Senior Programme Accountant

At the Civil Aviation Authority, we don’t just keep New Zealand’s skies safe and secure, we help shape the future of aviation.

• Play a critical financial leadership role in a significant organisational transformation programme.
• Influence investment decisions, business cases, and long-term programme outcomes through robust financial analysis and modelling.
• Join a high-profile programme that will shape the future of CAA and the aviation sector.

About the Role

We’re looking for an experienced Senior Programme Accountant to join our Business Transformation Programme on a fixed-term basis.

This is a unique opportunity to apply your financial expertise to a complex, multi-year transformation programme that will deliver meaningful organisational change. As the financial lead for the programme, you'll provide oversight of programme costs, funding allocations, forecasting, financial reporting, and investment planning.

Working closely with the Programme Sponsor, Programme Board, Programme Manager, Finance team, PMO Lead, and Project Managers, you'll provide trusted advice that supports strategic decision-making and ensures the programme remains financially robust and well governed.

You'll be at the centre of investment planning, business case development, benefits realisation, affordability assessments, and programme governance, helping leaders make informed decisions on one of the most significant initiatives underway at CAA.

About the Business Transformation Programme

This is your opportunity to get in at the start.

We are building a team to deliver a significant transformation that will shape the future of the organisation and the aviation sector. With strong executive support and a clear mandate for change, this is an opportunity to work on genuine transformation — not simply improve existing processes or deliver business as usual.

These roles are initially offered on a one-year fixed-term basis while the business case progresses through approval. We recognise that means taking a degree of risk. But for the right person, it is also a chance to get involved at the point where the programme is being shaped, make a meaningful contribution and work on a transformation that is genuinely important.

If you are motivated by complex change and want to help build something significant, this is the time to get involved.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the financial management, forecasting, and reporting activities for the Business Transformation Programme.
• Own and maintain the programme cost model, ensuring accuracy and integrity across funding allocations, forecasts, and reporting.
• Provide financial leadership across business case development, investment planning, and programme governance activities.
• Support affordability assessments, benefits management, and funding decisions throughout the programme lifecycle.
• Develop and maintain complex financial models involving multiple funding sources, cost allocation methodologies, and accounting treatments.
• Provide high-quality financial insights and advice to programme leadership, governance forums, and key stakeholders.
• Support executive decision-making through clear analysis and presentation of financial information.
• Ensure programme costs, accounting treatments, and financial reporting remain fit for purpose and aligned with organisational requirements.
• Work collaboratively across multiple teams and stakeholders to support successful programme delivery.

The salary band for this role is $160,911 - $197,441 Starting salaries are based on knowledge, skills and experience the successful candidate brings to the role, as well as internal relativities.

For more information on the role please view the position description.

What You'll Bring

If you're a commercially astute finance professional who enjoys working in complex environments and partnering with leaders to support major organisational change, this is an exciting opportunity to make a lasting impact.

To succeed in this role you'll demonstrate:

• Chartered Accountant status (CAANZ or equivalent).
• Significant experience supporting large programmes, portfolios, capital investment initiatives, or organisational transformation programmes.
• Proven experience developing and managing complex financial models, forecasts, and reporting frameworks.
• Experience supporting business case development, investment planning, benefits management, and affordability assessments.
• Strong understanding of capital and operating expenditure treatment within complex delivery environments.
• Experience providing financial advice and support to governance forums, executive teams, and senior decision-makers.
• The ability to work effectively in evolving and ambiguous environments where priorities and plans continue to develop.
• Strong influencing and relationship management skills, with the ability to work across teams without direct authority.
• Excellent analytical, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills, including the ability to present complex financial information to both technical and non-technical audiences.

About Us

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is New Zealand’s aviation safety and security regulator. We play a critical role in protecting the travelling public, supporting the aviation sector, and strengthening New Zealand’s international reputation.

Our vision is simple and powerful: A safe and secure aviation system – so people are safe, and feel safe when they fly.

Our values — Professionalism, Respect, Integrity, Transparency, and Collaboration — guide everything we do. We’re committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and supportive environment where everyone feels respected, safe, and valued. Our people are central to our success.

Why Join Us?

• Matching KiwiSaver contributions up to 4%
• Vision assistance
• Flu vaccinations
• Employee Assistance Programme

Ready to Apply?

If you're passionate about financial leadership, strategic investment planning, and helping shape the future of a major transformation programme, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply directly by completing the online application form and submitting your CV and cover letter. Your cover letter will be a key part of our assessment process, so please highlight your experience supporting large-scale programmes, transformation initiatives, or complex investment decisions, and explain how your skills align with the requirements of this role.

We want to ensure accessibility needs are well supported, so the recruitment process is fair and equitable for all. Please let us know if there is any support we can provide to ensure the recruitment process is fully accessible to you.

If you have any questions about the role or application process, contact the Recruitment team at recruitment@caa.govt.nz.

Applications close: 20 August 2026

Please be aware that we may start shortlisting as applications come in. We encourage early applications, as the advertisement may close sooner than stated.