Accountant - Three Waters

Richmond, New Zealand

Reference: 6864797

  • Make a real difference to your community through smart, future focused financial leadership‑focused financial leadership.
  • Shape a new role in an evolving environment and make it your own
  • Enjoy flexibility, support and values led leadership‑led leadership

We're looking for an experienced Accountant - Three Waters to join our Finance Strategy & Planning team. This is a key role supporting the financial management of drinking water, wastewater and stormwater services that our communities rely on every day.

If you enjoy working with complex information, partnering with operational teams, and translating numbers into clear insights that support good decisions , this could be the role for you.

About the role

Reporting to the Finance Strategy & Planning Manager, with day to day oversight from the Group Manager - Three Waters, you'll be the trusted finance partner for all things Three Waters.

In this role, you'll:

  • Lead Three Waters financial reporting, budgeting and forecasting across operations, assets and major projects
  • Provide funding, pricing and treasury support, including debt, cashflow and insurance
  • Deliver accurate, compliant financial reporting for regulators, with strong controls and audit ready records ‑ready records
  • Support system improvements and work closely with operational and regulatory teams, including on projects like the Waimea Community Dam

About you

You're a confident, technically strong accountant who enjoys working in a complex, evolving environment.

What will help you succeed:

  • Chartered Accountant (or equivalent) with a relevant qualification and experience working in a complex organisation
  • Strong capability in financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting and applying accounting standards in practice
  • Confidence working with financial systems and data, with advanced Excel skills and a sharp eye for detail
  • A practical, problem solving mindset and the ability to communicate financial information clearly to nonfinancial audiences‑solving mindset and the ability to communicate financial information clearly to non‑financial audiences

Why join us?

This is an opportunity to be part of an organisation that's focused on delivering public value and supporting thriving, resilient communities.

We offer:

  • A supportive, values led team environment‑led team environment
  • Meaningful work that makes a visible difference to the community
  • Health insurance
  • Flexible working arrangements
  • Ongoing professional development
  • A competitive benefits package
  • And yes — a day off on your birthday!

Sound like you?
If you're ready to use your financial expertise to support essential community services and be part of something that truly matters, we'd love to hear from you.

Applications Close: 09 Mar 2026

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What to expect after you apply

Once the vacancy closes you'll be contacted within 7 days as to whether or not your application has been successful.  If you've been shortlisted for an interview, you'll be contacted by one of the People & Wellbeing team to arrange a time to come in and meet with some of the team. 

We typically only do one interview, however depending on the seniority of the role or the role itself, we sometimes require two interviews.  For mid-senior level and team leader/manager roles, you may also be required to undertake psychometric testing.

In your interview, there will be a member of the People & Wellbeing team, the Hiring Manager and either their Manager or one of the senior member's of their team.  Our interview questions are predominantly behavioural and skills-based.

Summer Student Internships

Every year we employ a number of Summer Students across the Council to work for a period of 12-16 weeks over the summer months (mid-November to February). This is a great opportunity to gain work experience in your field of study, advertising begins early July, All applications are to be submitted via our website in July.

We typically have vacancies in Engineering, Environmental Information (Hydrology, Resource Science and Biosecurity), Information Services and Regulatory (Compliance Monitoring).

If you're an Engineering student interested in a Rivers Engineering career/Summer Student position, check out this website for more information - Careers | Resilient River Communities - Careers | Resilient River Communities (resilientrivers.nz).