Accounts Assistant

WM New Zealand is looking to hire an Accounts Assistant for its Napier team. The company frames its work around real-world impact, focusing on people, place and purpose, and supports communities through responsible waste management, recycling, roads and reporting. This role sits with a small, hands-on team and sits onsite in Napier, offering a hands-on, steady environment for someone who enjoys contributing to the numbers behind the scenes.

The role reports to the Commercial Manager and centers on the Joint Venture Midwest Disposal Services business. You’ll take ownership of the accounts function, with a clear line of sight to month-end deadlines, invoicing, credit control and purchasing. If you like working in a practical, team-based setting where your work directly supports operations, this could be a good fit.

This is a full-time, onsite position in Napier that suits someone who has built substantial accounting experience and wants to focus on a two-person team where cross-functional learning matters. If you enjoy data, processes and turning numbers into timely financials, you’ll likely feel at home here.

Day-to-day at the accounting desk

In this role you’ll look to improve and uphold robust internal controls while ensuring month-end records are accurate and timely. You’ll be involved in standardizing reporting and turning data from a range of sources into clear invoices and financial outputs, using customer and weighbridge information as part of the invoicing process. When questions arise from customers, you’ll step in to handle queries and support credit control and debt collection as needed.

You’ll also manage the recording of day-to-day transactions, including raising purchase orders, processing accounts payable and coordinating with suppliers. Banking transactions will come under your remit, with tasks to investigate discrepancies as they appear. The job also encompasses general office administration and you’ll assist with external reporting, audits and year-end tasks when required. Collaboration across operations, commercial and finance managers is essential, and you’ll work closely with a two-person team where cross-functional knowledge and ongoing learning are key components of the role.

The essentials you’ll bring and the extras that help

You’ll find the team values a blend of experience, technical skill and the ability to stay organized under tight timelines. The must-have and nice-to-have qualifications below reflect what WM New Zealand is looking for in this position.

• At least five years of work in accounting, ideally within a large, complex organization with stringent month-end deadlines
• Solid Excel capabilities paired with strong data analysis skills
• Proven ability to pull together data from multiple sources and systems for invoicing and reporting
• Excellent time management and a solid sense of commercial awareness
• Clear verbal and written communication, including the ability to explain accounting issues to non‑accountants
• Team player who can also work autonomously

• Experience or knowledge of construction, logistics, or waste industries would be an advantage
• Interest in learning new systems and processes

Pay, benefits and practical details

The role offers a competitive hourly rate and includes discounted health insurance coverage, with further discounts on a range of products for you and your family. The company supports professional development toward Chartered Accountant status, providing a pathway and backing as you progress. You’ll join a close-knit team that values collaboration, recognition and ongoing improvement, with a strong emphasis on personal development, mentoring, and wellness initiatives. The arrangement is onsite in Napier, and the position comes with a structured development plan, operations training and the tools you’ll need to succeed in a two-person accounting setup.

This is a full-time, onsite role in New Zealand. You must be based in the country and hold a current work visa, residency or NZ citizenship to be eligible.

Advice for applicants

Lead with your five-plus years of accounting experience in your resume, and make sure your opening summary highlights your experience managing month-end deadlines in a complex environment.

Demonstrate how you’ve pulled data from multiple sources and systems to create accurate invoices or reporting outputs, ideally with a concrete example you can discuss in an interview.

Be ready to talk about times you reviewed processes or internal controls and made improvements, especially around month-end close or invoicing workflows.

Think of a thoughtful question to ask at interview time, such as how the Midwest Disposal Services JV accounting function defines success for the two-person team and what the first three months would look like in practice.

How to apply

To apply for this role, click the “I'm interested” button. Applications may be considered as they come in, so applying early is encouraged. WM New Zealand is an equal opportunity employer and maintains a drug- and alcohol-free workplace. You must be in New Zealand and hold a current work visa or residency or NZ citizenship.