Senior Advisor - Fin Assessment & Imp

Senior Advisor – Financial Assessment and Improvement!

• Based at Police National Headquarters, Wellington


• Permanent/Full Time


• Job Reference 6007476

E tῡ ki te kei o te waka, kia pakia koe e ngā ngaru o te wā.

Stand at the stern of the canoe and feel the spray of the future biting at your face

Mō te tūnga | About the role

New Zealand Police is completing the final phase of its Corporate Finance transformation, building a high-performing, advisory-led function aligned to executive priorities and frontline outcomes. The new operating model strengthens strategic capability, simplifies leadership structures, and reinvests capacity into financial planning, reporting, systems, and controls to support a $3B+ organisation operating in a constrained fiscal environment. This role offers the opportunity to support a modern finance function that delivers strong stewardship, high-quality insights, and trusted business partnership across the organisation.

As our Senior Advisor - Finance Assessment and Improvement, you'll play a key role in driving positive change across the Finance function and the wider organisation.

You'll work with people at all levels to identify opportunities for improvement, strengthen financial capability, and enhance the way Finance supports decision-making across New Zealand Police.

You'll be naturally curious, enjoy understanding how things work, and be motivated by finding better ways of doing things. Whether you're coaching colleagues, translating complex financial and government processes into practical guidance, or leading people and process improvement initiatives, you'll help build the capability, knowledge, and confidence of others.

You'll also provide financial analysis and advice to programme and project managers on investment proposals and business cases, helping to support sound investment decisions and informed organisational decision-making.

Working with a wide range of stakeholders, you'll use your strong interpersonal skills to influence, educate, and support change.  If you're passionate about continuous improvement, enjoy learning and developing your own expertise, and are motivated by making a meaningful difference, this role offers the opportunity to create lasting impact across the organisation.

Nga kawenga matua | Key Accountabilities

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives by identifying opportunities to enhance financial processes, practices, and capability across the Finance function.


• Build financial capability and knowledge by providing guidance, coaching, and practical advice that helps others understand financial management frameworks, government processes, and their responsibilities.


• Provide financial advice to programme and project managers to support sound investment decisions.


• Lead process improvement and change initiatives that enhance business performance, efficiency, and financial capability across the organisation.


• Partner with stakeholders across the organisation to influence positive change, build effective relationships, and ensure successful delivery of improvement and investment initiatives

He aha taau e kawe mai | What you’ll bring

Whilst we are looking for skills, knowledge and experience relevant to the role, we also place high importance on your state of mind, the alignment of your values with ours, your ability to contribute to and build high performing teams, and the way that you lead yourself or others.

You will bring:

• A tertiary qualification in accounting, finance, economics, or another quantitative discipline.


• Membership of CA ANZ or CPA (or pursuing CPA), or an equivalent professional qualification.


• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to turn complex information into practical and actionable advice.


• Excellent relationship-building, communication, and influencing skills, with the ability to work collaboratively across a range of stakeholders.


• A passion for continuous improvement, learning, and capability development, with a genuine interest in helping others grow and succeed.

Whakaritenga motuhake | Special requirements

This role is Individual Contributor/Emerging Leader level. You can refer to Indicators of Success for further information on the requirements.  

To view the position description for this role please copy and paste this link into a new browser:

External | Senior Advisor - Financial Assessment and Improvement | Position Description

Mo tātou | About us

New Zealand Police is the lead agency responsible for preventing crime and enhancing community safety. It works in partnership with individuals, communities, businesses, and other public sector agencies towards the vision of making New Zealand the safest country. Police is the government’s largest front-line response agency with around 15,000 staff in large and small communities all over New Zealand and in liaison and policing development roles overseas. 

Your development is highly valued at NZ Police. Our employees enjoy significant investment in their development not only at an individual level, but also at the team and community practice level. We work hard to match you with work that will both play to your strengths and challenge you in new ways. 

The work you’ll be engaged in is real, tangible work that directly benefits our frontline and communities. Taken all together, this means we can offer you career path opportunities to progress in your chosen profession and become a more well-rounded, experienced leader, with opportunities across the range of work we support.

To view more detailed information about our recruitment process along with further details about requirements please click below link:

Applicant Information Pack (External)

Tono ināianei | Apply now

If this position sounds like you, click apply now and submit a tailored CV. You will be required to submit an application form. Before confirmation of hire, pre-employment checks will be undertaken which include reference, drug and alcohol testing and police vetting prior to any written offer being made.  

For further information on the application process, please copy and paste this URL: https://www.police.govt.nz/careers 

All applications must be submitted online and will not be accepted directly via email. All applicants must have the right to work in New Zealand.  

Utu ā-tau | Salary

This position is covered by a collective agreement and salary will commence between $111,529 and $129,277 dependent on skills and experience relevant to the role.

If you are an internal applicant, you must apply internally through the police system. You must provide an alternative contact email address and state your future commitments should you be successful in the next stage of the recruitment process. 

Please note: Deadline for applications is 5:00 pm on Thursday 6 August 2026. Applications may be reviewed prior to the close date as well as contact made with candidates.

If you have any questions about this vacancy, please contact Sarah Payne, at [email protected].