Senior Assurance Advisor

About the role

We’re looking for an experienced Senior Assurance Advisor to play a key role in strengthening Northpower’s risk and assurance frameworks. This role provides independent, objective assurance over the effectiveness of key controls, including health and safety critical risk controls, and partners closely with the business to support strong risk management and continuous improvement.

You’ll plan and deliver risk-based assurance activities, provide practical insights to leaders, and help lift organisational capability in assurance, compliance, and control effectiveness.

Key Responsibilities

• Contribute to the development and ongoing improvement of Northpower’s assurance framework, tools, and methodologies
• Support enterprise risk management, including health, safety, quality and environmental (HSQE) risk management
• Plan and deliver assurance reviews and audits, assessing both design and operating effectiveness of key controls
• Analyse operational and financial data to identify trends, anomalies, and emerging risks
• Coordinate and oversee assurance activities delivered by third parties
• Prepare clear, concise, and insightful reports for senior leaders and governance forums
• Provide trusted, independent advice on control effectiveness and risk exposure
• Constructively challenge business practices where control weaknesses are identified
• Work collaboratively with stakeholders to agree and monitor improvement actions
• Promote a culture of proactive risk management and continuous improvement

Health, safety, quality & environment

• Actively promote safe work practices and wellbeing for yourself, colleagues, customers, and the public
• Maintain full compliance with HSQE requirements, standards, and procedures
• Proactively report incidents and support continuous improvement in safety and environmental performance
• Exercise the authority to stop any unsafe work

About You

You’re curious, analytical, and confident providing independent advice in complex environments. You balance strong attention to detail with the ability to see the bigger picture and communicate risk insights clearly to senior stakeholders.

You’ll bring

• 5–8 years’ experience in assurance, audit, risk, or compliance roles within complex organisations
• Experience planning and delivering assurance engagements end-to-end
• Strong analytical, investigative, and research skills
• Sound judgement and the ability to navigate ambiguity
• Confidence to challenge constructively and influence outcomes
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship-building capability
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

Qualifications (preferred)

• Relevant tertiary qualification in accounting, finance, economics, risk management, health and safety, or a related field
• Membership of a relevant professional body (desirable but not essential)

What’s in it for you?

Make real impact across Aotearoa in a stable and future‑focused sector. At Northpower, you’ll do work that matters and powers our communities while growing your career in an organisation that genuinely cares for its people.

You’ll benefit from

• A people‑first culture built on safety, inclusion, and deep care, where contributions are recognised and wellbeing is supported through EAP and our award‑winning peer support network
• Fair and market competitive pay with the flexibility to tailor through additional leave and increased employer KiwiSaver contributions
• Life insurance and preventative health initiatives
• Discounted group medical cover and health and fitness programmes
• Discounted fuel rates plus a range of retail discounts
• Ongoing learning and development, with clear career pathways to help you grow, specialise, or progress
• A welcoming, family‑friendly workplace where people are encouraged to be themselves and feel valued

Northpower is an organisation with deep regional roots and national reach. We own and operate the electricity and fibre networks across Whangārei and Kaipara, delivering essential infrastructure to more than 60,000 connected customers, while also operating one of New Zealand’s largest multi‑utility contracting businesses.

From keeping the lights on today to building the infrastructure that will power tomorrow, our work spans electricity, fibre, renewables, transmission, and energy services. With more than 1,400 people across 16 locations, we act as one to support our communities, customers, clients, and critical national infrastructure across Aotearoa.

What connects all of this work is real impact you can see in your community[AW1] [VS2] . The work you do at Northpower matters, it is seen, felt, and relied on every day.

If you’re looking for work that makes a real difference, work you can be proud of, we’re offer the opportunity to grow your career while supporting the communities that rely on us every day.

We embrace diversity and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. We are committed to an inclusive, respectful workplace where everyone feels they belong.

Apply now via #REQ2018 and be supported, challenged, and trusted to do work that truly matters!

New Zealand work rights are required for the role.

Pre-employment checks will include a criminal history check, drug and alcohol testing, and a medical assessment