Associate Director - Deal Execution - Integration & Separation

KPMG’s Deal Execution practice is looking for exceptional candidates for an Associate Director role. The Deal Execution team is part of KPMG’s rapidly expanding Strategy Group, which delivers value for clients by challenging conventional thinking, bringing deep industry and functional insights and executing with investor-grade rigour.  We are a diverse team working collaboratively with and orchestrating KPMG’s broad set of capabilities within our Deal Advisory business, and are focused on continually enhancing value for clients across the deal and economic cycle. Our teams comprise of specialists capable of helping clients right through from conceptual thinking of buying a business to turning their business around in times of difficulty.

The Deal Execution Advisory Team

KPMG's Deal Execution Advisory Team is a growing and dynamic team. We work with both vendors and acquirers on mergers, acquisitions, divestments, exits and joint ventures, both pre and post-deal.

The team offers four key proposition areas:

Separation: Supporting vendors to plan and deliver a credible, discrete standalone entity to the Buyer with value preserved and business continuity in place from Day 1, including supporting the definition and implementation of transitional service agreements.

Integration: Pre and post deal integration design, planning and implementation to integrate the target business into the Buyer’s organisation whilst mitigating risk and enhancing value.

Synergies: Understanding the potential benefits and costs generated through a proposed transaction, and the associated plans, interdependencies, risks and issues for the delivery of base and stretch case targets.

Joint Ventures: Helping respective partners ensure the key value considerations are identified and prioritised early and delivered through the associated business plan, leveraging each party’s specific contribution and capabilities and managing broader stakeholder relationships.

Head of Technology & Solutions

Location: UK (any office)

Capability: Audit

Experience Level: Partner (Salaried)

Type: Full Time

The Team

The KPMG Audit Technology team is dedicated to building cutting-edge solutions in close collaboration with the Audit function. We blend audit expertise with the latest technology, enabling us to understand the challenges our customers face daily and develop indispensable products that simplify their lives while promoting Audit Quality.

As a crucial member of the team, you will collaborate with a talented mix of Architects, Data Scientists, Engineers, Experience Designers, Business Analysts, Testing specialists, and Product Owners. Together, we build, deliver, and manage a portfolio of truly exciting products.

In recent years, our products' size and scale have rapidly expanded, leading to significant growth in our technology capability. There's never been a better time to join us.

With our ambitious growth plans, your future here is something to get excited about. As a valued team member and leader, you’ll stay current within the latest trends in technology and audit delivery.

The Role

We’re looking for an experienced technology leader to join the Audit technology leadership team.

The Head of Technology & Solutions will be responsible for overseeing the development, deployment and running of all technology solutions used by the Audit business. They will work closely with the other members of the Audit technology leadership team and the global audit organisation to set the strategy and roadmap for technology solutions, including Artificial Intelligence, Automation and Analytics.

They have primary oversight of:

-             Audit technology architecture strategy;

-             Technology development and product engineering activities in audit;

-             Technology support provided to Audit by Enterprise-Wide Technology teams (ensuring services meet the appropriate levels and are cost effective) and functional support for audit products;

-             Data governance, risk and controls activities in Audit.

The individual will report to the Audit Chief Technology Officer and work alongside other members of the Audit Technology leadership team and will have a combination of directors and senior managers reporting to them.

Responsibilities

•            Cultivate collaborative relationships and network across the Audit business.

•            Overseeing engineering resources who are developing & deploying new technology solutions to the audit business (working closely with the Head of Product & Innovation). Resources will include software engineers, data engineers, cloud engineers & data scientists.

•            Maintaining the Audit technology architecture strategy and roadmap, ensuring alignment with global audit and UK firm-wide roadmaps.

•            Accountable for technology support within the Audit function, including functional support and deployment activities.

•            Provide Quality Assurance and maintain compliance standards in relation to new and updated technology solutions.

•            Develop, implement, and operate controls to mitigate the risks associated with the use of technology in the business.

•            Developing and implementing a robust data governance strategy.

•            Services provided to the Audit function by Enterprise-Wide Technology, ensuring the services delivered meet the requirements of Auditors, are cost effective and provide appropriate service levels.

•            Manage the audit technology budget and resources, including oversight of FinOps practices.

•            Lead, develop and mentor the audit technology team by promoting a culture of coaching, inspiring others, prioritising wellbeing, and career development within the team.

Experience & skills

•            Bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field.

