Finance Shared Services Team Leader

Job Description:

Te Ratonga Ahumoni| Financial Services
Located in Ōtautahi | Christchurch, Aotearoa | New Zealand

• 5 weeks annual leave +5 days university holidays
• Professional development opportunities
• Generous superannuation provisions (up to 6.75% employer contribution)
• Salary - $95,784 - $100,000 p.a., based on skills and experience
• Permanent position, 37.5 hours per week

Kia hiwa rā, kia hiwa rā! He hiahia, he pūkenga nōu ki te mahi a te Finance Shared Services Team Leader? Nāia te pōwhiri nā Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha kia tono mai i te tūranga nei.

Āu Mahi | What You Will Do

As Finance Shared Services Team Leader, you will be leading, supporting and championing a team of Finance Administrators to deliver an outstanding customer experience across the University.

You will create an environment where people feel trusted, valued and empowered to do their best work. Through coaching, mentoring and genuine relationship-building, you will help team members grow their capability, navigate challenges and achieve success. You will be a visible and approachable leader who advocates for your team, removes barriers, celebrates achievements and fosters a culture of collaboration, accountability and continuous improvement.

Partnering with Faculty and Finance leaders and teams, you will build strong connections across the University, enabling your team to deliver responsive, customer-focused financial services. You will guide the team through change, encourage innovation, and support the development of smarter, more efficient ways of working.

Alongside your leadership responsibilities, you will oversee key financial administration functions ensuring services are delivered accurately, consistently and in line with University policies and procedures.

Mōu | Who You Are

You are a people-first leader who believes that great results start with engaged, supported and empowered teams. You are known for building trust, creating positive working relationships and fostering a culture where people feel safe to contribute ideas, challenge thinking and continue developing their skills.

You bring a coaching mindset and enjoy helping others succeed. You know how to balance accountability with support, navigate difficult conversations with empathy and advocate for your team while maintaining a strong customer focus.

You will also be able to demonstrate:

• At least 7-8 years' experience in a Financial Accounts role within a large organisation, including at least 5 years leading and developing staff responsible for financial transactions.
• Proven success building high-performing teams and creating a positive, inclusive team culture.
• Strong coaching and mentoring skills, with experience developing capability and supporting career growth.
• Demonstrated ability to build trusted relationships and collaborate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Experience using and administering large enterprise financial systems.
• Strong experience working with purchasing and accounts payable processes.
• Experience supporting budgeting, forecasting and financial reporting activities.
• A continuous improvement mindset and a passion for finding better ways of working.
• An alignment with our organisation's values and culture, promoting a positive and inclusive work environment.

Mahi Ngātahi | Who You Will Work With
You will work closely with UC Faculty leaders and stakeholders, Finance Shared Services Team Leaders, and staff from the Finance Unit to deliver a seamless, customer-centric service.

Ngā Painga o UC | Why UC
At UC, being part of our team means more than just a job. We are committed to supporting our kaimahi | staff’s career and wellbeing with benefits designed to help our kaimahi grow and feel connected, supported and valued.

UC’s Benefits approach is shaped by Ngā Uara | Our Values Whanaungatanga, Tiakitanga, and Manaakitanga. They are designed to be relevant, support and inspire our people, they include:

• 5 weeks annual leave +5 days university holidays
• UC Parental Leave (up to 9 weeks paid) + 26 weeks Government paid parental leave and onsite childcare facility
• generous employer contribution to superannuation (up to 6.75%)
• flexible working arrangements
• professional development and study opportunities
• supportive working environment
• a wide range of retail discounts across shopping, entertainment and travel
• on-campus staff discounts including UC RecCentre
• living in revitalised Ōtautahi | Christchurch, Aotearoa New Zealand
• a unique working environment in a beautiful campus with access to UC facilities such as UC RecCentre and Staff Club at discounted rates plus onsite cafés and eateries, and more.

For more information, please visit us: https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/about-uc/work-at-uc/benefits-working-uc For more information about Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury, please visit https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/

The closing date for this position is: 30 June 2026 (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 via 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 [email protected]

You must have Aotearoa New Zealand or Australian citizenship/permanent residency to be considered for this role.

Please note, this is an onsite position.