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Position Description – Senior Finance Manager

Location: Rotorua, New Zealand
Employment: Full-time, permanent
Reports to: Chief Executive Officer
Direct reports: Two finance team members (one in the Bay of Plenty, one in Queenstown)

1. About RCT Group

RCT Group is a New Zealand-owned tourism group operating three distinctive visitor experiences:

  • Rotorua Canopy Tours – an award-winning zipline experience combining adventure tourism with native forest conservation.

  • Million Dollar Cruise – a sightseeing cruise on Lake Whakatipu, Queenstown.

  • Canyon Explorers – guided canyoning adventures in the Queenstown region.

We have plans to grow in Rotorua and Queenstown, developing new experiences and expanding our portfolio through acquisition. We also support the Canopy Conservation Trust, which delivers significant conservation and ecological restoration work in Rotorua.

2. Position Purpose

The Senior Finance Manager leads the financial management, reporting, compliance and performance analysis of RCT Group's three tourism businesses: Rotorua Canopy Tours, Million Dollar Cruise and Canyon Explorers.

Reporting to the CEO, the role leads a small finance team and works closely with senior leaders to strengthen financial understanding, improve performance and support sound decisions.

The role is central to our growth. It provides the financial modelling, analysis and advice behind new experiences, acquisitions and investments, and leads the financial integration of businesses as they join the group.

3. Key Responsibilities

3.1 Financial Reporting and Planning

  • Deliver accurate, timely monthly management accounts for each business and the consolidated group.

  • Manage group consolidation, intercompany accounting and entity-level reporting.

  • Ensure accurate revenue recognition and reconciliation across booking systems, sales channels, payment providers, trade commissions, deposits, refunds and gift vouchers.

  • Lead annual budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management and capital expenditure planning, including seasonal cash flow.

  • Prepare financial reports and analysis for the CEO and Board.

3.2 Compliance, Tax and Controls

  • Maintain strong financial controls and oversee payroll, accounts payable, receivables and reconciliations.

  • Manage tax compliance, including GST, PAYE, FBT and income tax, working with external advisers where appropriate.

  • Oversee payroll compliance across permanent, seasonal and casual staff, including leave and KiwiSaver obligations.

  • Coordinate year-end accounts and tax preparation with external accountants and advisers.

  • Manage lender reporting and coordinate insurance renewals.

3.3 Business Performance and Commercial Insight

  • Help senior leaders understand their financial performance, budgets and key business drivers.

  • Provide pricing, yield and channel analysis, including trade and commission performance.

  • Identify financial risks, opportunities and improvements, with clear recommendations to the CEO and senior leaders.

  • Build financial confidence and commercial understanding across the leadership team.

3.4 Growth and Investment

  • Build financial models and business cases for new experiences, capital projects and acquisitions in Rotorua and Queenstown.

  • Evaluate the viability, risks and returns of investment opportunities.

  • Lead financial assessments and coordinate due diligence for potential acquisitions and new ventures, working with external advisers where appropriate.

  • Lead the financial integration of newly acquired businesses into the group.

3.5 Finance Team Leadership

  • Lead and develop two finance team members who reside in the Bay of Plenty and Queenstown.

  • Ensure clear responsibilities, strong processes and timely reporting.

3.6 Systems and Improvement

  • Oversee financial systems, reporting tools and data integrity.

  • Drive efficiency, automation and better reporting as the group grows.

  • Current systems are Xero, Spotlight Reporting, IBIS (reservations) and iPayroll. Experience with comparable platforms is equally valued.

3.7 Canopy Conservation Trust

  • Provide financial oversight, reporting and advice to the Trust (approximately 10 hours a year), including Charities Services annual returns.

4. Skills and Experience

Essential

  • A relevant accounting or finance qualification, preferably CA or CPA.

  • Proven experience in a senior finance role, including reporting to a CEO or Board.

  • Strong reporting, budgeting, forecasting and financial modelling skills.

  • Sound knowledge of NZ tax and payroll compliance.

  • Experience managing financial processes, controls and compliance.

  • Experience leading finance staff.

  • Ability to communicate financial information clearly to non-finance leaders.

Desirable

  • Experience in tourism, hospitality or a seasonal operational business.

  • Experience with multi-entity accounts and group consolidation.

  • Experience with acquisitions, due diligence or investment evaluation.

5. The Person

You're as comfortable in the detail as you are in the big picture. You'll challenge thinking when it matters, explain numbers in plain language, and enjoy helping leaders run better businesses.

You want to be part of a growing group where your work shapes real decisions, from the next acquisition to how we price a new experience. And you'll bring manaakitanga to how you work with our people across both regions.

6. Location and Working Arrangements

This is a full-time, permanent position based at our Rotorua Canopy Tours office, with occasional travel to Queenstown. All RCT Group roles share responsibility for health and safety under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.