About Perpetual Guardian
What is Perpetual Guardian?
Perpetual Guardian is New Zealand's premier provider of estate-planning services and the country's largest non-government trustee organisation. Headquartered at Level 23, 191 Queen Street, Auckland, the company today administers or supervises assets valued over NZ$4 billion across more than 125,000 client relationships and stands as "New Zealand's largest Trustee for Charitable Trusts." Its services span wills, trusts, enduring powers of attorney, estate administration, investment advisory, dementia planning, philanthropy and charitable-trust management, and includes Te reo Māori service.
The modern company traces its trustee heritage back to 1882 through South British Guardian Trust, NZI Trust Department (which became Guardian Trust), Pyne Gould Guinness Trust Department, and AMP Perpetual Trust (which became Perpetual Trust). Andrew Barnes acquired Perpetual Trust in 2013 and Guardian Trust in 2014; the combined entities now sit under Perpetual Guardian Holdings, with the trading entity Perpetual Trust Limited operating under the New Zealand Guardian Trust Company Act 1982, the AMP Perpetual Trustee Company Act 1988, and the Trustee Companies Act 1967. Patrick Gamble was appointed Group CEO in 2020.
The firm is most internationally well-known for its 2018 four-day-week trial under Barnes — an eight-week trial that produced lower stress, higher job satisfaction, improved work-life balance, and a 20% productivity gain across roughly 200 staff. The 4-day week was made permanent later that year. Barnes went on to co-found 4 Day Week Global and to publish "The 4 Day Week Book" outlining the experience.
Where will I work?
Perpetual Guardian has offices nationwide across New Zealand, with the Auckland Head Office at 191 Queen Street alongside branches confirmed in current job listings: Tauranga, Napier, Dunedin, Hamilton, and Remuera. Flexible hybrid arrangements support employees' diverse needs.
What is the Perpetual Guardian team like?
The team is guided by five named values lived through daily behaviours: One Team, Our Team ("we work together and with respect"); Complexity to Clarity ("we work efficiently and quickly to keep it simple for our clients"); Step up, Own it ("we are accountable for our actions"); Exceed, Excel, Excite ("we take pride in what we do"); and Do the Mahi, Get the Benefits ("we enjoy the benefits of flexibility while being productive"). Employee testimonials reference the philanthropic culture: "the Philanthropic side of the business... that is the stewardship of client funds to the charitable sector in New Zealand" (Kirsten Kilian-Taylor, Philanthropy Manager); "Perpetual has real values that matter. For me, it's about the people" (Theresa Donnelly, lawyer). The company was named an HRD New Zealand Employer of Choice 2020.
Work-Life Balance
The 4-day work week initiative — adopted permanently in 2018 — is central to the employee proposition. Employees describe the impact in their own words: the flexibility evolution has helped staff "broaden my expertise" and pursue "philanthropically based" roles over a decade-plus tenure. Staff give back via payroll giving matched by the organisation.
Perks and Benefits
The careers page enumerates four areas: Flexible working, Benefits, Professional Development (L&D), and Social Club. Beyond the 4-day week, the matched payroll-giving programme is distinctive — every dollar a staff member donates to charity is matched by Perpetual Guardian.