Financial Accountant
On this page
Tēnei tūranga – About the role
The purpose of this position is to support the Financial Accounting team and the Financial Control function. The Financial Accountant is a specialist in MBIE responsible for ensuring the completeness and integrity of all General Ledger reporting information to facilitate Departmental, Non-Departmental and Trusts reporting.
The Financial Accountant will bring their expert business understanding and perspective ensuring quality and consistency of advice and practices in relation to their area of expertise.
Ngā herenga – Requirements of the role
Personal specifications
- Experience in and good understanding of the principles and processes for processing/administering accounts receivable and payables in a large organisation.
- Experience working with and familiarity of financial statements and knowledge of public sector reporting requirements.
- Intermediate to advanced excel skills.
- Familiarity and understanding of financial reporting and reconciliation processes.
- Experience and working knowledge of computerised financial information systems.
- Demonstrated communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to clearly communicate technical information in plain language both written and verbally.
- A passion for improving business processes while maintaining a strong internal control environment.
- A positive, flexible and agile approach to work with a can do attitude.
- Chartered Accountant qualified or on the track to be fully qualified is desirable.
- CFIS reporting experience is desirable.
Prerequisites
- Must have the right to live and work in New Zealand.
- Must consent to and satisfactorily complete a credit check.
Takohanga tuhinga o mua – Key accountabilities and deliverables
Financial accounting services
- Delivery of specialist Financial Accounting services that actively support and contribute to the achievement of the Ministry’s outcomes and that deliver to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
- Deliver quality month end processes to support the attestation process across the general ledger and balance sheet requirements in line with task management assignments and meeting deadlines to facilitate reporting.
- All accruals, provision and prepayment entries are completed on a timely and accurate basis and can be supported by robust calculations and assumptions which can be validated by supporting analysis.
- Detailed monthly General Ledger Balance Sheet reconciliations occur for all entities are provided to the Manager of Financial Accounting to review, and ensuring there is a robust process to clear outstanding reconciling items identified and that all balances are validated by supporting documentation.
- Confirmation processes are completed based on agreed timetables and audit requirements are met.
- Fixed asset registers are accurately maintained and there is an appropriate process in place to validate control, detail and existence of all individual assets owned and identified and ensure the accuracy of the overall register information.
- Lead process or system improvement project when required, provide support and cross cover to other members in the team.
- Monitor Financial Accounting inbox, answer and follow up the queries from business or other teams.
- Regular view of General Ledger Balance Sheet balances across all entities to ensure that no impairment should be recorded and all liability information is complete.
- Seek opportunities for continuous improvement in the area of financial controls, reconciliation and month end processes and compliance, ensure all processes are documented through detailed process notes and that these are regularly. reviewed/updated
- Work collaboratively across all of Finance + Performance and other MBIE teams to deliver quality outcomes.
- As business needs require it may be necessary for the role to perform duties of other members of the team in the Finance + Performance.
Customer focus
- Provides excellent customer service to internal and external stakeholders in all situations, including existing service level agreements, to a required standard.
- Provision of operational support and guidance on all Finance and Performance systems, including ad-hoc internal stakeholder support and instruction to ensure operation in alignment with MBIE policies and procedures.
- Delivers the requirements and expectations of customers.
- Treats internal customers with the same courtesies they would extend to external customers.
- Works hard to meet customer deadlines.
- Maintains professionalism.
- Looks for opportunities to provide value and improve services.
Action oriented
- Self-starter.
- Takes responsibility for own work. Well organised, plans systematically, regularly monitors and reports on progress towards achievement of team’s objectives.
- Seeks input if required. Knows when to work alone and when to seek advice and identifies resources necessary to meet objectives of self or team.
- Recognises and acts on opportunities.
- Support and cover for other team members as business needs require.
- Additional support to the Manager as/where required.
- Effectively and consistently identifies and manages risk, escalating unresolved and potential problems to the Manager with proposed solutions.
- Encourages and supports open honest and constructive relationships with colleagues.
- Ensures data integrity accuracy and confidentiality are maintained at all times.
- Look to innovate and automate for efficiency and continuous improvement.
Wellbeing, health & safety
- Displays commitment through actively supporting all safety and wellbeing initiatives.
