Expires soon Kpmg

Restructuring Assistant Manager

  • Internship
  • Brummagem (West Midlands Combined Authority)

Job description



The KPMG Restructuring practice advises a wide range of businesses that find it increasingly difficult to manage their cost base and meet their financial obligations, including in respect of their pension schemes. Following a number of high profile failures, the management of pension scheme obligations has become a primary concern for all stakeholders (government, corporates and trustees) and, as a result, we have seen a material increase in demand for our advice in this area. Our team is targeting further significant growth over the next few years, leveraging our market leading credentials in this area.

During 2019, our Restructuring team advised on several high profile insolvencies, including a number of retail CVAs, where addressing the business’s pension obligations was a key concern. Over the course of 2019 we provided pensions specific Restructuring advice on corporate transactions with a total value in excess of £5 billion, across a wide range of sectors (Oil & Gas, Defence, Retail, Manufacturing), with clients ranging from Financials Investors and Global Listed Groups through to family owned businesses.

Due to the volatility in pension asset values and the UK population living for longer, pension funding requirements have grown materially in recent years. Further, following several high profile corporate failures, the regulations regarding the funding of pension schemes has become increasingly stringent. As a result, dealing with pensions stakeholders is now seen as a key boardroom issue, and our Restructuring pensions expertise means we liaise with our clients at a boardroom level – often directly with the CEO and / or CFO.

Due to the rapid growth in demand for these services, we are looking for an Assistant Manager to join our expanding National team, with this role based primarily in Birmingham. Further, it is our expectation that there will be the opportunity for the right candidate to quickly progress to a Manager grade.

The Midlands & South Restructuring team comprises approximately 65 people, led by a team of three partners and five directors. This specific role would see the successful candidate joining the Midlands practice, with a particular focus on assessing the financial strength of the companies that are responsible for funding defined benefit pension schemes and assessing how much these companies can afford to pay to their schemes to meet their funding requirements.

Our work is hands on – as well as producing concise reports, we are in the boardroom providing direct strategic and negotiation support, and then implementing our recommendations.

The role requires strong accounting analysis, report writing skills and a commercial mind-set. This position would represent an exciting opportunity to make a first move into an Advisory role following qualification.

Further, this role would also be ideal for candidates looking to work flexibly – we would be more than happy to accommodate a 4 day working week, or working reduced hours across a 5 day working week.

We work closely with other parts of KPMG including Transaction Services, Corporate Finance and various sector teams. In many situations, a multi-functional team is deployed.

As an effective Assistant Manager within the team you will undertake the following:

- Assist in helping our team build strong, trusted adviser relationships with senior management and other key stakeholders during engagements (including trustees, solicitors and actuaries);
- Manage your role on engagements to scope, time, quality and budget;
- Appraise situations (which can be challenging & fast developing) and support the senior engagement team to develop innovative solutions, assessing options for businesses and/or stakeholders;
- Communicate views and insights (both in writing and verbally) in an effective and compelling manner to clients and KPMG colleagues, being able to adjust style to circumstances;
- Support on the design and development of client ready deliverables with oversight from Managers;
- Involvement in business development activities, including developing pitches and proposals to win new work.

Key skills and competencies required:

- Strong commercial and business acumen, with evidence of experience;
- Ability to work innovatively and ‘self-start’;
- Desire to build wide advisory expertise and develop knowledge of the team’s offerings;
- Ability to communicate well with operational and financial staff at all levels;
- Good time management and organisational skills, together with the ability to prioritise tasks;
- An ability to produce high quality, accurate work, and produce concise and creative reports and presentations – support would be given to further develop these skills;
- Enjoy working in a dynamic, flexible and fast paced project environment;
- Willingness to embrace work across all sectors;
- Willingness to undertake some travel, albeit this is typically limited to day trips; and
- Developing financial and analytical skills, with relevant accountancy qualification.

Prior experience of undertaking pensions related work is not essential. Up front training and continuous coaching will be provided.

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