Project Accountant

About us

The Waipā District is one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s high-growth regions. At Waipā District Council, we are focused on enabling this growth in a way that strengthens vibrant communities, protects our environment, and honours the unique heritage of our district.

Our work is grounded in service to our community; delivering trusted infrastructure, sustainable planning, and strong financial stewardship that supports both current and future generations.

About the role

We are seeking a capable and motivated Project Accountant to join our Finance team on a fixed-term basis covering a parental leave period of 6 July 2026 - 19 March 2027 (ideally with and additional handover period at either end for the start and conclusion).

This is a key role within our Finance function, supporting the delivery of critical financial systems, reporting, and Council-wide financial processes during a busy and important planning cycle.

Why this role matters

This role plays an essential part in ensuring the integrity, accuracy, and efficiency of Council’s financial systems and processes. Your work will directly support key Council deliverables such as the Annual Plan, Long-Term Plan (LTP), Annual Report, and rates modelling processes, helping ensure informed decision-making for the community we serve.

You will also contribute to continuous improvement across financial systems and processes, helping ensure Council resources are used effectively, transparently, and in alignment with best practice public sector financial management.

In short, this role helps ensure Council can confidently plan, deliver, and report on services that matter to our community.

Key responsibilities

In this role, you will:

• Support the delivery and continuous improvement of financial systems, processes, and reporting frameworks
• Lead and support key finance workstreams including Annual Report, Annual Plan, and Long-Term Plan processes
• Maintain and enhance financial systems, including system upgrades, configuration changes, and testing coordination
• Support rates modelling processes and financial system tools (including IBIS and related systems)
• Develop, document, and improve financial procedures and controls to ensure consistency and compliance
• Support system users through training, guidance, and troubleshooting
• Contribute to process improvement initiatives, including identifying efficiencies and reducing duplication
• Assist with financial system reporting, automation, and data integrity improvements
• Collaborate with Finance colleagues, Business Improvement, and Information Systems teams on projects and enhancements
• Support compliance requirements including audit queries, policy updates, and financial controls
• Contribute to business cases, project planning, and implementation of finance-related improvements
• Maintain and improve system knowledge to support effective use across the Finance team

About you

We are looking for someone who brings both strong technical capability and a practical, solutions-focused mindset.

You will ideally have:

• A tertiary qualification in Accounting, Finance, or a related discipline
• Experience working in a finance or accounting environment (public sector experience is an advantage but not essential)
• Strong understanding of financial systems, accounting software, and data integrity principles
• Experience with financial systems implementation, support, or improvement projects
• The ability to interpret financial information and support system and process improvements
• Strong communication skills and a collaborative working style
• The ability to manage competing priorities and contribute effectively to project-based work

We welcome applications from people with a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. If you meet some but not all of the above, we still encourage you to apply.

What we offer

At Waipā District Council, you’ll be part of a supportive and knowledgeable Finance team that values collaboration, learning, and continuous improvement.

We offer:

• A friendly and professional team environment
• The opportunity to contribute to meaningful work that supports the local community
• Flexible working arrangements, including the ability to work from home part of the week
• A culture that values wellbeing, development, and teamwork
• Exposure to interesting, varied, and impactful finance projects

Applications close: Wednesday, 20 May 2026 at 5.00pm

For a confidential discussion, contact: David Dugmore – P\&C Business Partner [email protected]

Please note: Applications may be reviewed and progressed prior to the closing date.

Reference # 38771

Posted on 06 May 2026

Closes on 20 May 2026 17:00

Location(s) Cambridge, Te Awamutu

Expertise Accounting \& Financial Services

Job level(s) Experienced

Work type(s) Fixed term full-time