Paul Day

Kia ora and thanks for your interest in my professional background.

Born and raised in Auckland and the Far North of New Zealand, I completed my main schooling in Whangarei followed by a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Auckland focusing on finance and commercial law. I have also undertaken training in business management, corporate governance, intellectual property law, advanced financial markets and philosophy.

My finance career includes audit at Ernst & Young Auckland, finance at University of Auckland and treasury at Air New Zealand. I headed finance for American Express in NZ, and held key global financial control and advisory roles for the Corporation in New York City. My professional skills cover technical financial reporting and management, audit, enterprise risk and control, financial markets, corporate governance and board management, and people leadership for local and global teams.

After returning from the United States we created and maintained over the past 10 years a successful hospitality business in Wellington, faced and found solutions to the challenges of being in business and became more rounded both professionally and personally.

I have strong personal interest in political philosophy and organisation, the workings of financial markets, as well as technical excellence and creativity across food and beverage.

My personality is open and friendly, driven by intellectual curiosity and solving difficult problems. I hold a balance between idealism and pragmatism and enjoy being confronted with different perspectives others bring to the table. Libertarian principles are important to me and inform how I collaborate and lead professionally.

Thank you for hearing a little of my background.

Key Skill Matrix

Academic

Finance, Accounting, Statutory Reporting, Audit and Commercial Law

Intellectual Property Law, Philosophy (secular and non-secular)

Advanced Financial Markets, Corporate Governance

Professional

Ernst & Young - audit, risk management, client management

Air NZ - corporate treasury management, airline fleet management

American Express NZ - Financial Controller, risk management, statutory reporting, financial advisory, Board Member for two local boards

American Express New York - global enterprise risk, financial controller over global servicing operations, financial advisory over global corporate card and travel operations

Small Business Owner - business creation, project management, team management, leader, communicator

Food and Beverage - cafe management, cooking, menu creation, barista, mixology

Personal Interests

Philosophy - including general, political and theological

Political organisation - public speaking, messaging, volunteer organisation, strategy

Fiber arts, history, global cuisine, sciences