Technical Communications - Director of Operations in London

The International Standards Group (ISG) is looking for a talented and motivated professional to play a leading role in the development of global guidance and communications relating to IFRS Accounting Standards and sustainability reporting standards. This is a director-level role with responsibility for operations, managing a team on a day-to-day basis, and reporting to the Head of Marketing and Communications.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

• You will have day-to-day responsibility and accountability for overseeing a growing Comms team and ensuring it meets client expectations by following robust processes to deliver high-quality campaigns, publications and communications in a timely way, and a suite of deliverables that harness technology and are fit for purpose.
• You will act as the Head of Comms' delegate, in selected instances.
• You will input into and execute the ISG's comms strategy to shape, promote and protect the KPMG brand by working shoulder-to-shoulder with subject matter experts to publish practical application guidance on IFRS Accounting Standards, IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards and European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS).
• You will work within an internationally diverse team, and with staff across Global Audit, Advisory and Tax, KPMG International (KPMGI) and KPMG Member Firms, to support the delivery of initiatives relating to this objective.
• You will work alongside senior representatives of working groups and topic teams, participating in technical reporting, accounting, auditing and assurance discussions to understand the key messaging (when necessary) and assisting with planning, drafting and reviewing/editing materials.

Role and Responsibilities

• Continuously monitor the publication processes, controls and accompanying collateral, to ensure they are efficient, fit for purpose and harness technology.
• Ensure the suite of deliverables meets the business's needs - harnessing technology and fostering innovation to drive new product development.
• Work shoulder-to-shoulder with subject matter experts.
• Develop and publish materials relating to the interpretation and application of IFRS Accounting Standards, IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards, ESRS and relevant audit and assurance quality matters.
• Demystify technical content - drafting messaging in a clear, visual way together with meaningful insights.
• Develop opinion pieces to shape the corporate reporting ecosystem.
• Capture and share the insight in various mediums, ranging from long-form and sector-specific publications to talkbooks, podcasts, blogs, digital articles, talking-head videos, animations and social media.

Leadership & Management

• Shape, execute and retain agility in the ISG's comms strategy to ensure the right messages get to the right audiences at the right time - both internally and externally.
• Devise and execute cross-functional go-to-market campaigns - both proactive and reactive campaigns to respond to reporting change and emerging issues.
• Input into and support the rollout of the content and knowledge strategy to digitise our content.
• Day-to-day responsibility and accountability for a Comms team comprising of eight professionals.
• Coach and mentor the members of the Comms team and support career development.
• Champion IDSE - be a role model and ensure it's embedded in how the team operates as well as its outputs.
• Shape and execute team-based decisions - e.g. resource planning to ensure the team has the right mix of resources, knowledge, skills and experience to deliver a high volume of quality outputs.
• Remain informed about reporting, accounting, auditing and assurance developments, including projects within the ISG and KPMGI.

Stakeholder Interaction & Challenges

• Act as key liaison between ISG, KPMGI and member firm leadership teams, coordinating their combined responses to issues at hand.
• Manage and consult with relevant stakeholders and mobilise SMEs beyond the ISG - e.g. accounting advisory and sustainability reporting - to share and capture their experience and practical guidance.

Impact, Risk, Accountability & Governance

• This is a high-profile global role, with ISG thought leadership used across the global KPMG network by thousands of professionals, as well as by a large external audience.
• Our deliverables must be technically accurate, relevant, user focused and timely to support global consistency in interpretation and application by KPMG professionals.
• You will play a key role in the development and maintenance of guidance by driving timely delivery, high-quality standards and 360° engagement, ensuring outputs comply with requirements - e.g. ISQM1, house style, brand and licensing agreements.
• Maintain a continuous improvement mindset and foster an innovative environment - using data and analytics to measure impact, learn and adjust.

Skills and Qualifications

• Relevant professional qualification - ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CPA or equivalent.
• Demonstrable technical competence - strong analytical and problem-solving skills, and knowledge of sustainability reporting frameworks, IFRS Accounting Standards.
• Excellent spoken and written English skills.
• Leadership skills and personal effectiveness - excellent organisational skills, ability to manage projects, proficiency to both lead and work effectively within teams, commitment to high quality and continuous improvement.
• Strong communication skills - able to clarify complex ideas and explain them simply, convey key messages convincingly, create visual representations of concepts, and experience of preparing internal and/or external communications.
• A strategic mindset - one that can both see the big picture and pay attention to the detail - with ambition and enthusiasm.
• Agile and adaptable to change, identifying issues and implementing solutions.
• Positive stakeholder management skills, including building relationships internally, ability to influence and persuade, finding balanced solutions and resolving conflicting priorities.

Experience Relevant to the Role

• Experience leading a team.
• Experience in a technical role would be helpful - e.g. Department of Professional Practice (DPP), accounting advisory, audit support - but is not a 'must have'.
• Proven experience handling a range of technical accounting, sustainability reporting and/or auditing matters.
• Working with and supporting leadership.
• Experience preparing internal and/or external communications and materials.

Disability Confident

A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people.