Chief Operating & Financial Officer

Tau ake rā te moana nei, e papaki kau ana ki te ākau tangata, kakenga waka ka mauru te tohu ki te arearenga o Mauao, he pou herenga mōu, he pou hononga mōu, kia herea ki te tika, kia herea ki te pono. Kia mau, kia ita, kia ū – haumi e, hui e, tāiki e!

Following a recent organisational transformation, Tauranga City Council has realigned its structure  to future-proof the strategic and operational delivery. As part of this change, we have established a new senior executive role – Chief Operating and Finance Officer – a key strategic leadership position that reports directly to the Chief Executive.

Te Tūranga | About the role

As a Chief Operating and Finance Officer you will be responsible for optimising the Council’s operational and financial performance through a relentless focus on efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and value creation. This role integrates leadership across finance, commercial strategy and property, procurement, legal, risk, digital services, people and culture, and governance support.

You will be responsible for:

• Driving enterprise-wide financial discipline, ensuring high-impact investment decisions and championing streamlined processes that reduce costs and maximise return on investment.
• Ensuring legal and legislative compliance, promoting strong risk management and embedding a performance driven culture.
• Innovative digital solutions and strategic oversight enabling sustainable operations and ensuring Tauranga City Council delivers maximum value to the community.
• Strategic oversight of commercial operations and asset portfolios which deliver long-term value, operational efficiency, and community benefit.
• Actively and consistently upholding the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, whilst maintaining meaningful partnerships with tangata whenua and embedding cultural confidence and responsiveness across all areas.

Ngā Pukenga | What you’ll need to succeed

To succeed in this role, you’ll bring:

• A tertiary qualification in finance, commerce, law, public policy, or business administration (postgraduate or master’s level preferred).
• A recognised professional accounting qualification (CA, CPA) is essential.
• Additional governance or executive leadership certification (Institute of Directors or similar) is desirable.
• Significant executive leadership experience (10+ years) across multiple domains such as finance, commercial operations, legal, digital transformation, HR, procurement, or risk.
• Demonstrated experience in leading enterprise-level financial strategy, including long-term planning, asset management, and treasury oversight.
• Experience working with or reporting to elected officials, boards or governance bodies, audit agencies and iwi partners in either Local Government or large commercial environments.
• Demonstrated understanding of the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and experience partnering with tangata whenua in strategy, delivery, or decision-making.
• Proven track record of driving commercial value, operational efficiency, and return on investment in a complex, publicly accountable environment.
• Strong experience in governance, risk management, and compliance, including navigating legal and reputational risk at senior levels.
• Demonstrated capability in leading multifunctional teams and fostering a culture of performance, collaboration, and innovation.
• Proven experience in digital transformation, business intelligence, and using data insights to drive organisational performance is highly desirable.

Tō Tātou Kaunihera | About Tauranga City Council

Tauranga City Council is one of Tauranga’s largest employers, and we are always looking to attract great talent to join our driven, passionate, and community-focused team.

We always strive to ensure that you feel valued and supported in the workplace, you can find out more about working at Tauranga City Council here.

Te Tukanga | How to apply

If you want to be part of a dynamic, energetic, and high-performing team, then we'd love to hear from you. For more information, please contact Rob Field at Rob.Field@tauranga.govt.nz

Please note we will not be accepting applications via email. If you wish to apply, please click ‘Apply’ at the bottom of this page and follow the link.

Applications will close 22 August 2025

We aim to attract a diverse pool of candidates that reflect our communities. It is a priority to ensure that individuals from all backgrounds and walks of life are encouraged to apply for our positions. Should you require any assistance or reasonable adjustments to participate in the recruitment and selection process, please contact our Talent Acquisition team at recruitment@tauranga.govt.nz.

• Our selection process may include behavioural interview(s), reference checks, and pre-employment screening. For more information about our process please refer to the application process tab on our careers website.
• Tauranga City Council will not accept applications or contact from any placement service, temporary staffing agency, or professional recruiter for this vacancy. If/where Tauranga City Council requires the support of a recruitment agency, we will seek this support from our network of agencies. We ask that you please do not contact Tauranga City Council or any of its employees regarding vacancies. Tauranga City Council will not be responsible for, and will not pay, any commissions, fees or other payments related to such unsolicited contact.

Job Description: Chief Operating & Financial Officer