Financial Compliance Officer

Tēnei tūranga – About the role 

Business Registries (NZ Companies Office) is a sub-branch of the Market Integrity Branch of Te Whakatairanga Service Delivery Group, MBIE. Our vision is to deliver world leading regulation to protect fairness and integrity of markets in New Zealand, in line with the Ministry's purpose of 'Grow New Zealand for All' and towards Te Whakatairanga Service Delivery's unique contribution to the goal 'Fair Markets That Thrive'.

Business Registries is the authoritative source of information about a variety of entities. We are the guardians of New Zealand's core business information through the Companies and NZBN register and play a crucial role in building trust and confidence in our economy, helping to make New Zealand a place where doing business is easy, transparent, and fair.

The Financial Compliance Officer is responsible for ensuring the accurate collection, reconciliation, and reporting of the building levy under the Building (Levy) Regulations 2019 and the Building Act 2004. They apply their expertise in accounting, business, and legislation to support MBIE’s regulatory obligations.

Key responsibilities include:

• Collaborating with internal teams to ensure high-quality financial and non-financial data is collected and communicated effectively.
• Verifying, processing, and reconciling monthly levy returns from local councils.
• Identifying and resolving discrepancies professionally and promptly.
• Supporting continuous improvement of levy-related systems, processes, and risk management.
• Producing analytical reports to identify inefficiencies and opportunities.

The role is customer-centric and plays a critical part in MBIE’s stewardship of the building regulatory system.

Ngā herenga – Requirements of the role

Personal specifications

• Proven experience in Financial Accounting packages, Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable processes.
• Accounts and Finance based tertiary qualification and previous accounting type role experience and/or extensive and comparable relevant accounting qualification (CA ANZ).
• Experience in credit control and debt collection procedures would be an advantage.
• Experience in financial analysis and management in the public sector would be an advantage.
• New Zealand Certificate in Regulatory Compliance at level 4 or above is desirable but not essential.
• Proven ability to understand and interpret legislation is essential.
• Knowledge of the Building Regulatory System would be an advantage.
• Well-developed analytical thinker, who can identify key issues, access and analyse information available, evaluating options and make recommendations for decision makers.
• Experience undertaking financial and business analysis using modelling techniques and systems to support and provide financial insights to key stakeholders.
• Proven experience to build and maintain constructive stakeholder relationships to drive outcomes.
• Knowledge of public sector requirements, systems, and processes.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with an ability to confidently convey complex financial information simply and concisely.
• Proven ability to develop trust and credibility.
• High standards of professionalism and performance driven.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills.
• Ability to positively adjust to changing priorities and to maintain performance when under pressure.
• Proven experience in working within culture of continuous improvement.
• Must have the legal right to live and work in New Zealand.

Takohanga tuhinga o mua – Key accountabilities and deliverables

Delivery and results

• Responsibilities of this position are expected to change over time as the Ministry responds to changing needs. The incumbent will need the flexibility to adapt and develop as the environment evolves.
• Ensuring accurate verification of building levy calculations which involves ensuring monthly levy invoices from councils are thoroughly reviewed in line with legislative requirements and any identified discrepancies in council calculations are rectified so the correct amount is payable to MBIE.
• Ensuring the financial information gathered and recorded is accurate including how these flow into centralised MBIE finance processes and systems. This involves timely and compliant invoice processing; upload verified invoice data into MBIE’s financial management system within required timeframes and maintain consistency with statutory requirements under the Building Act 2004 and MBIE’s financial controls
• Effective reconciliation and reporting; reconcile expected levy payments against actual payments received and identify any discrepancies and provide clear reporting to the regulatory specialist for follow up with councils.
• Reviews and updates the operational policies and practices on the collection of building levies, strengthened financial oversight by applying expertise to improve the integrity and transparency of levy-related financial processes.
• Anticipating issues, doing independent enquiries, trend analysis and providing options and solutions to the Building Regulatory Compliance and Assurance team and the Business Registry Fees and Analysis team.
• Proactively identify and communicate financial risks and opportunities to ensure effective decision making and financial management, and contributing to initiatives for financial planning and business intelligence systems.
• Support the Team Leader in defining business requirements and contribute to the development of new models and solutions that underpin sound business decisions ensuring efficient reporting.
• Anticipate business requirements to ensure that advice is relevant, and plan work accordingly.
• Develops and maintains reporting and monitoring tools to gather information.
• Researches technical issues, collates and documents technical advice, summarising findings to a range of technical and non-technical audiences.
• Undertakes periodic reviews and monthly control checks, identifies anomalies in a timely manner.
• Identifies issues through regular reporting, checks, ISO reviews, internal and external audits and revenue assurance reviews and ensures these are addressed in a professional manner. 
• Provide analysis and financial modelling to inform decisions on Levy reviews.

Financial planning and advice

• Supports the team leader with information analysis and advice to contribute to the strategic financial planning and support the development of performance metrics.
• Contributes to the development of innovative, practical, effective, and durable financial options that help achieve desired business outcomes.
• Understand the Ministry’s financial policies, regulatory and reporting requirements, and best practice.

