"Finance Business Partner"

Job Description:

Te Ratonga Ahumoni | Financial Services

Located in Ōtautahi | Christchurch, Aotearoa | New Zealand

• Full-time at 37.5 hours per week
• Permanent role
• Generous annual leave provisions and professional development opportunities

Āu Mahi | What You Will Do

As a Finance Business Partner within the Financial Planning & Analysis team, you will be a trusted key financial advisor for Senior Leaders within your portfolio assisting them with strategic financial planning through the provision of robust and accurate financial reporting, analysis, and advice. You will partner with stakeholders to provide financial reporting, modelling, forecasting and analysis and add value to business performance. You will work to ensure the accuracy of financial information, compliance with policy, and collaborate with stakeholders to optimise costs around differentiated opportunities, and balances growth with returns to achieve long-term value.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Financial Support: Provide expert financial advice, analysis, and insights to Senior Leaders, supporting informed decision-making and alignment with strategic objectives.
• Budgeting & Financial Oversight: Support and guide budget managers in preparing, monitoring, and understanding budgets, ensuring financial performance aligns with university targets.
• Risk & Compliance Management: Identify and assess financial and operational risks, providing recommendations and ensuring appropriate mitigation strategies are in place.
• Project & Programme Support: Provide financial analysis, reporting, and advice for major investment projects, ensuring sound financial controls and risk management.
• Stakeholder Engagement & Capability Building: Coach and support budget managers and leaders in financial planning, enhancing financial literacy and decision-making across the portfolio.
• Continuous Improvement & Policy Development: Lead process improvements, contribute to policy development, and support financial service transformation to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.

Mōu | Who You Are

To be successful within this role you will hold a bachelor's degree in relevant discipline including financial management or accounting. You will have a minimum of five years' experience in financial analysis and reporting associated with a large complex portfolio of projects. You will understand project management frameworks and methodologies and the contribution of financial analysis to these.

You will enjoy engaging with a diverse range of people and your highly developed communication skills will mean you are comfortable offering financial advice based on accurate and data driven decision making. You will hold a strong interest in higher education and will understand the value in contributing to student success.

A deep knowledge and understanding of Finance, Budgeting, Forecasting and Reporting activities is critical. Advanced Excel skills required and proficiency in the design, development and implementation of Power BI dashboards/reports preferred but not required.

Mahi Ngātahi | Who You Will Work With

Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury are proud to offer the foundation of an excellent education and holistic learning experience, while ensuring our students are prepared to succeed and make a positive difference in the world around them. The University is situated on a beautiful campus located in Ilam, Christchurch. We are committed to achieving and maintaining a community that encompasses sustainability, inclusivity, innovation and collaboration resulting in an inspirational environment.

Financial Services provide a professional financial service to our stakeholders including staff, students, our suppliers, and other members of our community. For more information about our team, please visit us @ Financial services.

Ngā Painga o UC | Why UC

Ngā Uara | Our Values of manaakitanga, whanaungatanga and tiakitanga guide our decisions and behaviour and provide a roadmap for how we do things at UC, affirming our commitment to pastoral care and support for our ākonga and staff. They challenge and inspire us to be the best we can and make UC a great place to work and study. For more info on Ngā Uara | Our Values visit us here.

We are committed to accessible higher education, service to the community and the encouragement of talent without barriers of distance, wealth, class, gender or ethnicity. The University explicitly aims to produce graduates and support staff who are engaged with their communities, empowered to act for good and determined to make a difference in the world.

We offer a range of fantastic benefits including flexible work practices, study opportunities and generous superannuation and leave provisions. For more information, please visit us: Benefits of working at Benefits of working at UC | University of Canterbury

The closing date for this position is: 23 November 2025 (midnight, NZ time)

*Please note, applications will be reviewed as they are received, and interviews may take place before the close date.*

Pēhea te tono mai | How You Apply

Applications for this position must be submitted on our careers website and should include a cover letter and resume.

Please note, we do not accept applications by email, however we are happy to answer your queries in relation to the application process, please forward these to WorkatUC@canterbury.ac.nz

You must have Aotearoa New Zealand or Australian citizenship/permanent residency to be considered for this role. If you hold a valid work visa and are physically present in New Zealand then you may also be considered.

Job Details

Posted: 11/11/2025