Posted 18 July, 2026
Assistant Manager / Manager - Innovation and Growth Advisory
KPMG New Zealand
Auckland
Full Time
Reference: 113_683346_b0f07449-17c5-42e8-9144-b865753f2f6b
KPMG New Zealand is part of the international KPMG network and one of the world's leading professional services organisations. We provide audit, tax and advisory services to individuals, SMEs, multinationals and government agencies.
At KPMG, we believe in fuelling prosperity for all New Zealanders. This purpose drives everything we do, from our client work to internal practises, all guided by our shared values of Integrity, Courage, Excellence, Together, for Better.
The opportunity:
- We are looking for an Assistant Manager or Manager to join KPMG's Innovation & Growth Advisory division. Our division has seen rapid evolution and significant growth over the past few years and is looking for a technically minded, big picture thinker to join the team.
- We support businesses from large publicly listed companies, to small start-ups, in navigating the complex and ever-changing field of government funding for their innovative and technologically demanding projects.
- The main source of government funding we assist companies to access is the R&D Tax Incentive (RDTI)
- The RDTI is intended to create greater access for businesses to government funding for the purpose of supporting their innovation and technology developments by looking at R&D through a more commercial lens.
- Be part of a young, dynamic team which is constantly looking to expand our offerings and find new meaningful ways to help our broad client base within the innovation and tech space.
Day to day you will:
- Facilitate technical discussions with staff ranging from scientists and engineers to CTO's, about the innovative projects companies are undertaking in New Zealand from a range of different industries.
- Use your technical knowledge and inquisitiveness to drive meaningful conversations and lead engagements with clients about their R&D work carried out in fields such as seismic engineering, AI and Machine Learning, automation, agritech, food and beverage technologies, and manufacturing.
- Manage multiple workflows to help scope and prepare applications, including providing guidance to junior staff members involved on client work.
- Help large businesses understand the innovation happening throughout their organisations, which is often opaque due to their size and complexity.
- Work with SMEs to streamline how they manage their access to funding, since this is often not the sole the responsibility of any one individual.
- Help Start-Up companies understand the matrix of government funding options available as immediate access to cash often needs to be prioritised.
- Work with government in developing and implementing policies to achieve national goals of raising New Zealand's overall investment in innovation and growing the innovation and tech scene.
- Alongside providing advice relating to the R&D Tax Incentive, our team's long-term strategy is to provide support generally with other similar forms of funding and alternative tools to help businesses innovate and grow. This supports KPMG's overall goal of fuelling New Zealand's prosperity.
What you will bring to our team:
- A keen interest and natural curiosity for the innovation and tech space within New Zealand and further abroad.
- At least 5 years-experience in a technical role, within a software, information systems, science or engineering industry (Experience consulting or dealing with external stakeholders desirable).
- Experience with preparing or submitting R&D tax incentive or other government grant/funding applications
- Bachelor's degree, or equivalent, in a technical field such as science, software, or engineering. Software engineering or information systems background is desirable but not necessary.
- Good communications skills and confidence in presenting to an audience which can range from technical experts to CEOs, finance managers, and government officials.
Recruitment Agencies: The recruitment for this role is being managed directly by the KPMG Talent Acquisition team. We will contact our preferred agency partners if we require agency assistance. Thank you for your understanding.
Life at KPMG
KPMG values diversity in the workforce and we encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply for roles, including individuals with a disability, additional mental health needs, chronic health conditions or who identify as neurodivergent.
For disabled and neurodiverse candidates, if you encounter accessibility barriers or if you have access needs and require support to participate equitably in the recruitment process, please email Emma at [email protected].
For any general questions about the role or recruitment process, feel free to reach out to our Talent Acquisition team at [email protected].
We offer rewarding careers to talented individuals and a holistic range of benefits to support your life balance, whatever your circumstance. We want you to do Work That Matters, Thrive and Grow and know that you Belong here with us, at KPMG.
As a KPMG employee, we will offer you:
- Access to the firm's annual incentive scheme
- Opportunities for local and international secondments
- Hybrid working across a mix of office, client and home hubs to recognise that people have individual circumstances and preferences when it comes to where and how they work
- The ability to work from overseas and extend time connecting with friends and family outside New Zealand
- Flexible leave options, including the ability to purchase additional annual leave
- Gender-neutral support for all stages of the parental journey, including access to 18 weeks of fully paid parental leave for all new parents
- A paid professional association membership of your choice
- Digital accreditations through our partnership with Microsoft, LinkedIn Learning, with bespoke learning pathways for all employees
- A wide-range of special offers and discounts on insurances, banking services, and lifestyle goods and services
- The support, allyship and opportunity to join our many Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Affinity networks, including the Kiwa, Pride, Ethnicity, Accessibility and Wahine groups
- The opportunity to participate in Green Team activities, as we work toward reducing the firm's environmental footprint and become carbon zero by 2030
- An invitation to join your local Social club and enjoy events aimed at bringing people together for social, sporting, cultural, family and fundraising activities
- Paid time off for volunteering and involvement in citizenship activities
- An array of health and wellness benefits such as free flu vaccinations, subsidised sporting events, free confidential counselling services, additional 5 days of Wellbeing leave to support you and your family's overall health and wellness, access to our Wellbeing portal with an extensive range of advice and resources and much much more!
We believe that diversity of background and experience strengthens relationships and delivers meaningful benefits to our people, clients and communities. Our goal is to be recognised as an employer of choice for all, irrespective of gender, ethnicity, generation, flexible work status, family circumstances, sexual orientation or disability. Further info can be found on our website.
