Role Description

KPMG is part of a global network of firms that offers Audit, Tax & Pensions, Consulting, Deal Advisory and Technology services. Through the talent of over 20,000 colleagues, we bring our creativity and insight to our clients' most critical challenges. With offices across the UK and Switzerland, we work with everyone from small start-ups and individuals to major multinationals, in virtually every industry imaginable. Our work is often complex, yet our vision is simple: to be the clear choice for our clients, for our people and for the communities we work in.

Group Digital is the internal technology division and is accountable for delivering a range of services to the UK and Swiss Firms. Taking a holistic approach, this includes gathering requirements, solution design, build and run and the execution of complex change portfolios focused on security, data, core infrastructure and business applications.

As part of Service Operations within Group Digital, the role of Software Asset Management (SAM) Lead is responsible for defining and delivering the enterprise SAM strategy, ensuring effective governance, optimisation, and control of software assets across the organisation. The role provides strategic leadership for software licensing, including management of key vendor relationships and alignment with global licensing agreements, working closely with KPMG International. It is accountable for driving cost optimisation, compliance, and value realisation, while ensuring accurate asset data, robust lifecycle management, and a consistent, data-driven approach to decision-making. The role also plays a critical part in influencing stakeholders and embedding best practice to deliver a controlled, efficient, and optimised software estate.

Core Responsibilities

Software Asset Management (SAM) Strategy & Governance

• Define and lead the enterprise Software Asset Management (SAM) strategy and operating model, aligned to organisational and global objectives

• Establish and govern policies, standards, and control frameworks for end-to-end software lifecycle management

• Own and chair SAM governance forums, including reporting, decision-making, and escalation routes

• Drive alignment across Technology, Procurement, Finance, Security, Architecture, and Global licensing functions

• Provide strategic direction to ensure consistent, controlled, and optimised management of software assets across the enterprise

License Compliance & Risk Management

• Own the enterprise licensing compliance and risk posture, ensuring adherence to ISV contractual and regulatory requirements

• Define and lead audit strategy, readiness, and vendor audit response activities

• Identify, assess, and mitigate licensing risks, exposures, and compliance gaps

• Act as senior escalation point for high-impact licensing issues (e.g. Microsoft, ServiceNow, SAP)

• Ensure alignment with global licensing agreements and compliance frameworks in partnership with KPMG International

Cost Optimisation & Commercial Value

• Define and drive the enterprise software cost optimisation and value realisation strategy

• Lead optimisation initiatives (e.g. harvesting, reallocation, right-sizing) across the software estate

• Influence and support strategic vendor negotiations through data-driven insight and commercial analysis

• Identify and deliver cost-saving and cost avoidance initiatives

• Own tracking and reporting of financial benefits, savings performance, and forecast vs actuals, including alignment to global agreements

Software Asset Lifecycle Management

• Direct governance of the end-to-end software lifecycle (demand procurement deployment usage retirement)

• Establish and enforce standardised lifecycle controls and processes across the organisation

• Ensure enterprise-wide control of license entitlements versus consumption, driving optimisation and compliance

• Define controls for onboarding, transfers, reclamation, and decommissioning

• Drive integration with CMDB, ITSM, procurement, and finance systems to ensure data integrity and control

Data, Tooling & Strategic Insight

• Define and own the enterprise SAM tooling and data strategy (e.g. discovery, inventory, reconciliation platforms)

• Establish data governance frameworks, standards, and quality controls for asset and licensing data

• Provide executive-level insight and analytics on software usage, cost drivers, and compliance exposure

• Enable dashboarding and reporting capabilities to support senior decision-making and board-level visibility

Vendor, Global & Stakeholder Management

• Lead relationships with strategic software vendors and SAM service providers, ensuring performance, compliance, and value delivery

• Partner with Procurement and Supplier Management to drive commercial outcomes and contract optimisation

• Own and manage the relationship with KPMG International in relation to global licensing agreements and strategies

• Ensure alignment between global licensing models and local implementation, including allocation, compliance, and optimisation

• Represent the UK firm in global licensing forums, governance, and escalation pathways

• Act as the enterprise SME for software licensing and asset management

• Influence stakeholders to drive compliant, cost-effective, and optimised software usage behaviours

Capability Development & Continuous Improvement

• Build and mature the enterprise SAM capability, including people, processes, and tooling

• Define and deliver a roadmap for automation, standardisation, and capability uplift

• Drive adoption of industry best practices (e.g. ITIL, ISO 19770, SAM maturity models)

• Lead continuous improvement to enhance control, efficiency, compliance, and value realisation

Skills, Experience & Qualifications

Must Have

• Proven experience leading enterprise Software Asset Management (SAM) / License Management capabilities, including strategy, governance, and operating model definition.
• Strong expertise in major licensing models and vendors (e.g. Microsoft, ServiceNow, SAP), including commercial constructs and optimisation levers.
• Demonstrated track record of delivering cost optimisation, savings, and value realisation across large-scale software estates.
• Extensive experience managing license compliance, audit readiness, and vendor audit response
• Strong commercial and financial acumen, with the ability to influence and support strategic vendor negotiations.
• Proven ability to manage and influence senior stakeholders across Technology, Finance, Procurement, and Global functions.
• Experience operating within large, complex, multi-entity organisations, including alignment to global strategies and frameworks.
• Strong capability in data analysis, reporting, and insight generation to drive decision-making and optimisation.

Desirable

• Experience with SAM tooling and platforms (e.g. Flexera, ServiceNow SAM Pro, Snow) and integration with ITSM / CMDB environments.
• Knowledge of cloud and FinOps licensing models, with relevant professional certifications (e.g. ITAM, SAM, ITIL).

Key Competencies

• Customer Focus & Value Orientation: Drives outcomes that maximise business value, balancing user experience, cost optimisation, and compliance across the software estate.
• Analytical & Data-Driven Decision Making: Interprets complex data to generate insight, inform strategy, and support commercial and operational decisions.
• Collaboration & Influence: Builds strong partnerships across Technology, Finance, Procurement, and Global teams, influencing stakeholders to achieve aligned outcomes.
• Adaptability & Change Leadership: Leads through change in a dynamic environment, driving continuous improvement and responding to evolving business and technology needs.
• Leadership & Capability Development: Leads and develops high-performing teams and suppliers, setting clear direction and driving accountability for delivery and outcomes.