Finance Manager

Job Description : FINANCE MANAGER AUCKLAND NEW ZELAND This pivotal role offers you the chance to provide financial guidance during a period of significant organisational transformation, ensuring continuity and excellence in financial services while leading a dedicated team through change. You will play an instrumental part in shaping the future of the finance function, working closely with executive leaders and cross-functional teams to deliver financial insights. What you'll do: As Finance Manager, you will be entrusted with steering the finance function through an evolving landscape marked by organisational change. Your day-to-day responsibilities will see you championing best practices in financial operations while nurturing a collaborative team culture. You will be responsible for ensuring that all financial activities—from month-end closes to executive reporting—are executed seamlessly. By working closely with both internal stakeholders and external partners, you will facilitate smooth transitions of business units while safeguarding the integrity of financial data. Your ability to interpret complex information into clear insights will empower leadership teams to make informed decisions. In addition to operational duties, you will play an active role in coaching your team through periods of ambiguity, helping them adapt to new challenges while upholding high standards of service delivery. Your commitment to continuous improvement will be vital as you identify opportunities for process enhancement and contribute positively to the organisation’s mission. Provide thoughtful leadership to Financial Analysts and Finance Business Partners, maintaining team morale and performance during times of organisational change. Oversee all aspects of month-end close processes, reconciliations, and management reporting to ensure accuracy and timeliness. Deliver quality assurance across reconciliations, forecasts, and executive-level reports while presenting monthly results to the Executive Leadership Team. Collaborate with university finance teams to align reporting processes and resources throughout business transitions. Support the seamless transfer or divestment of business units by managing financial operations in line with agreed timelines. Work closely with project teams to guarantee uninterrupted delivery of core financial services during periods of change. Apply sound judgement in financial decision-making amidst uncertainty, always prioritising risk minimisation and compliance. Develop comprehensive financial dashboards and reports that provide actionable insights into business performance and emerging trends. Lead planning for forecasting and budgeting rounds, partnering with business managers to produce accurate budgets aligned with strategic goals. Coach and mentor staff through ambiguity, providing regular feedback, recognising achievements, and fostering a cohesive team environment. What you bring: To excel as Finance Manager, your background will reflect substantial experience in senior finance roles where you have demonstrated both technical acumen and people-centred leadership. Your qualifications will include recognised credentials such as CA or CPA status paired with tertiary education in accounting or finance. You bring proven capability managing complex budgeting cycles, producing insightful analysis for executive stakeholders, and driving process improvements that enhance overall efficiency. Your approach is grounded in empathy; you understand how to motivate teams during challenging times while maintaining open communication channels. Familiarity with advanced reporting tools like Power BI allows you to translate intricate data sets into accessible insights that inform strategy at every level. Your resilience shines when navigating ambiguity—balancing attention to detail with adaptability ensures continued delivery of high-quality outputs even amidst shifting priorities. Above all else, your collaborative spirit fosters trust among colleagues as you work together towards shared goals. Tertiary degree in accounting or finance along with CA or CPA (or equivalent) professional qualification is essential for success in this position. A minimum of five years’ experience in financial management or financial planning and analysis within commercial or similar environments is required. Demonstrated expertise in leading teams through periods of change while maintaining engagement and high performance is highly valued. Proven track record in stakeholder management with strong interpersonal skills for effective cross-functional collaboration is necessary. Exceptional analytical abilities enabling you to interpret data accurately and present compelling narratives for executive audiences are crucial. Experience developing budgets, forecasts, and delivering timely board-level reports that add value across multiple business areas is important. A keen eye for detail combined with excellent time management skills ensures deadlines are consistently met without compromising quality. Resilience coupled with a positive attitude enables you to thrive under pressure while supporting others through uncertainty. Continuous improvement mindset with experience identifying strategies that minimise risk enhances your suitability for this role.

---