ServiceNow SecOps / IRM Architecture Lead - Africa at KPMG

Position Summary

The ServiceNow SecOps / IRM Architecture Lead is a Senior Manager-level role responsible for the technical architecture and pre-delivery governance of KPMG T&I's ServiceNow Security Operations (SecOps) and Integrated Risk Management (IRM) engagements. Given KPMG's Elite ServiceNow Partner status, the quality and credibility of KPMG's ServiceNow implementations is central to maintaining and growing alliance revenue. This role ensures that all ServiceNow SecOps and IRM solutions are correctly designed, compliant with ServiceNow reference architectures, and structured for successful delivery - protecting both deal quality and KPMG's Elite Partner standing

Key roles and responsibilities:

ServiceNow Architecture Design and Pre-Signing Quality (55%)

• Lead the architecture and solution design for all major ServiceNow SecOps and IRM pursuits - ensuring designs are technically compliant, commercially viable, and deliverable before contracts are signed.
• Produce high-quality ServiceNow solution architecture documents, implementation blueprints, and technical proposals for client pursuits.
• Participate in pre-sales technical workshops with clients, demonstrating KPMG's ServiceNow SecOps and IRM expertise at the architecture level.
• Review and approve all ServiceNow scopes of work - ensuring they are priced correctly, aligned to ServiceNow best practices, and do not introduce customisation risk.
• Maintain KPMG T&I's ServiceNow architecture standards, reference designs, and Elite Partner implementation methodology.

Delivery Architecture Governance (30%)

• Provide architectural oversight on active ServiceNow SecOps and IRM delivery engagements - attending design reviews, sprint reviews, and technical governance forums.
• Serve as the technical escalation authority for ServiceNow architecture decisions during delivery, resolving conflicts between client requirements and best-practice design.
• Conduct formal architecture health checks at key delivery milestones - identifying scope creep, configuration drift, and technical debt before they become delivery failures.
• Collaborate with Block E to document and publish ServiceNow delivery accelerators, configuration standards, and reusable implementation assets.
• Ensure that all implementations maintain compliance with ServiceNow's Elite Partner technical standards and certification requirements.

(c) Alliance and Certification Management (15%)

• Maintain and develop KPMG's ServiceNow architecture certification portfolio, including personal certifications in SecOps, IRM, and Now Platform architecture.
• Engage actively with ServiceNow's partner technical team - attending Technical Architecture Board meetings, partner enablement sessions, and product advisory forums.
• Support KPMG's ServiceNow Elite Partner renewal process with certification, delivery quality, and technical contribution evidence.
• Contribute to internal capability development by running ServiceNow architecture training sessions and knowledge-sharing workshops.

Requirements

Academic/ Professional qualifications and Experience:

• Degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or related technical discipline.
• ServiceNow Certified Implementation Specialist (CIS) - Security Incident Response, Vulnerability Response, or Risk and Compliance required.
• ServiceNow Certified Technical Architect (CTA) or Certified Master Architect (CMA) preferred.
• Minimum 8 years of technology experience, with at least 4 years focused on ServiceNow implementation and architecture.
• Demonstrated experience delivering ServiceNow SecOps or IRM implementations for enterprise clients.
• Familiarity with GRC frameworks (ISO 27001, NIST, COBIT) and their application in ServiceNow IRM.

Technical competencies & Personal attributes:

Demonstrate and articulate KPMG values as well as proven capability in:

• ServiceNow platform depth: expert-level knowledge of the Now Platform with specialisation in SecOps and IRM modules.
• Architecture discipline: able to design clean, scalable, best-practice ServiceNow architectures that avoid over-customisation.
• Quality focus: naturally questions design decisions that introduce unnecessary complexity or Elite Partner certification risk.
• Client technical engagement: comfortable presenting ServiceNow architecture and roadmap discussions to IT leadership and GRC teams.
• Alliance mindset: understands the commercial importance of ServiceNow Elite Partner status and protects it through delivery quality.
• Collaboration: works effectively with delivery consultants, ServiceNow partner architects, and client platform teams.
• Market Intelligence: Demonstrate commercial awareness with sound knowledge of matters affecting the market.
• Business development entrepreneurial mind-set and ability to identify opportunities and develop high quality proposals.
• Personal effectiveness - Excellent report-writing and presentation skills.
• People management - Leadership & management skills.
•  Performance management - Be a performance manager to the team in line with performance management guidelines. 
• Risk management-lead in ensuring full compliance with KPMG quality & risk management requirements