FDE AI Solution Manager

KPMG United Kingdom; Aberdeen City; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading professional services firm in Scotland is seeking a FDE AI Solution Manager to lead AI initiatives that empower client-facing teams and drive innovation. This role requires a unique blend of business acumen and technical expertise to engage with clients, manage projects, and mentor team members. Responsibilities include developing customized AI solutions, facilitating client workshops, and overseeing project lifecycles. Strong leadership and communication skills are essential, along with a commitment to delivering impactful solutions.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Inclusive and diverse workplace

Career development opportunities

Qualifications

• In-depth expertise in a client-facing role such as technology consulting or solutions architecture.
• Deep understanding of modern AI, machine learning, and software development concepts.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage bespoke AI solutions tailored to clients' specific needs.
• Design, plan, and facilitate strategic client workshops to define business challenges.
• Oversee the project lifecycle for multiple FDE projects.

Skills

Client Engagement

AI Technologies

Project Management

Communication

Problem Solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in a technical or business-related field

Tools

Software-as-a-Service (SaaS)

Job description

Job description

FDE AI Solution Manager

About KPMG International

Together with more than 273,000 colleagues in 143 countries throughout our member firms, people at KPMG imagine big ideas and bring solutions to life for clients both big and small. A role with KPMG International will open a world of opportunity in your career.

KPMG International helps set the strategy and protects the reputation of this global organization of independent professional services firms providing Audit, Tax and Advisory services. We deliver value to our member firms and drive positive change in the communities we serve. By joining us you will gain a unique understanding of how a global organization operates and work on projects that impact the whole organization. From setting standards and best practices to developing innovative tech- enabled solutions for clients, you'll be part of a global team changing the way our business operates. We look forward to welcoming you to our team.

About this Global Group

Our Global Advisory team works with KPMG member firms around the world to help our Advisory practice meet its strategic goals. The Advisory function is one of KPMG's three business lines, bringing together Global Consulting and Deal Advisory specialisms.

Advisory professionals around the world help clients address their biggest challenges, including improving performance, enhancing stakeholder trust, harnessing the value of data, modernizing technology and delivering value from transactions. Teams within Global Advisory support this effort by coordinating our strategy, connecting communities and designing global programs.

Teams within Global Advisory include KPMG Alliances, Global Deal Advisory, Global Consulting, Advisory Finance, Global Advisory Technology and Enablement and more. This community is a small part of the overall Advisory practice, which brings together more than 100,000 colleagues globally.

About this team

The KPMG Global Tech Consulting Forward Deployment Engineering (FDE) team plays a pivotal role within Global Advisory, empowering both client-facing teams and internal innovation and development teams to demonstrate the real-world value of AI-driven solutions swiftly and effectively. Our team is tasked with accelerating AI initiatives, including the development and deployment of tailored prototypes, ensuring these solutions not only meet but exceed client expectations by directly addressing their unique challenges.

FDE Strategic Priorities Include:

• Rapid Innovation: By leveraging data-driven insights, agile methodologies, and advanced technology, we fast-track the creation and testing of innovative prototypes that transform client vision into reality.
• Client-Centric Engagement: We work side‑by‑side with clients to gather actionable feedback, ensuring solutions are aligned with strategic business objectives.
• Seamless Integration: Our team acts as a critical bridge between internal KPMG technology capabilities and client-facing delivery, ensuring smooth transitions from prototype to full-scale implementation.
• Agility and Customization: Through agile development principles, we provide customized solutions that can quickly adapt to evolving client needs and market conditions.
• Knowledge Sharing and Enablement: Emphasizing collaborative learning, we foster an environment where insights, best practices and assets are continuously shared across teams and member firms.
• Strategic Ecosystem Engagement: We actively engage with external ecosystems to co‑develop solutions and explore strategic partnerships that enhance our capability offerings.

Core Responsibilities of the FDE Team Include:

• Developing and managing bespoke AI solutions tailored to clients' specific needs, resulting in actionable outcomes and accelerated decision-making.
• Engage proactively to support member firm client opportunities, quickly pinpointing key client challenges and uncovering opportunities for value creation through in‑depth analysis and collaborative workshops.
• Enabling teams through cutting‑edge prototyping tools and methodologies to enhance delivery efficiency and impact.
• Partnering with global teams and networks to implement the latest emerging technologies and innovations.
• Reporting and tracking key performance indicators to measure the success and scalability of FDE initiatives globally.
• Creating supportive, data‑driven environments for teams to innovate continuously and achieve sustained client transformation.

