Digital transformation, AI, and sustainability requirements are no longer emerging trends for New Zealand. For a small, open economy with a limited talent pool, they are creating new constraints on growth, resilience, and competitiveness, placing finance capability firmly on the national agenda.
Across New Zealand, finance professionals are being asked to take on broader strategic, digital, and risk leadership roles at a pace that outstrips the country’s ability to develop, attract, and retain the right skills. In a market where talent supply is thin and global competition is intense, even modest capability gaps can have outsized economic impact.
This report draws on insights from roundtables with finance leaders, employers, recruiters, and practitioners across New Zealand, alongside labour market data and economic analysis, to surface where these pressures are converging, why traditional solutions are no longer sufficient, and what this means for New Zealand’s growth trajectory.
Inside the report:
The gap between what finance roles demand today and how professionals are trained
The skills New Zealand needs more of - and why they are in short supply
The hidden blockers across education, immigration, and development models
How finance capability shapes economic performance across sectors and regions
The actions finance leaders believe cannot be delayed
Across New Zealand, finance professionals are being asked to take on broader strategic, digital, and risk leadership roles at a pace that outstrips the country’s ability to develop, attract, and retain the right skills. In a market where talent supply is thin and global competition is intense, even modest capability gaps can have an outsized economic impact.
Designed for finance leaders, policymakers, educators, and talent professionals, the report reflects what finance leaders are seeing on the ground and what must happen next to ensure finance capability supports national growth.