Senior Management Accountant

Downer; Auckland; On-site; NZD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Perks@Downer

Job summary

Downer is seeking a Senior Management Accountant to join the Energy & Utilities - Water NZ finance team, supporting a portfolio of complex, high-value infrastructure projects. You will deliver accurate management reporting, assist budgeting/forecasting, and partner with leaders to monitor performance across WIP, margins, and costs.

The ideal candidate brings 7+ years in management/project accounting, advanced Excel skills, and ERP experience (SAP/JDE/Dynamics/Jobpac).

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualification in Accounting, Commerce or related field, with CPA/CA
• 7+ years' experience in management accounting, project accounting, or a similar role
• Strong budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis within a project/operational environment
• Advanced Excel skills and experience with ERP systems (SAP, JDE, Dynamics, Jobpac or similar)
• Strong communication, stakeholder engagement, and problem-solving skills with a high level of attention to detail

Responsibilities

• Deliver accurate and timely management reporting, including month-end close, variance analysis, and performance insights
• Support budgeting and forecasting processes across project and operational portfolios
• Partner with project and operational leaders to monitor financial performance, including WIP, margins, and cost control
• Analyse financial data to identify risks, opportunities, and improvement initiatives
• Contribute to audit processes, compliance requirements, and continuous improvement of financial systems and processes

Skills

Commercial mindset

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Commerce

CPA/CA

Tools

SAP

JD Edwards

Dynamics

Jobpac

Job description

The opportunity We are seeking a Senior Management Accountant to join our Energy & Utilities - Water NZ finance team, supporting a portfolio of complex and high-value infrastructure projects. Reporting to the Head of Finance - Water NZ, this role sits within a collaborative finance function and plays a key role in delivering accurate financial reporting, analysis, and insights that support operational and strategic decision-making. This is a critical position within the finance team, providing strong technical accounting expertise, driving financial discipline, and ensuring robust performance tracking across projects. You'll be joining a high-performing, supportive team that values accuracy, commercial thinking, and continuous improvement, contributing directly to the delivery of essential water infrastructure that supports communities across New Zealand.

What you'll do

• Deliver accurate and timely management reporting, including month-end close, variance analysis, and performance insights
• Support budgeting and forecasting processes across project and operational portfolios
• Partner with project and operational leaders to monitor financial performance, including WIP, margins, and cost control
• Analyse financial data to identify risks, opportunities, and improvement initiatives
• Contribute to audit processes, compliance requirements, and continuous improvement of financial systems and processes

What we offer

• Competitive remuneration package
• Access to Downer's employee benefits including Perks@Downer (retail, travel, and wellbeing discounts)
• Career development pathways, leadership programs (e.g. THRIVE, EmpowHER), and strong internal mobility opportunities within Energy & Utilities
• The opportunity to work within a Tier 1 ASX-listed organisation with large-scale, complex infrastructure projects
• Supportive team culture with a focus on collaboration, development, and high performance

What we're looking for

We're looking for a commercially minded and technically strong finance professional who thrives in a complex project environment. You will bring a proactive approach, strong analytical capability, and the ability to partner effectively with both finance and operational stakeholders.

• Tertiary qualification in Accounting, Commerce or related field, with CPA/CA
• 7+ years' experience in management accounting, project accounting, or a similar role
• Strong experience in budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis within a project or operational environment
• Advanced Excel skills and experience with ERP systems (e.g. SAP, JDE, Dynamics, Jobpac or similar)
• Strong communication, stakeholder engagement, and problem-solving skills with a high level of attention to detail

About Energy & Utilities…

Downer's Energy & Utilities business unit is an integrated trans-Tasman team, providing services and solutions that connect communities to essential networks and infrastructure. We design, build, operate and maintain today's critical assets and networks, delivering complete services across the water, electricity, telecommunications, industrial and power generation sectors. Our expertise spans in-house technical smarts, specialist engineering, integrated OEM partners, and dedicated crews of qualified tradespeople.

Downer Group is an employer that acknowledges and embraces the importance of our people's diverse experiences, talents, and cultures. As an inclusive employer, we welcome applications from everyone.