Finance & Operations Lead

Acumen is an independent, corporate and marketing PR and communications agency. With offices in Wellington and Auckland, they’re proudly owned by a Trust where employees are discretionary beneficiaries, creating a uniquely entrepreneurial and inclusive culture. The team is values-led, commercially savvy, and genuinely great to work with. Acumen is now looking for a Finance & Operations Lead to play a critical role in the smooth running of their business

About the role

This is a broad, hands-on role responsible for leading finance and supporting operational excellence across the business. You’ll provide accurate, timely financial insights while also supporting IT systems, office operations, and administration. You’ll work closely with the Client Leadership team and consultants, ensuring strong financial management, streamlined systems, and efficient day-to-day operations.

Key responsibilities

Finance

• Prepare monthly management accounts and support with the preparation of annual financial statements
• Manage cashflow, forecasting, and reporting dashboards
• Oversee accounts payable, receivable, and batch payments
• Complete GST and FBT returns and IRD filing
• Maintain accurate client financial data across Xero and ProjectWorks

Operations & Systems

• Support invoicing, forecasting, and pipeline management in ProjectWorks
• Maintain client records and business systems (SharePoint, CRM)
• Drive process improvement across tools (Microsoft 365, Xero, Employment Hero, AI tools)
• Act as a technology “super user” and support system adoption
• Manage laptops and liaise with IT providers

Office & Administration

• Coordinate suppliers and control costs
• Support day-to-day office operations across Auckland and Wellington
• Ensure teams have the tools, equipment, and resources they need

What you’ll bring

• Proven experience in accounting and business operations
• Experience with accounts payables/receivables
• Experience in management accounting and financial reporting
• Advanced Microsoft Excel and Microsoft 365 skills
• Experience with tools like Xero, ProjectWorks, SharePoint (or similar)
• A proactive, solutions-focused mindset
• Strong organisational and relationship-building skills