Management Accountant

Every day, people across Unitec are working with our students,
enterprises and communities because we care about making lives better.

Position purpose:

Responsible for overseeing, developing, and maintaining procedures and systems which ensures cost centres have
effective and efficient financial management; ensuring the budgets and forecast objectives of the cost centres are
met.

Assists cost centre managers in providing accurate and timely financial information and support to management to
enable informed decision-making. To assist in ensuring all projects and initiatives positively contribute to the cost
centres and Unitec’s Key Strategic Areas.

Assist the Finance Business Partners when required.

Key Areas Key Responsibilities Expected Outcomes

Budgets and Forecasts • Ownership for the development of cost • Close engagement with business
centre budgets and forecasts, through segment management ensures that
close engagement with the business budgets are prepared in the context
and cost centre managers. of current performance, are
• Ensure budget assumptions used by reflective of business segment input
cost centres are reasonable/robust and that key assumptions,
(align to central assumptions) and are deliverables are responsibilities are
documented. Action plans and clearly delineated.
responsibilities are clearly articulated. • Budgets prepared on time
• Ensure Capex budgets are prepared as • Budgets are well tested and
required. understood
• Monitor and manage budgets and • Unitec Budgets and forecasts are
forecasts closely for designated delivered on time to management,
Schools and/or Support area; close Executive Leadership Team (ELT)
engagement with business owners to and Council
ensure current and forecast
performance, variances to budget and
remedial actions are well understood.

Financial Management A disciplined and focussed approach to be • Accurate and timely reporting
applied to regular financial reporting
• Ongoing and continuous
demonstrated via:
improvement of management
• Compliance with month end reporting accounting
timetables
• Proactive approach to ensuring
accuracy, completeness of information
on a “no surprises” basis
• Ensure all projects and cost centre
income and expenditures are regularly
reviewed on a monthly basis ensuring
all profit and cost centre owners have a
deep appreciation of all the factors
contributing to current and projected
performance versus budget.

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 Management Accountant
Every day, people across Unitec are working with our students,
enterprises and communities because we care about making lives better.

Key Areas Key Responsibilities Expected Outcomes

Reporting • Contribute to financial & performance • High quality external and financial
reporting to meet statutory and reporting
regulatory requirements
• Support Finance Team reporting
(month end and external) by providing
timely and accurate management
reports, commentary and analysis,
ensuring there is a deep understanding
(and that this understanding is shared
by operational management) of current
and projected performance against
budget to ensure there is an alignment
and appreciation of financial
performance.

Capital Expenditure • Develop and maintain the capital plan • Capital Expenditure is supported by
for the designated Schools and Support appropriate plans
Groups

Contracts • With the support of the wider Finance • Contracts are managed
team, develop an awareness of contract appropriately.
renewals, expiration and renegotiation
to ensure Unitec stakeholders are
notified in advance of contract
expirations enabling the proactive
management of contracts
Other Tasks/Projects • Achieve other task/project related goals • Agreed tasks met within required
and performance objectives as scope and timeframe
assigned by and agreed with your
Manager

Performance and • Manage own individual performance • Own performance and development
Development and development in accordance with is managed in accordance with the
Management the Unitec Performance and Unitec Performance and
Development Management Policy Development Management Policy

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 Management Accountant
Every day, people across Unitec are working with our students,
enterprises and communities because we care about making lives better.

Health and Safety • You will demonstrate commitment to • Unitec’s Health and Safety
Unitec’s health and safety rules and measures are met or exceeded.
procedures and take reasonable care to • All risks effectively managed and no
look after your own health and safety at compliance issues.
work, your fitness for work, and the
health and safety of others. You will be • Processes and culture reinforce
required to report any potential risks, Unitec Kaupapa.
incidents and near misses so the
organisation can investigate, and
eliminate or minimise harm or risk of
harm.
• Promotes a culture of zero harm,
including safe working practices and
behaviours and sustainable
environmental practices.
• Models zero harm behaviours.
• Identifies and minimises business risks
and compliance issues.
• Partners with the Health and Safety
team to align strategies and drive a
zero harm culture.

