Chris Ussher Email & Phone Number

Wellington & Wairarapa, New Zealand

Admitted to partner in the Assurance practice on 1 July 2015, I continue to provide financial and non-financial assurance to clients across the retail, not-for-profit, oil & gas, technology, logistics and government sectors.

Wellington & Wairarapa, New Zealand

I moved to the PwC Wellington office in January 2015 to bring my breadth of audit and assurance experience across multiple sectors to our Wellington clients.In Wellington I have delivered financial and non-financial assurance, sound insights and commercial advice to numerous entities including NZX-listed companies, private entities, not-for-profit organisations and public sector entities.

Auckland, New Zealand

As an Assurance Director, I specialised in managing the external audits of several large NZX-listed entities in the retail, electricity, entertainment and technology sectors.I also led external audits and greenhouse gas assurance services for a range of private, not-for-profit and public sector entities.Highlights included:• Advising on appropriate risk management frameworks for maturing organisations;• Working with those in governance positions to manage their risk and obligations during complex stakeholder negotiations (including with regulators and banks);• Accounting for complex transactions including multiple acquisitions in a pragmatic and commercial manner;• Providing assurance to multiple parties in respect of compliance with commercial agreements; and• Issuing internal control recommendations in respect of new IT system implementations.

Auckland, New Zealand

I leveraged my extensive, broad base of experience to manage the external audits of several large companies in the banking and finance, oil and gas, aviation and manufacturing sectors.Highlights included:• Assisting with the IPO of one company onto the NZX;• Supporting a large finance company through its transition into the non-bank deposit taker regime;• Auditing a large high-street bank as it transitioned into new capital adequacy disclosures;• Advising private equity-owned entities on preparing their business for an ownership exit event; and• Guiding a private entity with its integration of a significant Australian-based acquisition.

San Francisco Bay Area

I was promoted to Senior Manager during my US secondment. In addition to the work I undertook as an Assurance Manager, I was also instrumental in growing our aviation assurance specialty, winning the audit of a major (global Top 10) aircraft leasing business and preparing the business for IPO. This work was acquired as a result of my pragmatic and collaborative approach to external assurance and the breadth of global experience I was able to deliver.

San Francisco Bay Area

As an Assurance Manager in the PwC US Banking and Capital Markets practice I was responsible for managing the external audit of a large (US Top 20 by size) banking group. I also managed the audit of a global financial institution subsidiary of a major US technology company.Highlights included:• Performing audits under US GAAP, PCAOB standards and the requirements of the Sarbanes Oxley Act;• Performing controls assurance and separate internal controls certifications;• Undertaking regulatory audits on behalf of various government bodies; and• Assisting with the development of, and providing assurance over, client shared service centres.

Wellington & Wairarapa, New Zealand

As an Assurance Manager I was responsible for managing the external and internal audits of public and private companies, not-for-profit entities and public sector entities across a range of sectors including banking and finance, manufacturing, education and healthcare.Highlights included:• Developing an internal audit programme for a significant finance company;• Assisting with structuring of international financing arrangements for multi-national entities; and• Providing accounting advice to entities in the education sector.

Wellington & Wairarapa, New Zealand

My primary role was as on-site in-charge for a range of internal and external audit assignments, primarily in the banking and finance and oil and gas sectors.Highlights included:• Supporting the transition of a major public sector audit client to PwC;• Auditing the break up of a large NZX-listed entity and the subsequent sale of one of its divisions to a large multi-national; and• Supporting the integration of the acquired business into existing operations and providing commercial and pragmatic advice on the internal controls necessary to manage a business of increased scale.

Wellington & Wairarapa, New Zealand

Delivery of external and internal audits, with specialism in the banking and finance sectors.