John Francis Williams, 38, appeared in the Dunedin District Court this morning on 17 charges of false accounting, two of obtaining by deception, one of causing loss by deception and four of theft.
The SFO alleges Williams deceived Rural Livestock and his clients in relation to transactions totalling about $2 million.
Williams elected trial by jury and was remanded on bail to reappear in the Dunedin District Court on January 24.
The investigation began after the SFO received a complaint from Rural Livestock, which employed Williams from June 2008 to May 2016.
Rural Livestock is the largest privately-owned livestock and station company in the South Island.
