Job description

Senior Manager – Commercial Lawyer

Office of General Counsel (Commercial) | KPMG UK | Permanent | Location: any KPMG UK office (preference for Manchester)

We’re looking for an experienced commercial lawyer to join our OGC Commercial team as a Senior Manager, on a permanent basis. You can be based at any of our UK offices. If you enjoy working closely with clients and business teams, leading negotiations, and finding practical ways to manage risk, this could be a great next move.

About KPMG and the OGC Commercial team

KPMG is a leading professional services firm, supporting organisations across the UK and worldwide with audit, tax and advisory services. The Office of General Counsel (OGC) Commercial team partners with the business— helping teams contract confidently and deliver projects successfully, while managing legal and commercial risk.

The opportunity

As a Senior Manager in OGC Commercial, you’ll take the lead on a wide range of client engagement contracts — from first review through to signature — and you’ll be a trusted adviser to partners and senior stakeholders. You’ll help teams move quickly and confidently by focusing on what matters most: clear documentation, proportionate risk positions, and constructive negotiation.

We welcome applicants from different backgrounds and career paths. If you’re excited about the role but don’t meet every point in the list below, we’d still encourage you to apply. If you need any adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know.

What you’ll do

• Lead legal support on client engagements, including reviewing, drafting and negotiating engagement letters, statements of work and customer contract terms.
• Own negotiations with clients and counterparties, helping teams reach clear, workable outcomes that protect KPMG and support delivery.
• Advise partners and senior stakeholders on commercial, legal and risk issues (including liability, intellectual property, confidentiality, data protection, subcontracting and regulatory considerations).
• Support a varied portfolio of agreements such as NDAs, RFP responses, teaming/partnering arrangements, subcontractor terms and other commercial documents.
• Help improve how we work by developing templates and playbooks, sharing knowledge, and delivering practical training to business teams.

What we’re looking for

We’re looking for someone who can bring strong commercial judgement, communicate clearly, and take ownership of negotiations. In particular, you’ll have:

Essential experience

• 6+ years qualified solicitor in England & Wales (or another common law jurisdiction) or equivalent in-house qualification/experience; we welcome applicants with different career paths;
• strong commercial contracting experience, with confidence advising on risk, liability, IP, confidentiality and data protection in a client-facing context;
• experience drafting and negotiating complex agreements (for example, master services agreements, technology implementation agreements, and/or outsourcing or managed services arrangements);
• experience working in a regulated or risk-aware environment (for example, financial services, public sector, professional services, or similar);
• good judgement and the ability to explain legal issues clearly to non-lawyers, focusing on practical options and outcomes.

Nice to have

• Experience with public sector frameworks, implementation agreements and/or international/multi-jurisdictional work.

How we work

You’ll do well in this role if you enjoy working collaboratively, can manage competing priorities, and are comfortable engaging with senior stakeholders. We’re particularly interested in people who demonstrate:

• Independence and initiative, alongside a collaborative approach and willingness to share knowledge.
• Organisation skills: prioritising effectively, meeting deadlines and keeping stakeholders updated.
• Attention to detail and a focus on producing clear, high-quality drafting.
• Confidence building relationships with partners and senior stakeholders.
• A client-service mindset and the ability to stay constructive in challenging negotiations.
• Pragmatic problem-solving — identifying key risks, offering options and helping teams make informed decisions.
• Clear, respectful communication, adapting your style for different audiences.
• A willingness to learn quickly and take ownership of outcomes, asking for support when needed.
• A supportive team approach, including flexibility to help across OGC when priorities change.

What we offer

We offer a market-competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package. We also support flexible working where possible, and we’re happy to discuss what works for you as part of the process.

• A varied and high-profile portfolio of client engagement work.
• Support from experienced colleagues, with opportunities to develop templates, guidance and training.
• A culture that values different perspectives and encourages continuous learning

How to apply

Please apply via the KPMG careers portal. If you’d like to discuss the role before applying, or if you need any reasonable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process, we’ll be happy to help.

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