Are you a detail-driven finance professional who thrives on bringing structure and clarity to complex environments? Do you enjoy working collaboratively across teams and making a real difference in the lives of ākonga (students) with very high learning needs?
Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu (Te Kura), New Zealand’s largest school, is looking for an experienced and proactive Finance Lead – Learning Support to take the reins in a growing and increasingly complex area of our organisation.
Why this role matters:
This role is pivotal. With the decentralisation and expansion of our Learning Support function, financial activities are now spread across multiple teams and people. We're seeking a highly capable finance leader to pull this work together, embed effective systems, and be the go-to expert for all things finance in this space.
You’ll work closely with the National Lead Learning Support, Team Leaders, and the wider Finance team to provide visibility, assurance, and strategic financial guidance. Your work will allow front-line teams to focus on what they do best—supporting our ākonga.
What you'll do:
- Lead, coordinate, and oversee Learning Support financial transactions and reporting.
- Reconcile and track funding from the Ministry of Education, ensuring accuracy, transparency, and strategic alignment.
- Provide monthly reporting, budget variance analysis, and milestone reports to internal stakeholders and the Ministry.
- Streamline and automate financial processes to support consistency across the Learning Support network.
- Drive continuous improvement in systems, tools (such as Power BI), and internal capability through training and documentation.
You’ll be successful in this role if you:
- Have 5+ years’ experience in a finance team, ideally within a public or education setting.
- Are deeply detail-oriented, highly organised, and able to work with multiple stakeholders across a large organisation.
- Bring strong financial analysis and reporting capability, along with knowledge of budget management, contracts, and GST.
- Are confident with Excel, Microsoft Office, and willing to learn tools like Business Central and Power BI.
- Enjoy building relationships and supporting others—whether it’s answering questions, coaching on financial processes, or liaising with the Ministry of Education.
- Want to drive improvements and make a tangible impact on the outcomes for learners with high needs.
What we offer:
- The opportunity to add real value in a meaningful area of education.
- A collaborative, future-focused workplace where innovation and improvement are encouraged.
- Flexibility and support, with a strong commitment to te ao Māori and Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
- A role where finance and purpose go hand in hand.
- A flexible workplace.
Ready to step into a key leadership role in finance?
If you're ready to bring clarity, drive improvement, and support equity in education, we want to hear from you.
Apply now to become the Finance Lead for Learning Support at Te Kura.
To find out more, please get in touch with Peter Campbell on 0272013755 for a confidential chat.
To apply for this vacancy you MUST be a New Zealand citizen, resident, or have already secured the right to work in New Zealand and therefore hold a valid visa.
At the appropriate stage we will request your references, we ask that you do not include them on your CV when applying.
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