Head of Finance/CFO

Richmond, New Zealand

Reference: 6891899

Tasman District Council is a dynamic and forward‑thinking local authority serving the beautiful Nelson-Tasman region.

With a strong focus on community wellbeing, sustainability and future resilience, the Council plays a vital role in delivering essential services, shaping growth and making a real difference for residents, businesses and visitors alike.

The opportunity
Reporting to the Group Manager - Strategy & Finance, the Head of Finance/CFO leads the stewardship of Council's financial sustainability, providing clear, strategic insight to support confident decision‑making. The role oversees financial planning, reporting, treasury, audit, systems and compliance, acting as a trusted adviser to the CEO, Executive Leadership Team and elected members. Through strong leadership and continuous improvement, you will build organisational financial capability and deliver transparent, value‑for‑money outcomes aligned with the Council's long‑term vision.

About you
We are looking for a seasoned finance leader who brings maturity, composure and strong interpersonal capability. As a Chartered Accountant, you have a strong track record of leading financial stewardship in complex, high‑accountability environments and of influencing at executive and governance levels. You combine calm authority with a collaborative, coaching leadership style, enabling strong performance, sustainable outcomes and sound decision‑making under scrutiny. Experience in local government is valued, though leaders from similarly complex or regulated sectors are also encouraged to apply.

Why Tasman District Council?
Tasman District Council combines the resources of a large organisation with the close-knit culture of a smaller one. You'll work alongside respected leaders across diverse professions, contribute meaningfully to your community, and enjoy a supportive, values-driven workplace, all set in the stunning Nelson-Tasman region, right on the doorstep of three national parks.

This is a role where you can genuinely shape the region you live and play in. Alongside that, we offer a competitive total reward package including base salary, an additional 11.5% flexible benefits allocation, and medical insurance. The benefits package gives you the flexibility to tailor what matters most, from superannuation to wellbeing and lifestyle support. Relocation assistance is also available.

Please note this role is being recruited by Brannigans - for more information or to apply please visit the Brannigans webiste https://brannigans.co.nz/job/job-858658.

For initial queries please contact Odette Shearer 03 546 8649 or email odette.shearer@brannigans.co.nz


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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).