with accounting standards.
• Working across Finance to ensure accurate, consistent data and a joined-up view of our financial position.
• Identifying opportunities to simplify processes, strengthen controls and improve the way we work.

Qualifications

Oo puumanawa me oo wheako | Your skills and experience

• Bachelor level degree in Accounting, Finance, Commerce, or equivalent.
• CA ANZ Chartered Accountant registration or internationally recognised equivalent professional qualification.
• 12+ years' experience in finance within a large or complex organisation, including roles in financial planning, financial accounting, performance reporting, business partnering, financial analysis, decision support, or related finance disciplines.
• 5+ years' experience in a financial accounting role, including statutory reporting, financial statements preparation, audit management, financial controls, treasury, taxation, compliance, or related accounting activities.
• Experience working with senior leaders, auditors, regulators, and external stakeholders to support governance, compliance, and financial reporting requirements.
• Experience in local government, infrastructure, or other complex organisational environments is desirable.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy
• Good understanding of accounting standards and financial controls
• Ability to apply technical accounting in practical situations
• Strong organisational and time management skills
• Ability to work collaboratively across teams
• Good communication skills
• High level of integrity and accountability
• Continuous improvement mindset

Additional Information

He aha te wariu o te utu kaimahi? | What’s the salary?

Circa $120,000 dependent on skills and experience.

Ngaa waahi whakarato painga kei a maatou: What we offer

We invest in our people, their wellbeing, and their future. That's why we offer a range of benefits designed to support you both inside and outside of work, including:

• We support flexible ways of working that balance individual wellbeing, team and business needs. And great outcomes for our community.
• We support professional development and opportunities to grow your career.
• Two wellbeing days each year to focus on what matters most to you (after one year of service).
• Fully funded Unimed health insurance, including hospital and surgical cover, with discounted rates for family members.
• Free annual health checks and flu vaccinations.
• The option to purchase additional annual leave for greater flexibility.
• Eye care support, including reimbursement towards eye testing and prescription glasses.
• Access to a wide range of local discounts, including gyms, healthcare providers, retail stores, and more.

If you wish to include a cover letter with your application, please combine this in the same file as your resume and upload as a PDF file. Alternatively, you can use the 'Write a message to the Hiring Team' text box.

Applications close on the:

24/11/2026

Note:

We will be shortlisting as we receive applications.

Council is committed to honouring the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi/Treaty of Waitangi through its relationship with Kiingitanga, Waikato Tainui, mana whenua and maataa waka within Hamilton Kirikiriroa.

All candidates will be notified of the outcome on their application via email. Short-listed candidates will be required to complete an interview process, reference checks and a criminal check. Further background checking will be required when relevant to the role. View more information about these checks, our commitment to the Privacy act and details for international applicants by clicking here

It is important to us that we support you throughout our selection process (interview and assessments). If you have any access needs during this process, let us know in advance so we can make sure these are met.

As a council, we believe in creating a welcoming environment where everyone feels valued and belongs. We value inclusiveness (Kotahitanga) – we respect and value the unique perspectives, experiences, and talents that everyone brings.

This role is being sourced directly. If/where Hamilton City Council requires the support of a recruitment agency, we will seek this support from our panel of selected agencies. Hamilton City Council will not be responsible for, and will not pay, any commissions, fees or other payments related to unsolicited contact.