Head of Applications

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, multi‑nationals and government agencies.

Locally, we’re known for our values‑driven culture and strong staff engagement, anchored in our purpose of fuelling New Zealand’s prosperity. 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 seeking an experienced and strategic Head of Applications to lead our enterprise applications landscape and drive the delivery of technology solutions that enable business performance, innovation, and operational excellence.

This is a key leadership role responsible for shaping the applications strategy, modernising digital capabilities, and ensuring the firm's technology solutions remain secure, reliable, scalable, and aligned with business priorities. You will partner closely with senior business leaders, technology teams, and external vendors to deliver exceptional outcomes and create lasting value.

As Head of Applications, you will lead the application portfolio and product landscape, driving strategic investment decisions, modernisation initiatives, and continuous improvement across business-critical platforms. You will oversee service delivery, governance, operational resilience, and application lifecycle management while fostering a high-performing team culture.

Day to day you will:

• Lead the enterprise application portfolio, ensuring solutions are secure, reliable, compliant, and effectively managed throughout their lifecycle.
• Develop and execute the applications strategy and roadmap, aligning investments, modernisation initiatives, and lifecycle decisions with business objectives and enterprise architecture.
• Drive service excellence and operational resilience through effective governance, service ownership, risk management, support, change, and continuity practices.
• Lead application modernisation and rationalisation programmes that reduce complexity, increase productivity, and deliver measurable business value.
• Build trusted relationships with business leaders, technology stakeholders, and strategic vendors to deliver effective business and technology outcomes.
• Establish clear accountability for application performance, service quality, and user experience across the portfolio.
• Lead and develop high-performing teams, creating opportunities for growth, capability uplift, and future readiness.
• Identify and embed enhancements that improve operational effectiveness and the delivery of technology services.

What you will bring to our team:

• Proven experience leading enterprise application portfolios, product management, or technology service functions.
• Strong background in applications strategy, digital transformation, and technology modernisation.
• Experience managing complex technology environments and leading large-scale application ecosystems.
• Demonstrated success in driving operational excellence, governance, service management, and risk management practices.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills with the ability to influence and partner with senior executives.
• Experience leading and developing high-performing technology teams.
• Strong commercial acumen and vendor management experience.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and decision-making skills.
• Experience within a complex corporate, professional services, financial services, or enterprise environment.
• Knowledge of enterprise architecture principles and application lifecycle management.
• Experience delivering technology transformation, cloud adoption, or application rationalisation programmes.
• Understanding of IT governance, security, compliance, and business continuity frameworks.
• Experience with Microsoft 365 and ServiceNow platforms is highly desirable

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 KPMGAccessibilityNetwork@kpmg.co.nz.   For any general questions about the role or recruitment process, feel free to reach out to our Talent Acquisition team at Jobs@kpmg.co.nz.   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.