Continuous improvement

• Optimise processes and practices to drive value, increase efficiency and reduce waste.
• Seek out current processes and practices which could be automated and designs and implements appropriate solutions.
• Support the Business Registries teams, Building Compliance and Assurance team, and Finance Business Partner to develop systems and processes, structures and procedures that improve financial accountability at operating unit level and incentivise the efficient and effective use of resources.
• Actively identify opportunities for the development of new models to underpin sound business decisions and improvement of internal and external reporting.
• Champion the adoption of a high-performance finance culture across the business.

Relationship management

• Maintain effective working relationships with both the Finance Business Partnering team, Local Government Councils and MBIE managers and staff. Key relationships will be with Team Leader Registry Fees and Analysis, Manager Compliance and Assurance, Regulatory specialist in the Compliance and Assurance team, central Finance team including credit control and staff in local government councils.
• Share knowledge and learnings with team and beyond.
• Coach and train developing colleagues using effective and supportive coaching techniques.
• Welcomes feedback and is receptive to input from others.
• Represents whole-of-Ministry views and protects its reputation in any external interactions.

Wellbeing, health & safety

• Displays commitment through actively supporting all safety and wellbeing initiatives.
• Ensures own and others safety at all times.
• Complies with relevant safety and wellbeing policies, procedures, safe systems of work and event reporting.
• Reports all incidents/accidents, including near misses in a timely fashion.
• Is involved in health and safety through participation and consultation.

Tō tūranga i roto i te Manatū – Your place in the Ministry

The Financial Compliance Officer position reports into the Team Leader Fees & Analysis within Business Registries, Market Integrity branch. This branch sits within the Te Whakatairanga Service Delivery group.

More information about MBIE’s structure

To mātou aronga – What we do for Aotearoa New Zealand

Hīkina Whakatutuki is the te reo Māori name for the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. Hīkina means to uplift. Whakatutuki means to move forward, to make successful. Our name speaks to our purpose, Grow Aotearoa New Zealand for All.

To Grow Aotearoa New Zealand for All, we put people at the heart of our mahi. Based on the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi / The Treaty of Waitangi, we are committed to upholding authentic partnerships with Māori.

As agile public service leaders, we use our breadth and experience to navigate the ever-changing world. We are service providers, policy makers, investors and regulators. We engage with diverse communities, businesses and regions. Our work touches on the daily lives of New Zealanders. We grow opportunities (Puāwai), guard and protect (Kaihāpai) and innovate and navigate towards a better future (Auaha).

Ngā matatau – Our competencies

Cultivates innovation We create new and better ways for the organisation to be successful by challenging the status quo generating new and creative ideas and translating them into workable solutions.

Nimble learning We are curious and actively learn through experimentation when tackling new problems by learning as we go when facing new situations and challenges.

Customer focus We build strong customer relationships and deliver customer-centric solutions by listening and gaining insights into the needs of the communities we serve and actively seeking and responding to feedback.

Decision quality We make quality and timely decisions that shape the future for our communities and keep the organisation moving forward by relying on an appropriate mix of analysis, wisdom, experience, and judgement to make valid and reliable decisions.

Action oriented We step up, taking on new opportunities and tough challenges with purpose, urgency and discipline by taking responsibility, ownership and action on challenges, and being accountable for the results.

Collaborates We connect, working together to build partnerships with our communities, working collaboratively to meet shared objectives by gaining trust and support of others; actively seeking the views, experiences, and opinions of others and by working co-operatively with others across MBIE, the public sector and external stakeholder groups.

Te Tiriti o Waitangi

As an agency of the public service, MBIE has a responsibility to contribute to the Crown meeting its obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi (Te Tiriti). Meeting our commitment to Te Tiriti will contribute towards us realising the overall aims of Te Ara Amiorangi – Our Path, Our Direction, and achieve the outcome of Growing New Zealand for All. The principles of Te Tiriti - including partnership, good faith, and active protection – are at the core of our work. MBIE is committed to delivering on our obligations as a Treaty partner with authenticity and integrity and to enable Māori interests. We are committed to ensuring that MBIE is well placed to meet our obligations under the Public Service Act 2020 (Te Ao Tūmatanui) to support the Crown in strengthening the Māori/Crown Relationship under the Treaty and to build MBIE’s capability, capacity and cultural intelligence to deliver this.

Mahi i roto i te Ratonga Tūmatanui – Working in the public service

Ka mahitahi mātou o te ratonga tūmatanui kia hei painga mō ngā tāngata o Aotearoa i āianei, ā, hei ngā rā ki tua hoki. He kawenga tino whaitake tā mātou hei tautoko i te Karauna i runga i āna hononga ki a ngāi Māori i raro i te Tiriti o Waitangi. Ka tautoko mātou i te kāwanatanga manapori. Ka whakakotahingia mātou e te wairua whakarato ki ō mātou hapori, ā, e arahina ana mātou e ngā mātāpono me ngā tikanga matua o te ratonga tūmatanui i roto i ā mātou mahi.

In the public service we work collectively to make a meaningful difference for New Zealanders now and in the future. We have an important role in supporting the Crown in its relationships with Māori under the Treaty of Waitangi. We support democratic government. We are unified by a spirit of service to our communities and guided by the core principles and values of the public service in our work.

What does it mean to work in Aotearoa New Zealand’s Public Service?(external link) — Te Kawa Mataaho The Public Service Commission