- Ensures own and others safety at all times.
- Complies with relevant safety and wellbeing policies, procedures, safe systems of work and event reporting.
- Reports all incidents/accidents, including near misses in a timely fashion.
- Is involved in health and safety through participation and consultation.
Tō tūranga i roto i te Manatū – Your place in the Ministry
The Financial Accountant position reports into the Manager Financial Accounting Team within the Enterprise Planning, Performance & Reporting branch. The branch sits within the Finance + Performance group.
To mātou aronga – What we do for Aotearoa New Zealand
Hīkina Whakatutuki is the te reo Māori name for the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. Hīkina means to uplift. Whakatutuki means to move forward, to make successful. Our name speaks to our purpose, Grow Aotearoa New Zealand for All.
To Grow Aotearoa New Zealand for All, we put people at the heart of our mahi. Based on the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi / The Treaty of Waitangi, we are committed to upholding authentic partnerships with Māori.
As agile public service leaders, we use our breadth and experience to navigate the ever-changing world. We are service providers, policy makers, investors and regulators. We engage with diverse communities, businesses and regions. Our work touches on the daily lives of New Zealanders. We grow opportunities (Puāwai), guard and protect (Kaihāpai) and innovate and navigate towards a better future (Auaha).
Ngā matatau – Our competencies
Cultivates innovation We create new and better ways for the organisation to be successful by challenging the status quo generating new and creative ideas and translating them into workable solutions.
Nimble learning We are curious and actively learn through experimentation when tackling new problems by learning as we go when facing new situations and challenges.
Customer focus We build strong customer relationships and deliver customer-centric solutions by listening and gaining insights into the needs of the communities we serve and actively seeking and responding to feedback.
Decision quality We make quality and timely decisions that shape the future for our communities and keep the organisation moving forward by relying on an appropriate mix of analysis, wisdom, experience, and judgement to make valid and reliable decisions.
Action oriented We step up, taking on new opportunities and tough challenges with purpose, urgency and discipline by taking responsibility, ownership and action on challenges, and being accountable for the results.
Collaborates We connect, working together to build partnerships with our communities, working collaboratively to meet shared objectives by gaining trust and support of others; actively seeking the views, experiences, and opinions of others and by working co-operatively with others across MBIE, the public sector and external stakeholder groups.
Te Tiriti o Waitangi
As an agency of the public service, MBIE has a responsibility to contribute to the Crown meeting its obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi (Te Tiriti). Meeting our commitment to Te Tiriti will contribute towards us realising the overall aims of Te Ara Amiorangi – Our Path, Our Direction, and achieve the outcome of Growing New Zealand for All. The principles of Te Tiriti - including partnership, good faith, and active protection – are at the core of our work. MBIE is committed to delivering on our obligations as a Treaty partner with authenticity and integrity and to enable Māori interests. We are committed to ensuring that MBIE is well placed to meet our obligations under the Public Service Act 2020 (Te Ao Tūmatanui) to support the Crown in strengthening the Māori/Crown Relationship under the Treaty and to build MBIE’s capability, capacity and cultural intelligence to deliver this.
Mahi i roto i te Ratonga Tūmatanui – Working in the public service
Ka mahitahi mātou o te ratonga tūmatanui kia hei painga mō ngā tāngata o Aotearoa i āianei, ā, hei ngā rā ki tua hoki. He kawenga tino whaitake tā mātou hei tautoko i te Karauna i runga i āna hononga ki a ngāi Māori i raro i te Tiriti o Waitangi. Ka tautoko mātou i te kāwanatanga manapori. Ka whakakotahingia mātou e te wairua whakarato ki ō mātou hapori, ā, e arahina ana mātou e ngā mātāpono me ngā tikanga matua o te ratonga tūmatanui i roto i ā mātou mahi.
In the public service we work collectively to make a meaningful difference for New Zealanders now and in the future. We have an important role in supporting the Crown in its relationships with Māori under the Treaty of Waitangi. We support democratic government. We are unified by a spirit of service to our communities and guided by the core principles and values of the public service in our work.
What does it mean to work in Aotearoa New Zealand’s Public Service?(external link) — Te Kawa Mataaho The Public Service Commission
