Chief Financial Officer

Tā tātou atarua (Our vision): Enabling what matters

He rau ringa e pakari ai ngā taura whiri i ō tātou kāinga noho me ō tātou hapori – mai i te pae maunga o Tararua ki te moana. With many hands the threads which weave our neighbourhoods and communities together will be strengthened from the Tararua Ranges to the sea.

Horowhenua District Council serves a diverse and growing community, managing everything from infrastructure and planning to community services and environmental protection. We're committed to upholding Te Tiriti o Waitangi, protecting our natural environment, and building resilient, connected communities where people of all ages and backgrounds feel included and safe.

We are proud to be an inclusive workplace. We celebrate diversity and empower our people to thrive. We're an organisation built on innovation and optimism, motivated to create outstanding careers and a better Horowhenua for current and future generations.

He angitūtanga: The opportunity

Are you ready to transform financial management into strategic leadership? Do you excel at providing commercial insights that drive decision-making, building financial capability across organisations, and positioning Finance as a true business partner?

As our Chief Financial Officer, you will be the Council's senior financial executive, providing strategic financial leadership and commercial guidance across the full breadth of Council operations. You will support Council and the Executive Leadership Team to achieve organisational and community outcomes by delivering high-quality insights, forward-looking analysis, and sound commercial advice that enables sustainable, evidence-based decision-making.

This is your chance to lead the transformation of Finance into a provider of Strategic Financial Management, contributing to shaping the future of Horowhenua, strengthening the threads that weave our neighbourhoods and communities together, from the Tararua Ranges to the sea.

Ngā mahi matua: What you'll be doing

This role will position Finance as a strategic partner across the organisation, building strong relationships with our Executive, Council committees, and Community Board. You will provide trusted advice on financial issues, investment decisions, and commercial opportunities while championing a strong business partnering model that builds our financial capability.

In addition, the CFO will lead excellence in financial management, long-term planning, budgeting, treasury, and statutory reporting. It will oversee the development of Annual Plans and Long-Term Plans, manage Council's treasury activities, and drive the modernisation of financial systems and processes. It will also develop funding strategies and financial models in response to increasing service delivery costs and revenue pressure.

This is a leadership role where your expertise genuinely shapes organisational success and community outcomes. It leads transformational change in the Finance function, works with passionate leaders across the organisation, and drives meaningful improvements in financial sustainability and resilience.

He kōrero mōu: About you

Great candidates for this role will bring their leadership experience, supporting teams to achieve targets with a collaborative approach. You have strong commercial acumen and the ability to translate complex financial information into clear, actionable insights that guide strategic decision-making. You know how to balance financial rigour with practical, forward-thinking solutions and are comfortable managing financial risk while building capability across the organisation.

A CA is highly desirable, and experience in local government or complex public sector environments would be helpful, though what matters most is your ability to provide strategic financial leadership with confidence, integrity, and vision.

To apply in strict confidence now, click 'Apply for this job' or email your cover letter and CV to quoting 8993sk. Applications close on 29th January 2026, 9am. Emails will be electronically acknowledged and further correspondence may be by email.

To view the Position Description document, please click here.

For more information please phone Nick Buck on