Who we are

Kene is 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.

The role

Day-to-day, you will be:

• Identifying qualifying R&D activities and expenditure through participation in technical & financial discussions with clients for new and repeat claims
• LeadingR&D discussions/workshops on clients, providing a clear explanation of thedefinition of R&D for tax purposes and discussing in detail, sectorspecific examples of qualifying activities
• Managingclient & stakeholder relationships both internally and externally
• Proactivelydemonstrating that you can identify risks in claims
• Compilingtechnical & financial project reports to illustrate eligible activities tosupport R&D claims with strong attention to detail and first-time accuracy
• Projectmanaging day to day aspects of the claims, setting timescales for delivery,talking confidently with clients to explain various judgements made in claimcompilation and their implication
• Formulating an initial response to defending claims in the event of HMRC R&D enquiries
• Developing your own knowledge and skills in R&D tax relief and other related issues, to keep technical knowledge fully up to date in this evolving landscape

What we're looking for

• Minimum 3-4years work experience in the R&D Tax industry, wider tax or broaderprofessional services industry i.e. accountancy, law etc
• Strong project/portfoliomanagement skills and experience
• Comfortablewith stakeholder management
• A logical,enquiring and problem-solving mindset
• Strongcommercial awareness and great communication skills
• Exceptionalorganisational skills and attention to detail
• The will tomake a difference and interest in shaping your career within R&D Tax
• A genuineinterest and curiosity in Science, Technology & Innovation
• The capabilities to deliver innovative solutions to complex challenges
• An interest in your own personal development
• The flexibility to take on change, shifting tasks and priorities when circumstances dictate (hint: this happens a lot in a fast-paced consultancy)
• The will to make a marked impact on the UK innovation landscape

Benefits

Finally, benefits! It wouldn't be a job description without a benefits section. We have some great perks to tell you about which relate to our core values, culture and mission:

Our Team – We're a positive, fun, energetic bunch who enjoy more than just the usual social drinks. You’ll find us getting together for fitness activities, company offsites, regular lunch-and-learns, and quarterly socials that keep things exciting.

One step ahead – We know our success is credited to our hard-working and talented employees, so every employee is paid competitively, with regular, performance-related pay reviews.

Do the right thing – Your wellbeing and development are pivotal to being able to work effectively. We aim to guide you in your career with excellent learning and development provisions, private healthcare including physical, mental, dental and optical care as standard.

Ready when you are – We offer generous holiday allowances, flexible working, the ability to WFH and parental leave policies to ensure you are well looked after. As a business with set deadlines, we counteract this by closing at three carefully selected points in the year to ensure all employees are rested and rejuvenated.

Working as one – Everyone at Kene is enrolled in our performance-based incentive scheme, Kando. This scheme reflects our values, goals and mission and our commitment to going above and beyond to celebrate our shared success.

We strive to respond to all applications within 2-3 business days but please be aware that during periods of high application volume, we may not be able to respond to all unsuccessful applicants. We appreciate your interest in joining our team. If you don't hear from us within 10 business days, please know that while we aren't proceeding with your application this time, we truly value your interest and hope to connect again in the future.

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

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