Principal Insolvency Advisor

Tēnei tūranga – About the role

The Principal Insolvency Advisor is a key leadership role within the Insolvency and Trustee Service (ITS), dedicated to supporting ITS leadership by providing strategic guidance, expertise, and oversight to various facets of the organisation, and driving strategic initiatives and other projects and programmes of work. Reporting to the National Manager of ITS, the Principal Insolvency Advisor provides high-level expertise in insolvency practices, leads complex projects, and ensures compliance with relevant legislation and procedures.

Key relationships

• National Manager ITS.
• Insolvency Strategic Management Group (SMG).
• Insolvency Team Leaders Group (IMG).
• ITS Quality and Service Improvement Team.
• ITS audit team and Risk Management Committee.
• Branch General Manager Market Integrity.
• Relevant MBIE Policy Groups.
• Inland Revenue.
• ITS stakeholders.

Ngā herenga – Requirements of the role

Skills and experience

• Demonstrates extensive knowledge of insolvency practices, procedures, and legislation.
• Exhibits a proven ability to interpret and apply relevant legislation, including the Privacy Act and the Official Information Act.
• Possesses advanced commercial, operational, and legislative knowledge of the statutory functions of the Official Assignee’s work practices.
• Displays exceptional written and oral communication skills with the ability to present complex information to diverse audiences, including strong writing skills, in particular skilled at drafting accurate and succinct correspondence and reports.
• Exceptional proven judgement, integrity and discretion, with experience problem solving, managing and mitigating risk.
• Employs robust planning and organisational skills, effectively managing workloads under pressure while meeting deadlines, with strong project management skills.
• Exhibits experience in gathering, analysing, and documenting business requirements.
• In-depth knowledge of processes at the centre of government as well as wider governmental processes and
• Understands how to work with different organisational
• An ability to think strategically and analytically, and translate ideas and concepts into concrete actions.
• Makes quality decisions by using analytically sound, well-rounded, informed and inclusive
• Strong stakeholder engagement / management
• Ability to quickly establish and build strong working relationships, including with senior
• Flexibility to adapt within a fast-moving
• Ability to assimilate new information or areas of work
• Must be a NZ citizen or hold a residence class visa.

Takohanga tuhinga o mua – Key accountabilities and deliverables

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.

Leadership and insolvency administration:

• Provide expert leadership in managing highly complex insolvency administrations where necessary.
• Assist in overseeing insolvency proceedings, ensuring adherence to legal frameworks, and making sound decisions that uphold the integrity of insolvency processes.
• Responsible for overseeing and reviewing ITS policies to ensure these are kept up to date, are fit for purpose and align with industry best practices, fostering an environment of excellence and continuous improvement.
• Play a pivotal role in shaping the strategic direction of New Zealand’s ITS regime, contributing to the Ministry’s delivery of impactful outcomes.
• Ensure the Service fulfils its statutory obligations in a manner which enhances public and business trust and confidence in the insolvency system.
• Contribute actively to the SMG, collaborating to formulate and oversee ITS’s Business Plan, Business Objectives, and Focus Areas, ensuring agility and responsiveness in operations.
• Lead and proficiently manage strategic projects that optimise the efficiency, effectiveness, and timeliness of ITS’s operations.
• Review objections on decisions ensuring consistency and fair outcomes that are aligned with legislation and relevant processes, including leading improvement initiatives and training where required.

Policy expertise and risk management

• Provide authoritative policy advice, demonstrating a deep understanding of insolvency legislation and practices.
• Analyse complex policy issues, identify root causes, and develop innovative solutions.
• Lead the Risk Management Committee, overseeing internal audit reports and improvement recommendations.
• Act as a principal consultant for ITS’s Quality and Service Improvement Team, offering expert insights into policy and procedure developments or updates.
• Effectively and consistently identify and manage risks.

Compliance, communication and complaint management

• Oversee the review of changes to Best Practice Modules (BPMs) to align with legal requirements and organisation policies.
• Review and draft responses to complaints, ensuring thorough understanding and timely resolution.
• Address complaints promptly and professionally, identifying common issues that require process improvements or training.
• Assist Team Leaders and Regional Managers to complete Official Information Act (OIA) and Privacy Act (PA) requests, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with relevant legislation.
• Prepare responses to media requests and releases, presenting information accurately and aligning with organisational messaging.

People development and team cultivation

• Mentor and develop team members, fostering a culture of innovation, learning, and knowledge sharing.
• Model the desired values and culture of the organisation, leading by example across the business unit.
• Lead staff progression rounds and contribute to the development of ITS staff.
• Play a key role in enhancing team capabilities by actively engaging in ITS training initiatives and contributing to National Training Sessions.

Relationship management

• Collaborate with other branches within the Te Whakatairanga Service Delivery Group, contributing to cross-MBIE initiatives and objectives.
• Cultivate productive working relationships with fellow MBIE people leaders and staff, facilitating the exchange of knowledge and insights from the team to benefit the broader organisation.
• Establish and nurture effective relationships and partnerships with both internal and external stakeholders, identifying and sharing best practices, providing strategic advice, building relationships, and promoting collaboration.
• Represents whole-of-Ministry views in all interactions, safeguarding ITS and MBIE’s reputation during external engagements.
• Commitment to and willingness to learn and incorporate Te Ao Maori into tasks and deliverables.
• Understanding of and applying Treaty principles.
• Demonstrate respect and openness towards all customs, cultures and values.

Wellbeing, health and 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 Principal Insolvency Advisor position reports into the National Manager ITS within Market Integrity branch. The 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