Treasury adviser

By LIANE VOISEY

Name: Steve Leith

Age: 32

Job title: Principal adviser, budget and macroeconomic branch, Treasury

Working hours: 50 hours a week, but varies with demand

Employer(s): Treasury, Wellington; generally accountants work in all business sectors

Pay: $42,500-$171,500 depending on experience and seniority. When they work overseas New Zealand accountants earn an average of $192,000

Qualifications: Tertiary degree plus chartered accountancy certificate

Career prospects: Limitless. You will find accountants in all fields of business, right up to senior management or chief executive level. New Zealand accountants are internationally well-respected and the Institute of Chartered Accountants records 6000 members working overseas.

Steve Leith's work means that people can see how the Government plans to run its finances. Picture / Mark Mitchell

Q. Describe what you do:

A. I lead and develop the Treasury's fiscal and budget strategy and accounting policy, and broadly oversee the Crown financial statements and fiscal forecasts. Much of my work involves providing information on the Government's plans for taxes and spending, and the borrowing implications of these plans. Our work means that people can see how the Government plans to run its finances.

Q. What skills/qualities do you need to succeed?

A. There is a common perception that you need to be good with numbers ... well that helps. But just as important are people skills - leadership, good communication - and the ability to apply skills and think ahead.

Q. Why did you choose accountancy?

A. I enjoyed accounting at secondary school, and so it seemed natural to make that the focus at university. Another attraction is the fact that there is a recognised professional requirement to attain over and above a tertiary qualification before you can call yourself a CA (Chartered Accountant). This shows that you have reached a particular standard, which I thought would open up a wider range of career opportunities.

Q. What's the best part of the job?

A. Because the Treasury is the Government's primary adviser on economic and fiscal matters, it really is a place in which you can make a difference. I get to work with many great people throughout New Zealand and to be involved with many of the issues facing the Government and the public sector.

A. At Treasury we are responsible for preparing one of the most complex set of forecasts and financial statements in New Zealand - communicating what it means so everyone can understand is no easy job.

Demands for advice are sometimes very sudden, which is just part of how a public sector has to respond to Government needs. It means being on top of your game all the time.

Q. Any memorable moments in your career?

A. Being awarded Young Accountant of the Year 2002 has been the highlight so far. And the work I have done at Treasury, which is a large part of why I was awarded this.

I have just been elected as one of the Wellington representatives to the Institute Council. The council is like a governing board and has around 40 members. I am looking forward to tackling the issues facing the profession.

And it is the field in which I met my wife, Karen - she is an accountant as well.

Q. Any interesting projects?

A. I've been involved in interesting issues such as the Government's acquisition of Air New Zealand. Another one was being involved in looking at how our branch delivers its work. We wanted to get away from the traditional approach of staff working only in sections and having every piece of work going through a manager, and then another manager, and so on. I helped to develop work streams in a way that staff would have greater opportunity to be involved in work outside of their core patch.

Q. Hopes for the future?

A. I have found my niche. Being involved in the challenge of implementing international accounting standards across the public sector is a massive task for the next couple of years, and something I am keen on seeing through to success. After that, perhaps more senior management roles.