Senior Adviser Audit & Assurance | Wellington City

Job Description

Job title: Senior Adviser Audit and Assurance

Role type: Full time, permanent

Location: Wellington City

Salary band & range: General Salary Range D $100,934 to $129,804 depending on skills and experience

About the Role - Kōrero mō te Tūranga

This is a fantastic opportunity to step into a senior role where your work will make a real difference. You'll deliver high-quality assurance services that support the directorate's vision to Assure, Advise, and Anticipate. The role offers exposure to a wide range of audits across Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI's) diverse business areas from biosecurity and food safety to fisheries and forestry. You'll enjoy the variety and scale of MPI's work, supporting New Zealand's food production and export industries.

You'll design and carry out audit work programmes that help answer important questions and provide trusted advice. Our team is well regarded across the organisation, with strong support from senior leaders and a reputation for delivering value. You'll work with a range of stakeholders, building relationships and gaining experience that supports your career trajectory.

You'll be involved in:

• Delivering high-quality audits and ad hoc reviews across MPI's varied business areas
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with stakeholders across MPI
• Working in and contributing to a team that is trusted, well regarded, and supported by senior leadership
• Applying your curiosity and internal audit experience to interesting and varied work
• Identifying risks across MPI and facilitating development of an annual audit roadmap to address these
• Supporting management with development of presentations for senior leadership teams
• Helping assess MPI's readiness for biosecurity incursions and adverse weather events

About You - Mōu

You're an experienced internal audit practitioner who enjoys helping the public sector improve how it works. You're confident working with senior leaders and can give clear, practical advice that supports better decision-making. You bring strong skills in analysing risks, reviewing systems and processes, and delivering high-quality audits. You're someone who enjoys the breadth and impact of work in a dynamic and complex environment. 

A relevant tertiary qualification and a Chartered Accountant (CA) or Certified Public Accountant (CPA) qualification are essential for the role. Further certifications, such as Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) or Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) are desirable.

You also have at least three years of either internal or external audit experience. Previous exposure to the public sector is beneficial but not required. You are ready to take the next step in your career and gain broad exposure to different types of audits.

You're someone who:

• Understands how to provide assurance on decision-making, behaviours, and controls
• Can execute audits and reviews, from planning through to reporting, in a timely manner
• Gives forward-thinking advice to help leaders manage risks and improve performance
• Can identify risks before they become issues and help the business unit act early and effectively
• Works collaboratively with others
• Is flexible and ready to respond to changing needs across the Ministry
• Always acts with integrity and keeps information private and secure

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 be joining a Wellington based team of six friendly professionals who enjoy working together and supporting one another. The team is collaborative, approachable, and highly motivated, with a strong reputation for delivering high quality assurance services across MPI. Team members are committed to excellence and take pride in the quality and impact of their work.

About MPI - Mō te Manatū Ahu Matua

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) partners with New Zealand's food and fibre sector to be the world's most trusted provider of high-value food and fibre products.

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

• Additional MPI leave days
• Ability to purchase extra annual leave
• Annual Wellness payment

Security checks - Ngā Taki Whakahaumaru

Low level Security Clearance

• Most preferably a NZ citizen, who has resided continuously in NZ for at least the last five (5) years, OR
• Is a citizen of, and/or has resided continuously in one or more of the following countries for the last five (5) years: either Australia, Canada, NZ, the United Kingdom (UK) or the United States of America (USA); and has a background history that is verifiable and can be assessed as appropriate by the NZ Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) towards a recommendation of suitability for a security clearance at this level.
• Click here to find out more about the national security vetting process and access the eligibility self-check tool.

If you do not meet these minimum criteria, we will not be able to accept your application.

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 interests, 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 11.59 pm Wednesday 29 April 2026  

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

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