At Napier City Council, good financial decisions underpin the services, projects and investments we deliver for our community. We’re looking for an experienced Financial Business Partner to join our Business Performance & Data team and play an important role in helping NCC understand it’s financial picture, plan ahead and make well-informed decisions.
Working across Council, you’ll partner with senior leaders to provide practical financial advice, meaningful analysis and insight across budgeting, forecasting, management reporting and planning. You’ll help connect financial performance with operational priorities – supporting everything from day-to-day budget management and project funding through to scenario planning, investment decisions and Annual and Long-Term Plans.
This is an opportunity to bring together your technical financial expertise and your ability to build trusted relationships. You won’t simply report on the numbers – you’ll help people understand what sits behind them, identify risks and opportunities, challenge thinking where needed and support stronger financial capability and decision-making across the organisation.
Te Āheinga - The Opportunity
This is a broad business partnering role where you’ll work across different areas of Council, building an understanding of their services, priorities and financial pressures. You’ll work alongside Heads of Departments and business unit managers throughout the financial cycle, providing the advice, analysis and insight they need to understand performance, plan ahead and make informed decisions.
Your role will also extend into Council’s wider planning and investment activities, contributing financial expertise to our Annual Plan and Long-Term Plan, project funding, scenario planning and capital asset management.
Some of the key areas you’ll be involved in include:
Providing proactive financial advice, analysis and support to Heads of Departments and their budget unit managers
Leading budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis and regular financial reviews across your business areas
Translating financial information into clear insights and recommendations that support decision-making
Supporting scenario planning, investment analysis and assessment of financial risks and opportunities
Contributing financial inputs into Council’s Annual Plan and Long Term Plan processes
Monitoring project funding, budget phasing and the financial performance of Council activities
Supporting capital asset processes including valuations, capitalisation, classification and depreciation
Identifying opportunities to strengthen financial reporting, processes and financial capability across Council
He kōrero mōhou - About You
You’re an experienced finance professional who enjoys being close to the business and understands that great financial partnering is about more than producing accurate numbers.
You’ll be comfortable working with people who have varying levels of financial knowledge, taking complex information and making it clear, relevant and useful. You’ll be naturally curious, confident asking questions and able to provide constructive advice and challenge when it’s needed, while building strong and trusted working relationships.
You’ll bring:
A relevant tertiary qualification in Accounting or a related discipline
Around 7–8 years’ proven experience in senior accounting or financial business partnering roles
Membership of a professional accounting association
Advanced knowledge of financial and management accounting principles
Strong budgeting, forecasting, financial analysis and management reporting capability
Advanced Excel skills, including financial modelling, data analysis, pivot tables and formulas
Experience working with financial systems and reporting tools
Strong communication skills and the ability to turn complex financial information into practical, actionable insights
A collaborative and customer-focused approach, with the ability to build effective relationships across an organisation
Strong organisation, adaptability and the ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines
Experience working within local government would be an advantage, but isn’t essential.
If you enjoy combining strong financial capability with genuine business partnering, and want the opportunity to influence decisions across a diverse organisation, we’d love to hear from you.
Ngā painga mōhou - What we Offer
5 weeks' annual leave after 2 years service
Discounted health insurance work scheme + Eye test subsidy
Retailer discounts + study assistance
Employee Assistance Program (OCP)
Quarterly values awards + Birthday vouchers + Social club
Free flu vaccinations (annual)
Ka Awatea Cultural Wānanga + NCC Kapa Haka
Te Reo Māori language classes
Flexi work arrangements
This is a permanent, full-time opportunity working 40 hours per week, Monday-Friday. You will be based in Napier.
The annual salary package for this role is between $107,375 - $120,008 (including KiwiSaver) with the final offer depending on your skills and experience.
We will be interviewing applications as we receive them and may close the role when we have found the right person. Please do not delay in making your application.
He kōrero mō Te Kaunihera o Ahuriri - About NCC
At Napier City Council, we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer that values diversity. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and work to make our hiring process fair and accessible. If you need any support or adjustments during your application or interview, let us know—we’re happy to help!
Our success is grounded in strong partnerships with Mana Whenua and Iwi, supported by our Māori Partnerships team, Te Waka Rangapū, which builds cultural capability through education and training.
Before you join, you’ll need to complete pre-employment checks (including criminal background checks, with some roles requiring health screening and drug & alcohol testing). As an NCC employee, you may also be called on to support Civil Defence emergencies when our community needs us most.
Please visit Napier City Council Careers website to see full job description
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