•            Extensive experience in a technology-oriented field.

•            Strong technical skills, including experience overseeing software development, deployment and support.

•            Experience of managing end-to-end software lifecycles for enterprise level applications used by thousands of users.

•            In-depth experience of implementing industry standard IT service management processes.

•            Strong understanding of information technology risks and controls.

•            Ability to manage vendor relationships with key technology partners, ensuring value for money and quality of service.

•            Knowledge and experience of working in a cloud-first environment, preferably Microsoft Azure.

•            Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

•            Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

•            Ability to manage a budget and resources.

People & Culture

•            Embrace and embed our culture ambition of high challenge, high support which is grounded in Our Values.

•            Operate with a curious and sceptical mindset ensuring that this is embedded in your everyday work.

•            Actively lead and embed a coaching culture to get the best out of others in an environment where everyone in the team feels empowered to speak up or challenge where appropriate.

•            Be inclusive and embrace the opportunity to work with other teams within Audit and across the firm in an integrated way. Have a sense of community, purpose, and fun.

Powered Enterprise is KPMG’s world-class accelerated Enterprise Business Transformation approach for cloud-based solutions driven by a pre-defined back-office function based on leading practices and KPMG’s six-layer Target Operating Model. The target operating model comprises of service delivery model, people, process, technology, data & insight and governance & controls. This solution combines the breadth and scale of KPMG’s leading practice, capabilities and insight into what makes a world class corporate services function with the latest in ERP technology provided by the leading SaaS ERP vendors such as Oracle. 

Our Infrastructure, Government and Healthcare (IGH) Consulting team are looking to recruit a talented Local Government Director to join their expanding team.

About KPMG Delivery Network

KPMG is focused on achieving significant growth ambitions while becoming the most trusted professional services firm. For Audit, this requires a relentless focus on key initiatives that drive Audit Quality and achieve Operational Excellence through standardization, centralization, automation, and innovation.

The establishment of a global delivery model, KPMG Delivery Network for Audit (KDN Audit), will help make significant strides in all these focus areas. We envision a network of global, regional, and specialty focused delivery centers that provide standardized services (on a cost recovery basis) to engagement teams in all member firms. The potential benefits are plentiful. Audit quality will be increased by the centralized, consistent performance of certain audit procedures. Engagement teams will be able to increase their focus on more complex procedures or on serving more clients. Our multi-national clients will have a more consistent experience around the globe. Most member firms will be able to achieve better margins. Finally, the firm will have a mechanism to help quickly deploy new and emerging solutions (e.g. ESG) and audit innovations (e.g. audit technology).

Role Summary

KDN for Audit is a critical component of delivering the Global ESG Assurance strategy, and is fundamental to ensuring member firms can scale their assurance practices’ in a rapidly changing market. 

Our vision is that the KDN ESG Assurance team will support every ESG Assurance engagement across the global network with access to market leading expertise and highly standardised services so they can deliver consistently high quality. The CSRD in the EU is expected to create a multi-billion dollar opportunity for KPMG in ESG assurance, but in order to meet demand, we will need a significant amount of capacity and subject matter experience. KDN will be the only way member firms can meet the scale of this challenge, and is a truly transformative opportunity for the firm.

We are seeking a Manager to serve as an assurance subject matter expert to partner with global Leaders to build profile, provide credibility for ESG sales pitches and develop and lead the delivery of assurance services.  Through this work, you will have the opportunity to help shape a more sustainable future, as well as work with fantastic colleagues and the brightest minds in KPMG.

How you will make your mark

To be successful, KDN ESG Assurance aims to amplify existing investments in ESG knowledge, experience and processes to deliver best in class services across the KPMG network.  The role therefore focuses on building a framework and solutions that are innovative, purposeful, and fit for adoption across the network.

We need you!  New projects and service developments are always on the horizon, so we’re looking for someone who can contribute to our growth and success.

Key activities will include:

• Representing KPMG and building the assurance brand from an international perspective
• Supporting and partially managing ESG assurance engagements, including report assurance, readiness services and other assurance related activities
• Building capacity within the member firms through training and knowledge sharing:
  •   Enabling member firm teams to work in compliance with the latest legislation and frameworks
  •   Ensuring teams are up to date on developments on frameworks and requirements
  •   Developing and rolling-out training for sustainability and audit teams
• Identifying opportunities for KDN process improvement and standardisation including:
  •   Work paper development and explore ways to make the process more effective
  •