Principal Management Accountant - New Zealand

Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management and development consultancy committed to improving society by considering social outcomes in everything we do. We are a wholly independent, employee‑owned organisation with strong local leadership in Aotearoa, connected to a global network of expertise.

Our people are at the heart of our success. We are proud of our inclusive, collaborative culture and our commitment to supporting long‑term careers through flexibility, development and meaningful work.

Your opportunity

We are seeking an experienced Principal Management Accountant to play a critical leadership role within our New Zealand finance team. This is a senior position providing commercial insight, strategic financial leadership and high‑quality management accounting support to our NZ business and project leadership teams.

You will work closely with senior stakeholders across the business, helping them make informed decisions through strong financial governance, forward‑looking analysis and clear, practical advice. The role also has a strong people‑leadership focus, supporting capability development across the finance function.

Key responsibilities.

• Lead the delivery of management accounting, budgeting, forecasting and financial analysis for the New Zealand business.
• Partner with Business Unit Leaders, Project Directors and senior managers to provide commercial insight on project performance, resourcing, margins and risk.
• Oversee month‑end and reporting processes, ensuring accuracy, consistency and meaningful outputs.
• Support large and complex projects with financial planning, cost control and performance reporting.
• Lead, coach and mentor management accountants, building depth and capability within the team.
• Drive continuous improvement in financial processes, systems and reporting.
• Ensure compliance with New Zealand accounting standards, tax and regulatory requirements, while aligning with Mott MacDonald global frameworks.
• Contribute to broader ANZ and regional finance initiatives as required.

About you

You will be a trusted financial leader who combines strong technical capability with commercial judgement and the confidence to operate at senior levels of the organisation.

You will bring significant experience in a senior or principal management accounting role, ideally within consulting, professional services or a project‑based environment. A recognised professional accounting qualification such as CA, CPA or equivalent is required. You will have strong experience in budgeting, forecasting, financial analysis and project accounting, with a proven ability to engage, influence and advise senior stakeholders. People‑leadership experience, including mentoring or developing finance professionals, is essential, along with a mindset aligned to Mott MacDonald’s values of Progress, Respect, Integrity, Drive and Excellence.

What we offer:

• A senior leadership role with real influence on business performance.
• Flexible working arrangements and support for work‑life balance.
• Opportunities to develop your career locally and across our global network.
• An inclusive, supportive culture where expertise and collaboration are valued.
• Competitive remuneration and benefits aligned to the New Zealand market.

If you’re ready to influence, lead and shape how finance supports a purpose‑driven business, we’d love to hear from you.