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 Management Accountant
Every day, people across Unitec are working with our students,
enterprises and communities because we care about making lives better.

Unitec Kaupapa Actively participate to uphold the Unitec Unitec Values and Code of Conduct are
Kaupapa and the factors that will enable upheld, and positive feedback is
success as follows; received from key stakeholders.
Our Partnership

• Te Noho Kotahitanga is Unitec’s

partnership between Māori and non-
Māori underpinned by the principles of
Rangatiratanga, Wakaritenga,
Kaitiakitanga, Mahi Kotahitanga and
Ngākau Māhaki

Our Purpose

• Led by Te Noho Kotahitanga we

manaaki the success of our students
and communities

Our Success

• Improve the success of all students,

achieving parity for Māori, Pacific and
Under 25s by 2022, enhancing
International student success, and
serving the educational needs of the
West, Central & North Auckland
communities
• Provide high quality learning, teaching
and applied research to develop work-
ready lifelong learners and return to
Category One
• Engage and inspire staff so they are
proud to work at Unitec and are
equipped with the capabilities to
support quality learning
• Build a financially sustainable
organisation to invest in the future with
an operating surplus by 2022

Our Values

• Rangatiratanga (Authority and Respect)

• Wakaritenga (Legitimacy)
• Kaitiakitanga (Guardianship)
• Mahi Kōtahitanga (Co-operation)
• Ngākau Mahaki (Respect)

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 Management Accountant
Every day, people across Unitec are working with our students,
enterprises and communities because we care about making lives better.

Our Way

• A dynamic community of learners

engaged in a culture of open inquiry

What you will bring

Role Related Experience

Essential
• An understanding or desire to learn Te Reo Māori, Tikanga Māori and the values and practices of Kaupapa
Māori
• Evidence of active engagement in building diverse, inclusive and equitable work places/environments
• A relevant degree and qualification
• At least 3 years management accounting experience gained in a large and complex organisation
• Possess excellent communication skills with strong customer focus
• Have a solution focus with a "can do" attitude
• Well organised with the ability to handle a number of tasks
• Excellent team member who is flexible and possess strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Advanced knowledge of MS Excel
• Experience in providing quality financial analysis and reporting
• Experience in providing monthly / year-end management reporting and budget preparation and monitoring

Desirable

• Experience in accounting/finance in a commercial environment or large tertiary education organisation

• Experience with academics, researchers and project management
• Chartered Accountant or equivalent
• Previous experience in using PeopleSoft Financial System

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 Management Accountant
Every day, people across Unitec are working with our students,
enterprises and communities because we care about making lives better.

Leadership competencies required

• Fosters a Student-Centred Whānau

Building strong customer and student relationships and delivering solutions to the Unitec whānau

• Engages with Difference

Harnesses the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to Unitec

• Collaborates
Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives

• Builds Trust
Gaining the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity

• Ensures Accountability
Holding self and others accountable to meet commitments

• Develops Self-Awareness and Reflective Practice

Using a combination of feedback and reflection to gain productive insight into personal strengths and
weaknesses

• Demonstrates Ongoing Commitment to Engaging in Treaty-Based Partnership

Takes responsibility as a partner in living Te Noho Kotahitanga

• Cultivates Curiosity and Innovation

Examining the status quo, identifying opportunities and introducing real world solutions for improvement

Financial Authority
Budget owner No

Delegated Financial Authority as per Unitec’s Delegations Policy No

Responsible for new employee hire No

People Management
Number of Direct Reports: Nil

Number of Indirect Reports Nil

Responsible for contract staff, and/or coaching, training of others No

Dimensions of the position

Safety sensitive role: No

Children Act applicable: No

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 Management Accountant
Every day, people across Unitec are working with our students,
enterprises and communities because we care about making lives better.

Position Contacts and Relationships

Internal External Committees/Groups
Chief Financial Officer Audit New Zealand

Leadership Team

Extended Leadership Team

Finance Team

Cost Centre Managers

The role reports to the Director Business Performance

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