Finance Manager

About Stonewood Group

Stonewood Group is a privately held New Zealand investment and operating group with interests across property, financial services, construction (Stonewood Homes franchise network), hospitality and technology. We are a sharp team that manages a complex portfolio. If you want big-company politics, this is not the place. If you want real responsibility from day one, keep reading.

Our finance function supports multiple operating entities across New Zealand and Australia. We are building out the team and putting the right structure in place to support the next phase of growth.

The Role

This is a hands-on Finance Manager role sitting within the central finance team. You will own five areas: the financial management of the Stonewood Homes franchise network, finance operations including leadership of an offshore team, treasury and cash management across the group, financial oversight of our hospitality operation (the AKA Rooftop Bar), and tax compliance.

This is not a role where you sit in a corner reviewing other people's work. You will process payments, file GST returns, manage franchise fee and rebate billing, run the daily cash position, provide financial control over the hospitality venue, and lead a small team. You need to be comfortable doing the work yourself and comfortable directing others.

We are also transitioning several entities to full IFRS RDR reporting, which IRD now requires for companies above the revenue and asset thresholds, and most of our entities qualify. You need genuine IFRS technical capability, not just an awareness of the standards.

You will report to the Financial Controller and the Managing Director. Below you, you will have an accountant, a finance admin / assistant accountant, and two offshore finance administrators, plus a dotted-line to the hospitality finance administrator for the AKA Rooftop Bar.

Note: reporting, variance analysis, financial modelling and board-level analytical work sit with a separate Financial Analyst role. This role is focused on operations, compliance, and getting the numbers right.

What You Will Do

Stonewood Homes Franchisor — Financial Management

• Own the end-to-end financial management of the Stonewood Homes franchise network (approximately 20 NZ franchises and 3 Australian franchises).
• Calculate, bill and collect franchise fees, royalties and rebates across the network, and reconcile rebate entitlements, claims and deductions.
• Produce franchise performance reporting on a weekly, monthly and yearly basis, covering franchise revenue, rebates, fee compliance and key metrics.
• Prepare monthly and quarterly financial reporting for the franchisor entities.
• Ensure franchise financial reporting is accurate, timely and compliant with the franchise agreements.
• Liaise with franchisees on financial queries, fee and rebate schedules, and payment issues.
• Manage the Australian franchise financials, including cross-border and GST/BAS considerations.

Treasury and Cash Management

• Process bank payments, including ASB batch payment runs.
• Manage multi-bank cash positions across all group entities on a daily basis, and prepare daily cash position reports for management.
• Coordinate inter-entity funding, transfers and loan account reconciliations.
• Manage banking relationships and maintain payment systems and authorities.
• Monitor group liquidity so all entities can meet their obligations.

Finance Operations — Offshore Team Leadership 

• Lead and manage a team of four: an accountant, a finance admin / assistant accountant, and two offshore finance administrators.
• Oversee and quality-check bookkeeping and transaction processing across the group.
• Set workflows, deadlines and standards for the offshore team.
• Own the month-end close process across all assigned entities and maintain Xero accurately.
• Drive continuous improvement in finance processes and controls, including greater use of automation and AI.

Tax Compliance 

• Prepare and file GST returns for all assigned group entities on time, every time.
• Coordinate income tax obligations and manage the relationship with PwC for tax advisory and compliance.
• Manage FBT calculations and returns in coordination with PwC.
• Ensure all IRD compliance obligations are met: filing, payment and communication.
• Support the preparation of IFRS RDR financial statements for entities meeting the thresholds, and maintain a compliance calendar.

What We Are Looking For

Must Have

• CA or CPA qualified (or equivalent).
• Minimum 5 years post-qualification experience in a finance operations or management accounting role in NZ.
• Franchise finance experience: franchise fees, royalties, rebates and franchise performance reporting.
• IFRS technical capability: able to prepare or review financial statements under NZ IFRS RDR. This is non-negotiable given current IRD requirements across our group entities.
• Hands-on experience with Xero across multiple entities.
• Proven experience processing bank payments and batch payments and managing daily cash positions.
• Experience preparing and filing GST returns and managing IRD compliance; NZ tax knowledge (GST, income tax, FBT).
• Experience managing or supervising a small team, including offshore or remote members
  
• Strong Excel; organised and reliable, able to manage multiple deadlines across entities without dropping balls.

Nice to Have

• Payroll experience (a plus).
• Experience in a franchise, hospitality or multi-entity group environment.
• Experience with ASB batch payment systems.
• Familiarity with consolidated financial reporting, ApprovalMax and Hubdoc.
• Experience managing transitions from outsourced to in-house finance functions.
• Exposure to Australian GST/BAS or cross-border financial management.
• Experience in construction, franchise or hospitality sector financials.

What You Get

• Location: Shed 19, Princes Wharf, a waterfront office in Auckland CBD.
• Team: a capable finance team that is being purposefully built out.
• Responsibility: real ownership of your areas from day one, no waiting around.
• Development: exposure to a diverse portfolio across property, franchising, financial services, hospitality and AI automation.