Jobless Developer
KPMG New Zealand logo
KPMG New Zealand

Posted 9 days ago

Open

Head of Applications

AucklandHybrid

AI Summary

Lead the enterprise application portfolio and strategy, driving modernisation, governance, and operational resilience while managing teams and vendor relationships.

About this role

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

    • Skills

    Application Lifecycle ManagementApplication RationalisationBusiness ContinuityCloud AdoptionEnterprise ArchitectureIT GovernanceMicrosoft 365Risk ManagementService ManagementServiceNow

    Explore related jobs

    More jobs at KPMG New Zealand

    Similar Application Lifecycle Management jobs

    Jobs in Auckland

    Browse these categories

    Microsoft 365 JobsRisk Management JobsServiceNow JobsJobs in AucklandJobs in New Zealand

    Market data for this role

    All reports →