Chief Financial Officer

Location : Whakatāne

Job type : Permanent Full Time

Department : Chief Executive Office

Category : CEO and General Management

Position : Non-teaching

Vacancy Reference Number : 26CEO20

Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi offers the highest standards of tertiary education from certificate to doctorate levels, including programmes for international scholars of indigenous studies. Our vision is to promote, grow and sustain Māori language, knowledge and culture, according to tikanga Māori practice. This is an exciting time to be part of Māori and indigenous scholarship, and our success relies on the excellence of our people and our connection to the communities that we serve.

We are seeking a dynamic and visionary Chief Financial Officer to join our Executive Leadership Team. This pivotal role supports the CEO in achieving organisational objectives through strategic leadership of financial management, corporate services, and risk planning.

You will lead the strategic and operational planning cycles, oversee financial sustainability, and ensure effective governance systems are in place to support the Wānanga’s growth. The role also includes developing relationships with key stakeholders including Crown agencies, iwi, TEC, NZQA and external partners.

As CFO, you will provide oversight of finance, ICT, marketing, procurement, facilities, and risk assurance functions, ensuring efficient and compliant operations aligned with organisational strategy.

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• A degree qualification and Chartered Accountant status (or equivalent)
• Extensive senior financial leadership experience
• Strong understanding of tertiary sector funding frameworks and compliance requirements
• Proven ability to lead corporate functions including finance, IT, and operations
• Experience in strategic planning, budgeting, and organisational performance improvement

You will demonstrate strong leadership capability, strategic thinking, and the ability to build meaningful partnerships across diverse stakeholder groups. A commitment to kaupapa Māori values and working effectively within a cross-cultural environment is essential.

We offer a supportive working environment and welcome candidates from all backgrounds to apply.