Who we are

We are a specialist innovation funding consultancy that believes in client service excellence delivered through a blend of talent and technology.

The government previously provided £7.6bn of support to the most innovative companies in the UK in the tax year 2021 to 2022 and announced plans to increase the support available to £39.8bn between 2022 and 2025. With this level of support available to companies, Kene wants to continue to facilitate supporting innovative companies year on year.

We see a future where every SME, regardless of size or resource, has the opportunity to innovate, grow, and make a meaningful impact on society. By breaking down complex barriers to government funding and providing expert guidance, we empower businesses to unlock their full potential, contributing to a vibrant economy driven by sustainable and purpose-driven growth. As a trusted ally, we’re helping SMEs lead the way in shaping a better future for their industries and communities.

This is an ambitious goal and achieving it requires an equally ambitious team. As such we’re looking for exceptional people excited by the prospect of building something that matters to join the team.

Day-to-day you will:

• Complete the firm’s internal technical training programme to develop a strong grounding in R&D tax legislation, guidance, and enquiry processes
• Build a detailed understanding of R&D eligibility criteria and how these are applied across a wide range of sectors and business models
• Support clients through the HMRC enquiry process, helping to explain requirements, timelines, and next steps in a clear and structured manner
• Analyse HMRC enquiry correspondence to identify key areas of challenge, information requests, and technical focus
• Assist in the development of enquiry response strategies, drawing on relevant legislation, case law, and HMRC guidance
• Draft and peer-review high-quality enquiry responses, ensuring arguments are technically robust, well-evidenced, and clearly articulated
• Analyse financial and project-level information to address HMRC’s technical and financial queries accurately and consistently
• Carry out mid-claim compliance and quality checks to ensure claims and supporting documentation meet internal standards, technical requirements, and best practice
• Translate learnings from HMRC enquiries and compliance reviews into clear guidance and feedback for the delivery team, supporting continuous improvement in claim quality and consistency
• Conduct targeted research into legislation, case law, and policy developments to support specific enquiries and technical positions
• Maintain up-to-date technical knowledge of current and emerging R&D and innovation-related legislation, guidance, and policy change
  

You will have:

• At least 1 years of commercial experience – a prior knowledge of R&D incentives and/or related innovation funding from outside the sector is desirable but not essential
• Experience in a client-facing environment, with the ability to engage professionally and confidently with clients
• Demonstrable experience in report- or essay-writing
• Experience of working in a collaborative environment that thrives on sharing ideas and feedback
• The ability to communicate effectively, clearly, and concisely in both written and verbal form
• A consultant-style approach to work, with the ability to build credibility with clients, ask insightful questions, and tailor outputs to different audiences
• A natural problem-solving mindset: the ability to think critically and conduct your own research around a given topic
• Exceptional time, client, and project management skills
• A genuine interest and curiosity in Software, Science, Technology & Innovation
• The capabilities to deliver innovative solutions to complex challenges
• The ability to actively listen to others and ensure that they are understood
• The flexibility to take on change, shifting tasks and priorities when circumstances dictate

Why you'll love this role

International exposure

Work with a global team and world-leading businesses across multiple industries.

Work at the cutting edge

Engage with groundbreaking innovations in engineering, technology, and science.

Career growth & impact

Fantastic opportunity for learning and growth in a high-impact, high-performance environment.

Kene is committed to encouraging equality, diversity, and inclusion among our workforce, and eliminating unlawful discrimination.