Senior Programme Accountant | Wellington City

Job Description

Job Title: Senior Programme Accountant

Role type: Permanent, full-time preferred

Location: Wellington

Salary band & range: General Salary Range C: $119,376 - $139,700 depending on skills and experience

About the Role - Kōrero mō te Tūranga

Have you been a qualified chartered accountant for more than five years with large programme accounting experience either in the public or private space? Join our Capital & Project Accounting team and help shape MPI's strategic investment decisions.

Support one of NZ's largest lab builds and shape investment decisions that protect our borders and New Zealand's future.

Your key responsibilities will be to:

• Lead financials for major construction and ICT-intensive investment programmes.
• Provide financial advice to senior leaders and governance boards.
• Evaluate budget bids and advise on new investment opportunities.
• Manage capital spend and ensure accurate, timely forecasting.
• Lead with programme planning, budgeting, and risk reporting.
• Support month-end close and hands-on financial analysis.
• Collaborate across teams to identify and report financial risks early.
• Provide cover and insight across MPI's wider investment portfolio.
• Experience with TechOne is a bonus – we'll support your learning.

About You - Mōu

To be successful in this role, you will be a Chartered Accountant (CAANZ or equivalent) with 5+ years post qualification experience. You'll likely be working, or have worked, in a large programme environment within government or a Crown entity. You bring strong understanding of programme planning, budgetary processes, and systems relating to financial performance, reporting, and governance.

You will:

• Bring experience in managing capital programme financials and advising on strategic investment decisions.
• Work independently, solve problems, and take ownership of your responsibilities.
• Confidently lead financials and influence at the governance-level.
• Think strategically, critically, and assess wider organisational impacts and risks.
• Communicate clearly and engage stakeholders with insight and credibility.
• Have an eye for detail and early risk identification.
• Ensure programme financial reporting is compliant with relevant accounting standards and rules.
• Love to navigate complexity and proactively find solutions.

The role is highly stakeholder focused and requires someone with strong oral and written communication skills, and an ability to think innovatively about communicating information to stakeholders and customers.

Your mahi will directly support smarter investment decisions that protect Aotearoa's people, environment, and economy.

You do not need to meet all of the role requirements to apply. We offer a breadth of development and learning opportunities and will welcome an application if you think you could make a great fit.

About the Team - Mō tō mātou Rōpū

 You'll join a small, easy-going team of three who support each other and enjoy sharing knowledge and tools. Work alongside your two Wellington based colleagues focused on capital investment and programme financials. Both teammates are happy to train you on TechOne and internal systems and are excited to have you onboard.

The Capital & Project Accounting team is part of our Finance & Procurement directorate. We work closely with the business and programmes to provide financial support, including budget and forecast support, monitor the Ministry's capital investment, assist with business case development, and preparing reports for various governance boards/committees.

About MPI - Mō te Manatū Ahu Matua

We are 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 3 additional MPI leave days
• Ability to purchase extra annual leave
• Bi-annual paid eye test and contribution to the costs of corrective lenses/frames

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, whanau 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 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 30 July 2025

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

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