Senior Manager Audit and Integrity

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi; Wellington; Hybrid; NZD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life insurance

Income protection

Critical illness insurance

Job summary

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi is seeking a Senior Manager – Audit and Integrity to lead the internal and investment audit programmes across the organisation. You will report to the Group General Counsel and to the Board on the quality and impact of assurance reporting, ensuring independence and evidence-based findings.

You will lead a specialist team, drive integrity and governance improvements, and translate complex findings into practical organisational actions.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience leading internal audit, assurance or integrity functions in a large, complex public or corporate setting.
• Design and deliver risk-based audit programmes and integrated assurance frameworks with credibility at executive and Board levels.
• Deep understanding of internal audit standards and control frameworks, including Three Lines Model.

Responsibilities

• Lead NZTA’s internal and investment audit programmes, including value for money reviews and investment through the National Land Transport Programme.
• Oversee independent integrity function, including fraud prevention, protected disclosures and investigations.
• Build capability in the team and foster a culture of integrity, accountability and delivery.

Skills

Internal audit leadership

Integrated assurance

Three Lines Model

Fraud & misconduct management

Data analytics

People leadership

Education

Business/finance degree

CIA/CA/CPA qualification

Job description

• Lead an integrated audit, assurance and integrity portfolio with enterprise-wide impact.
• Deliver independent insight that strengthens Board and executive confidence.
• Critical leadership role based in either Auckland or Wellington.

Te Whiwhinga mahi | The opportunity

This newly established role brings together NZTA’s investment audit, internal audit, assurance and integrity functions to strengthen organisational performance and accountability.

Reporting to the Group General Counsel and directly accountable to the Board for the quality, independence and impact of internal audit activity and assurance reporting, you will provide clear, evidence-based assurance that strengthens governance, transparency and confidence in how NZTA operates.

As Senior Manager – Audit and Integrity, you will lead NZTA’s Board approved internal audit and investment audit programmes. The portfolio spans value for money, organisational systems and processes, and assurance over investment through the National Land Transport Programme. This includes leadership of investment audits (technical and procedural) for NZTA and Councils (Approved Organisations).

You will lead NZTA’s independent integrity function, strengthening fraud prevention, overseeing protected disclosures and investigations and ensuring findings lead to practical, lasting improvement.

Leading a specialist team, you will build capability, support independent judgement and foster a culture of integrity, accountability and delivery.

View the Position Description here.

Ko koe tēnei | About you

To Be Successful In This Role, You Will Bring

• Extensive experience leading internal audit, assurance or integrity functions in a large, complex environment.
• Proven ability to design and deliver risk-based audit programmes and integrated assurance frameworks, with credibility at executive leadership, Board and audit and risk committee level.
• Deep understanding of internal audit standards, control frameworks and the Three Lines Model.
• Strong expertise in integrity, fraud and misconduct management, including protected disclosures and investigation oversight is desired
• Sound judgement and strong communication skills, with the ability to use data and analytics to translate complex findings into practical organisational improvements.
• Highly developed people leadership capability, with experience leading, coaching and developing high-performing specialist teams
• A relevant tertiary qualification in business, accounting or finance or a related discipline, together with a recognised professional assurance or audit qualification such as CIA, CA or CPA.

You will demonstrate knowledge of, or a willingness to gain an understanding of Te Ao Māori and promote tikanga and Te Reo Māori. You will also have knowledge of, or a willingness to gain an appreciation of Te Tiriti o Waitangi as it applies in the public sector.

Ko wai mātou | About us

Our purpose is transport networks that deliver for people, places and New Zealand. Within Te Ama – Commercial and Corporate, the General Counsel Office enables NZTA to operate with commercial strength, integrity and resilience through expert leadership in governance, legal, procurement, risk and assurance.

Along with our other benefits, we offer Waka Kotahi Life, Income Protection and Critical Illness Insurance for permanent employees.

If you combine independence of judgement with a practical focus on better controls, stronger integrity and lasting improvement, we welcome your application.

Rā Katinga | Applications close:

14 November 2026

For further information, email: [e-mail]

To be considered for this position you must have a legal right to live and work in New Zealand.

Waka Kotahi is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). We recognise the importance of diversity and inclusion and are committed to providing a working environment that embraces these values. Please let us know if you need any support or have any access requirements that will help you through the recruitment process.

Please note that we may begin shortlisting as we receive applications. We encourage early applications as we may withdraw the advertising at any time.