St. Peter’s School, Cambridge, is a leading independent school renowned for excellence, innovation, and a vibrant community spirit. We are currently at a pivotal moment in our financial evolution as we transition from a traditional Director of Finance model to a hands-on, modernised financial governance structure.
Job Description
This isn't a "business as usual" role. We are seeking a high-calibre Financial Controller to serve as our principal technical authority - a visionary leader ready to build a brand-new function from the ground up. This is a rare opportunity to architect a department, including recruiting and mentoring a high performing team.
You will lead our digital transformation, leveraging technology to automate and streamline legacy processes. Your role will be to improve efficiency and transform the finance office into a modern service hub that delivers outstanding support to our staff, parents, and students. If you are a strategic fixer with a passion for building teams and driving technological change, we want to hear from you.
We are looking for a visionary leader to:
Transition the function from a reactive state to one of proactivity and continuous improvement.
Create a team with professional pride, stability, and transparency.
Actively lead the professional evolution of your team, identifying growth opportunities and fostering a culture of continuous learning.
Lead the optimisation of our ERP and financial systems to eliminate manual processes and automate workflows.
Provide the Trust Board and Committees with quality, timely reports and forward-looking financial intelligence.
Key Responsibilities
Reporting to the Head of Commercial & Operations, you will lead a team of four (Management Accountant, two Financial Accountants, and a Finance Administrator) while overseeing a complex multi-entity structure.
Deliver month-end, quarterly, and annual performance packs for the Trust Board.
Provide scenario modelling and ROI analysis for strategic ventures.
Act as the final authority on NZ GAAP and PBE standards. Manage external audits, tax profiles (GST, FBT), and provide rigorous oversight of a complex payroll environment.
Own the bottom-up budgeting process and maintain a rolling 3-to-5-year financial model to support capital expenditure.
Desired Skills and Experience
About You
You are a Chartered Accountant (CA) with a proven track record as an experienced senior people and technical leader. You understand that rebuilding culture requires a blend of patience, clear technical direction and high-level EQ. We are looking for someone who:
Enjoys the challenge of designing robust internal controls and efficient system workflows.
Has the ability to translate complex financial data into actionable insights for non-financial stakeholders.
Is passionate about people leadership and building a high-trust, innovative team environment.
Why St. Peter's?
Located in the heart of the picturesque Waikato, St. Peter’s offers a unique opportunity to make a visible, lasting impact on the School’s operational backbone.
We offer a premium work environment and benefits, including:
Work a 7 ½ hour work day with staff lunches provided daily (during term time) and free on-site parking.
We invest in your growth and provide the autonomy to shape the department’s future.
A supportive leadership team and community. Be a key influencer in a professional, values-led school.
The successful candidate will be required to work on-campus Monday to Friday, including during term breaks. We are looking for this position to commence as soon as possible.
Applications close 5:00pm, Friday 29 May 2026. Applications will be reviewed as they are received. St Peter’s, Cambridge is a child-safe school. To receive an Information Pack or to find out more, please email hr@stpeters.school.nz.