Business Accountant | Wellington City

Job Description

Job Title: Business Accountant

Role Type: Full-time, Permanent

Location: Wellington

General Salary Range Band D: $98,955 to $115,691 depending on skills and experience

About the Role - Kōrero mō te Tūranga

The Business Accountant plays a key role in building trusted relationships and delivering exceptional customer service to an assigned business unit within MPI. Acting as the main financial point of contact, the role provides reliable, consistent financial advice and insight to MPI managers, supporting core processes such as budgeting, forecasting, and reporting.

Our business unit is a commercially focussed, customer facing. Collaboration across Corporate Services teams is essential, particularly to ensure continuity of service and build capability should team members leave. This includes developing a well-rounded financial skillset across areas such as balance sheet management, cash flow, audits, capital project oversight, and management accounting.

Key focus areas include:

• supporting a cost-recovery model for the Food Safety business unit
• partnering with a team managing a $100M operation that includes vets, food scientists, and diverse business functions
• working on initiatives related to vet certifications, cost recovery mechanisms, and commercial services.

About You - Mōu

We're looking for a Chartered Accountant with a background in either the big four, government accounting, or commercial finance. You'll thrive in this role if you can work independently, hold your own in conversations with senior leaders and cost centre managers, and bring strong interpersonal skills to the table. This isn't a role for someone who prefers to stay in the background—confidence and presence are key.

You should be comfortable having challenging conversations while also being an attentive, thoughtful listener.

To thrive in this role, you'll ideally have:

• strong management accounting experience, paired with analytical and problem-solving abilities
• proven capability in building and maintaining effective working relationships
• a collaborative, customer-focused mindset and the ability to work well within and across teams
• familiarity with Central Government financial systems and Finance One would be a distinct advantage, but not essential.

Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, are critical. You'll also need exceptional time management abilities and the confidence to juggle priorities in a dynamic environment.

About the Team - Mō tō mātou rōpū

You'll be part of the Management Accounting team within the Finance and Procurement directorate You will join a supportive team that take pride in their work and strive for excellence. You'll be well supported in your role by the Finance Manager, who'll you'll report to, and the Manager Management Accounting.

About MPI - Mō te Manatū Ahu Matua 

We're passionate about growing prosperity in the sector while ensuring respect for Kaitiaki – guardianship of our natural resources.

Benefits of working at MPI - Ngā hua o te Mahi i te Manatū Ahu Matua

• Up to three additional (MPI holidays) leave days
• Career development and internal opportunities across the branch and organisation
• Annual Wellness payment

Are you ready to make a difference? - Kua rite koe mō tēnei mahi whaitake?

We are committed to being a good partner under Te Tiriti o Waitangi which includes working closely with iwi, hapū, whānau and hāpori.

We aspire to reflect the diverse communities we serve, so we welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, and identities. As an organisation, we are committed to making Manatū Ahu Matua Ministry for Primary Industries a great place to work for all.

In your cover letter we'd like to know about you, your values; your interest and motivations for this role; the abilities, strengths, personal attributes and diverse perspectives you will bring to the role and this organisation, which may have also been gained outside of the workforce.

To view the position description and/or apply online, please click “APPLY FOR THIS JOB” or visit the MPI Careers Site. To apply, you must hold the right to work in New Zealand or be eligible to obtain it – click here to find out more about work visa eligibility and options.

Applications close at 11.59pm Sunday 13 July

If you have any questions about the role, please email fiona.ramson@mpi.govt.nz

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