The Serious Fraud Office – Te Tari Hara Tāware 

The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) is the lead law enforcement agency responsible for investigating and prosecuting serious or complex fraud, including bribery and corruption. It also plays a role in preventing fraud and corruption. 

Our mahi is integral to protecting New Zealand’s economic and financial wellbeing. The SFO is a highly specialised agency that uses multi-disciplinary teams to investigate and prosecute significant and complex financial crimes, spanning both the private and public sectors and across all industries. 

The Serious Fraud Office Act 1990 establishes a Prosecutors Panel to bring proceedings on behalf of the SFO Director. The Solicitor‑General appoints the Panel after consultation with the Director. 

There are two vacancies available, and expressions of interest are now invited from Auckland-based principal and senior-level counsel who wish to be appointed as members of the Panel. Appointments to the Panel will be until 31 October 2030. 

Criteria for appointment to the Panel include: 

• Demonstrated significant experience in criminal prosecutions 
• Proven experience in complex financial crime prosecutions 
• Excellent written and oral communication skills 
• The ability to use technology in prosecutions 
• An awareness of the importance of te reo and tikanga Māori 
• Holding a practicing certificate as a barrister or solicitor for at least seven years 

The SFO recognises that diversity and inclusion are important to our work, and we welcome expressions of interest from counsel of all backgrounds. Applicants should send their curriculum vitae, accompanied by a cover letter, to publicprosecutionunit@crownlaw.govt.nz by 12pm on Friday, 17 July 2026. 

Further information about the mahi of the SFO can be obtained by contacting Kylie Cooper, Deputy Chief Executive Legal and Corporate | Chief Legal Advisor, on 09 303 0121.