Senior Finance Manager

About us

Southern Cross Health Insurance is shaping a healthier Aotearoa New Zealand. Our purpose is simple: empowering our members to live well for longer. We're here to give peace of mind through timely access to quality care, inspire healthier living, and lead positive change across the health system. As a New Zealand-owned, member-based organisation, we're building a future where wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do -- delivering exceptional value for our members and creating an environment where our people thrive.

Now is an exciting time to join us. You'll be part of a high-performing, values-driven team where people are at the heart of everything we do -- and in return for your talent, you'll have the opportunity to grow, make an impact, and be proud of the difference your work makes.

About the role

Southern Cross Health Insurance is guided by purpose, powered by people and technology. We're here to help almost one million members across Aotearoa New Zealand live well for longer – work with real scale, real responsibility, and a real opportunity to make a meaningful difference.

Our finance team has recently reshaped how it works, and this newly scoped role sits at the heart of that change. We're looking for an experienced technical accountant to be the Financial Controller's right hand – the most senior technical voice in the function and a trusted partner to the Financial Controller, helping shape how the function operates and evolves. You'll be trusted to lead statutory and regulatory reporting, sharpen our processes, and step up and run the team when needed.

This isn't a typical people-leadership role – you won't have direct reports – but you will be the senior authority the wider team leans on, with the scope to shape how the function runs, modernise how we report, and make a genuine, visible dent in the manual work that slows us down.

About the role
Reporting to the Financial Controller, you'll manage financial accounting, statutory and regulatory reporting, and taxation for the Southern Cross Medical Care Society Group, while leading the finance function's process improvement agenda. You'll ensure accurate, timely financial information for external reporting, and provide technical accounting and tax support the wider team can rely on.

You'll be a senior, steady pair of hands – experienced enough to jump in and help resolve the unexpected, whether that's a new transaction, an emerging accounting standard, or a regulatory change, and confident enough to lead discussions, challenge thinking and bring others with you.

What you'll do

• Assist the Financial Controller to deliver reliable reporting and maintain a strong control environment, stepping up to run the function when needed

• Lead finance process improvement initiatives – identifying, automating and standardising ways of working, and exploring tools and technology to simplify reporting

• Review financial information, reconciliations and accounting judgements from across the team to maintain accuracy and confidence in reporting, supporting a robust two-level review process

• Deliver statutory financial statements and regulatory returns – including RBNZ and Statistics New Zealand returns – that are accurate, timely and well supported

• Provide practical, well-documented technical accounting and tax advice, and act as a senior point of escalation for new or complex transactions and treatments

• Partner with the Financial Controller, audit and risk teams and business stakeholders to resolve issues and strengthen assurance

• Support finance systems and reporting tool improvements, contributing to broader technology and automation initiatives

• Coach and support less experienced team members' outputs, helping build sustainable, scalable ways of working

• Manage ad hoc reviews and stakeholder queries – from contracts to payments – within delegated authority, keeping business processes moving

What you'll bring

• Chartered Accountant, Certified Practising Accountant or equivalent professional membership, with an undergraduate degree in commerce, accounting or a related discipline

• Significant senior-level experience in financial accounting, statutory reporting and technical accounting – we're open to this being gained in professional practice or within a large organisation.

• Strong working knowledge of NZ IFRS, statutory reporting and audit requirements, and New Zealand tax obligations (GST, FBT, withholding tax, income tax)

• A track record of improving processes and controls, and genuine comfort simplifying manual, complex ways of working

• The confidence to operate autonomously, speak up in group discussions and make progress visible

• Comfort with ambiguity and change - and the initiative to drive it, not just respond to it

• Advanced Microsoft Excel capability and experience with large enterprise resource planning systems; TechnologyOne experience is desirable

• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to explain complex accounting matters simply

Why join us
We're investing – in people, in technology, and in the mission. This role gives you the mandate to make process improvement and technical excellence genuine drivers of how our finance function runs, working alongside a Financial Controller who wants a true thought partner, not just a pair of hands.

We're building something worth joining. Our teams are growing, our employer brand is gaining real traction in market, and the way we show up for our members and each other is being noticed. This momentum has also been reflected externally – in 2026, Southern Cross placed 8th in the Kantar Corporate Reputation Index and 5th in New Zealand for Trust.

Who we are
 

Ngākau nui. Āhurutanga. Tikanga.

Join a proud, diverse team that's always there, always real, always true. If you thrive in a caring, honest and open culture, we think you'll love working with us.

We know our team's culture and wellbeing drive us forward. That's why we prioritise not only professional development but opportunities to thrive personally. We offer exceptional work/life balance, and our people are encouraged – and rewarded – for living well.

Southern Cross employee benefits include:

• Five days of wellbeing leave per year

• Health insurance for you and your immediate whānau

• Life insurance cover and discounts on pet and travel insurance

• Extra parental leave benefits and financial wellbeing support

• Participation in our workplace wellbeing programme

• The option to purchase flexi leave for study, volunteering, or supporting your whānau

• An annual volunteer day to contribute to a cause with your team

This role is Auckland based. While we appreciate interest from candidates in other locations, we're unfortunately not able to consider remote options. Have questions? Check out our FAQs for help with the application and recruitment process.

We are proud to have taken the Pride Pledge, reflecting our commitment to inclusion and belonging. We also facilitate an active, employee‑led Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Forum, which includes our Rainbow Network, Māori Network, Pasifika Collective, and Neurodiversity and Whānau Support networks.

If you share our commitment and passion, we'd love to hear from you.