Principal Advisor, Strategic Finance

**About MSD**

The Ministry of Social Development is a people-centred organisation. We're in communities across the motu, working with partners to help New Zealanders be safe, strong and independent.

We provide social policy and advice to government and assistance, including income, employment and housing support to people of all ages, families, whanau and communities.

As a Te Tiriti o Waitangi partner we are committed to supporting and enabling Maori, whanau, hapu, Iwi and communities to realise their own potential and aspirations.

Our people are as diverse as the communities we serve. We care about the wellbeing and success of our people and provide a supportive and inclusive working environment where people can thrive and be who they are.

**About the Strategic Finance team**

The Ministry for Social Development (MSD) helps New Zealanders to be safe, strong and independent, with Vote Social Development being the biggest vote in Government. We are focused on:

- Getting New Zealanders working (employment)
- Supporting people with their housing needs (housing)
- Providing the income support people need (income support)
- Partnering with others (communities/partnerships)
- Enabling MSD people to help New Zealanders - supported by our Te Pae Tawhiti transformation programme

Within our wider finance group, our Strategic Finance team supports MSD's strategy by enabling effective resource allocation and prioritisation. We lead and support financial sustainability with the social development system, and provide high quality, timely, accurate and relevant information and advice to support robust evidence-based investment and financial decisions. We connect financial and non-financial performance and partner with customers to understand and support business outcomes.

We offer a great place to work, with a professional environment which invests in building capability and promoting teamwork. We aim to continually and progressively improve all aspects of the finance function.

**Principal Advisor, Strategic Finance**
- Varied, challenging and highly rewarding role leading strategic finance advice for the largest vote in Government
- Wellington CBD based - Permanent full-time position

As a Principal Advisor within our Strategic Finance team you will maintain a MSD-wide overview of activities and provide high-level technical and thought leadership, and best practice specialist advice and support across both MSD and the finance business group. You will:

- support development of the Long-Term Investment and Capital Plans
- provide leadership on the organisation's External and Internal Budgets, including reporting against Budget Initiatives
- ensure MSD can determine and articulate the financial implications of its organisational strategy and ensure accounting, cost modelling and financial analysis processes are well integrated, and in line with best practice
- engage with internal stakeholders across MSD and with various external stakeholders, particularly the Transformation Group and Treasury

**To be successful in this role you will ideally have;**
- A tertiary qualification in a relevant discipline or equivalent operational experience
- Experience developing financial models for business cases
- CA or its equivalent is desirable
- Strong project and people management skills
- Sound knowledge of Machinery of Government and State Sector processes and systems
- A strong understanding of annual budget cycle processes (including policy and appropriation processes)
- Extensive experience and knowledge of government accountability processes
- A high-level understanding of management and strategic issues
- Proven ability to manage key relationships at a senior level both internally and externally
- Highly developed analytical skills and an in-depth understanding of the finance arena

All-in-all a busy role with loads of variety If this appeals then we would love to hear from you.

**Position Description**

**Salary range: $141,109.00 - $175,603.00**

**How to apply**

**Note**: Your cover letter will be a key part of our assessment process, so please highlight how your experience relates to the key responsibilities listed in the position description.

**Internal MSD Employees**:
**Closing date: Sunday, 08 December 2024**

**Joining us**

Joining MSD means being part of a whanau that celebrates the diversity each individual represents. We show manaaki, we care about the wellbeing and success of people and want everyone to thrive, and be who they are in a supportive and inclusive working environment. We work together to make a difference for communities while doing the right thing with integrity. We are a Treaty partner committed to strengthening relationships with Maori, Hapu, Iwi and communities to realise their own potential and aspirations.
- MSD has a COVID-19 vaccination policy that encourages, but does not require, employees to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and its variants, unless the role is identified as re