To thrive as a part of the FDE team, you will require a unique combination of deep business acumen, a strong technical background, an innovative mindset, effective client delivery skills, the ability to collaborate efficiently with cross‑functional teams, and a passion for harnessing AI technologies to drive meaningful change in client organizations. Candidates should also possess excellent stakeholder management and executive communication skills to successfully engage with senior leaders globally and deliver impactful business solutions.

Role summary

The FDE AI Solution Manager will be the lead contact on the ground with our member firm pursuit teams and clients to assess AI opportunities and value, scope the prototype, and work with the client to get and implement rapid feedback with the build team. The role will also include managing the intake pipeline of submissions from member firms, following up for additional information, and prioritizing candidate applications for FDE support. The role will include also responsibility for ensuring high quality delivery and mentoring team members to ensure successful outcomes with the clients. The FDE AI Solution Manager will need to be comfortable being accountable for outcomes and not only effort, moving quickly and with agility in 2‑day sprint cycles.

Key Accountabilities

• Design, plan, and facilitate strategic client workshops to assess high‑value AI use cases, define business challenges, and scope the requirements for rapid AI solution valuation and prototype builds in close collaboration with clients and pursuit teams.
• Serve as the primary contact from the FDE team for key internal client pursuit stakeholders, ensuring clear communication and alignment from initial ideation through to delivery. Collect and formalize feedback from clients, document FDE requirements, and bring a product and design thinking mindset to manage the process from ideation to delivery with the client and pursuit team.
• Manage the intake and assessment process for FDE support requests from member firms, evaluating proposals for strategic value, technical feasibility, business impact, and alignment with qualification requirements. Manage follow‑up discussions, communication, and coordination with applicants to move projects from intake to action.
• Oversee the project lifecycle for multiple FDE projects, handling PMO responsibilities including resource coordination, timeline management, and status reporting to leadership. Manage collaboration and coordination with adjacent teams such as the AI & Data Labs and the global AI Factory team.
• Act as the bridge between business stakeholders and technical teams, translating client needs into clear technical requirements. Communicates technical concepts back to non‑technical audiences and executive audiences clearly and articulately. Ability to say "no" or "not yet" with credibility to set clear expectations for FDE team and for the client. Ability to move quickly and with agility and avoid rigid processes.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional KPMG teams to define success criteria for AI projects, measure outcomes, and ensure deliverables align with overarching business goals. Work in a fast‑paced and dynamic environment with both virtual and face‑to‑face interactions utilizing structured approaches to solving problems, managing risks, documenting assumptions, and communicating results. Act with integrity, professionalism, and personal responsibility to uphold KPMG's respectful and courteous work environment.

Experience / Knowledge / Qualifications:

• In depth expertise in a client‑facing role such as technology consulting, solutions architecture, or technical program management, with a focus on AI or data‑driven solutions.
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in a technical or business‑related field; an advanced degree is a plus.
• Deep understanding of modern AI, machine learning, and software development concepts, with the ability to lead conversations and manage expectations with both technical engineers and business leaders. Hands‑on experience is a plus.
• Proven experience leading client workshops, managing complex projects, and acting as a strategic advisor to senior stakeholders.
• Knowledge of software‑as‑a‑service (SaaS) systems and implementation and experience with product design thinking.
• Demonstrated ability to manage a portfolio of projects, prioritize effectively, and handle project management responsibilities in a fast‑paced environment.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, with a talent for building relationships, fostering collaboration, and driving results.
• Domestic and global travel is required for some opportunities.

Agile/Flexible Working

At KPMG International, we are supportive of helping you to achieve a balance between your home and work demands. We are happy to discuss individual requirements and our range of flexible working arrangements could be of interest. Please ask to find out more.

KPMG International's commitment to inclusion & diversity

At KPMG International, we recognise that we need inclusion and diversity to be successful. We want to attract, retain and develop diverse talent at all levels. This means recruiting from the widest pool of talent across our network and beyond, removing barriers that can prevent our people from reaching their full potential, and fostering a fully inclusive environment which empowers everyone to bring their whole selves to work.

Applying with a disability

KPMG International is proud to be an inclusive place to work and we are committed to ensuring that you are treated fairly throughout our recruitment process. Should you be successful after the initial application stage, please discuss any reasonable adjustments that you may require with your recruitment contact.