Principal Adviser, Frontline Regulators

A great place to work. With great work to do. Ours is a meaningful and impactful role as a kaitiaki of the financial services in Aotearoa. We oversee a market that does right by everyone, ensuring better outcomes for all New Zealanders. Our role as a kaitiaki is brought to life by our values: Look to the Horizon, Help the Team Work, Make the Calls, and Open Hearts, Open Minds.Come and join us to really step up your career - we'll give you opportunities to work with C-suite leaders and offer a breadth of work that will be both stimulating and contribute to your professional growth.Te Tūranga | The Role As a Principal Adviser in the Frontline Regulators team, you’ll lead FMA’s engagement with and oversight of licensed supervisors - Anchorage, Covenant, NZ Guardian Trust, Public Trust, and Trustees Executors, as well as accredited bodies that monitor auditors.This is an impactful advisory role where you’ll provide expert-level regulatory insight and thought leadership. You’ll be responsible for leading complex monitoring and assessment activities, representing the FMA in high-level engagements, and driving strategic responses to emerging issues in the sector.You’ll also play a mentoring and capability-building role within the team, supporting consistency, judgement, and quality in our regulatory work. Most of the entities we oversee are based in Auckland, so ideally the role will be located there.In this role, your work will include leading efforts across several areas, such as:Leading monitoring, assessment, and advisory activities.Delivering external engagements.Developing, implementing, and maintaining new and existing regulatory regimes, and engaging with stakeholders.He kōrero mōu | About you You’ll bring extensive experience in the investment sector - ideally within a licensed supervisor, fund manager, regulator, or audit firm, and the ability to provide authoritative advice on conduct, governance, and risk management.You’ll be confident in:Leading or advising on risk and compliance frameworks.Providing strategic and evidence-based advice to senior decision-makers.Assessing complex regulatory issues and forming sound, well-reasoned recommendations.Building strong relationships and influencing senior-level stakeholders across the industry.You’ll be known for your critical thinking, judgement, and collaborative approach. You’ll also bring strong written and verbal communication skills, the ability to explain complex concepts with clarity, and a genuine desire to contribute to purposeful work for the benefit of Aotearoa.At the FMA, we value curiosity and a growth mindset, so if you bring most of these skills and the passion to make a difference, we’d love to hear from you.Ngā painga | What we offer We offer a range of great benefits, including:4% KiwiSaver contributionHealth and life insurance coverPaid leave over the Christmas periodA generous $1,500 'refer a friend' bonusFlexibility to swap public holiday leave for other days that are more meaningful to youWe also provide exceptional learning and development opportunities, including access to leadership development, technical training, and external coaching.At the FMA, we're committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment where every individual feels valued, respected, and empowered to bring their authentic self to work each day. We offer a range of wellness and social activities to support our people in both their personal and professional lives — and to help them connect genuinely with their colleagues.You'll be part of an organisation that values and celebrates the diverse backgrounds, cultures, perspectives, and life experiences of our team.Me pēhea te tuku tono | How to apply If this sounds like your next opportunity, then please click on 'Apply' to review the position description and apply online via the FMA Careers website. If you have further questions, feel free to get in touch with us on careers@fma.govt.nz.Applications close at 5pm on Wednesday 26 November 2025. If you require additional support with your application, please let us know — we want to ensure you're best placed to complete it with ease.