Associate Director/Manager - Regulatory Economist - Energy Sector, Planning and Infrastructure Economics

Company Description

Australia’s energy system is changing rapidly as it moves towards a cleaner, more sustainable future. KPMG’s Planning and Infrastructure Economics team sits at the centre of this transition, helping governments and market participants respond to new technology, changing market structures and evolving policy settings that are reshaping how energy is produced, priced and regulated. In imperfect markets, good policy, regulatory and market design really matters.

KPMG’s Planning and Infrastructure Economics team works at the intersection of policy, capital and technology. We help governments, regulators, investors and infrastructure providers navigate complex reform, investment and pricing questions across the energy sector and other regulated industries.

Embedded within the Infrastructure, Assets & Places group, our team brings deep expertise across the full energy infrastructure lifecycle, from planning and development, through to decommissioning and closure. With access to KPMG’s broader network of specialists, we deliver truly integrated energy advisory services.

Job Description

We are looking for Associate Directors and Managers with strong experience in competition and regulatory economics, with a clear focus on the energy sector. We have 2–3 roles available across Melbourne, Sydney and Perth. Flexible and part-time arrangements are supported.

You will work on high-impact projects covering energy policy, energy market design, pricing, regulation and reform. You will lead workstreams, shape advice to senior decision-makers, and help grow our energy regulatory economics capability.

We are looking for candidates to:

• Lead and deliver competition, regulatory and policy economics projects in the energy sector across range of projects supporting government and non-government clients.
• Apply economic first principles to assess reforms, regulatory frameworks and pricing outcomes.
• Develop and apply pricing, revenue and cost models, including building block and cost to serve models.
• Advise clients on market design, access pricing, revenue regulation and settlement arrangements.
• Support governments and regulators on reform development, implementation and evaluation.
• Prepare clear, decision-focused advice for senior public and private sector stakeholders.
• Contribute to business development, proposals and thought leadership.
• Coach and develop junior team members.

How are you extraordinary?

• You thrive in a collaborative, client‑focused environment and are eager to gain exposure to energy projects and initiatives.
• You are an experienced competition and regulatory economist with deep interest in energy markets and are ready to grow and expand your knowledge of the sector.
• You enjoy providing strategic, regulatory and economics advice to clients on policy development and implementation, including market reforms, business cases, strategy, and transaction processes across energy, water and utility‑related projects.
• You are curious, analytical, innovative, and enjoy solving complex problems.
• You have a strong understanding of - or a genuine passion for - emerging value propositions in the energy sector, including electric vehicles, virtual power plants, vehicle to grid, hydrogen, solar & storage, and demand‑side response.
• You can support clients in developing and implementing energy policy across areas such as renewable energy developments, standalone power systems, hydrogen, energy storage, and other components of the energy transition.
• You want to help solve some of Australia’s most significant energy transition, climate change, decarbonisation, or net zero emissions challenges, are able to explain complect economic concepts to non-economists and are looking for a collaborative and collegiate team focused and dedicated to these challenges!

Your Experience

At KPMG, we believe diversity of thought, background and experience strengthens relationships and delivers meaningful benefits to our people, our clients, and communities. We are looking for team members who bring qualifications, skills & experience that could include:

• Career experiences across the energy transition, investment decision making, climate change and decarbonisation.
• Experience with electricity networks, wholesale or retail electricity markets, energy market reform, market design, pricing policy, economic regulation and revenue determination processes, development of pricing schedules, access charges or revenue models or similar will be highly valued.
• The ability to prepare client deliverables, business cases, feasibility studies, reports, presentations, or economic analysis to support client decisions.
• Recent professional experience in advisory, management consultancy, engineering consultancy, accounting or law firms, government, energy regulatory bodies, development or construction firms or within infrastructure teams in operational businesses.

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualifications in Economics, Engineering, Commerce, Law, or other relevant subjects.

Additional Information

KPMG is a professional services firm with global outreach and deep sector experience. We work with clients across an array of industries to solve complex challenges, steer change and enable growth. 

Our people are what make KPMG the thriving workplace that it is and what sets us apart is that we know great minds think differently. Collaborate with a team of passionate, highly skilled professionals who’ve got your back. You’ll build relationships with unique and diverse colleagues who will provide you with the support you need to be your best and produce meaningful and impactful work in an inclusive, equitable culture.

At KPMG, you’ll take control over how you work. We’re embracing a new way of working in many ways, from offering flexible hours and locations to generous paid parental leave and career breaks. Our people enjoy a variety of exciting perks, including retail discounts, health and wellbeing initiatives, learning and growth opportunities, salary packaging options and more.

Diverse candidates have diverse needs. During your recruitment journey, information will be provided about adjustment requests. If you require additional support before submitting your application, please contact the Talent Attraction Support Team.

At KPMG every career is different, and we look forward to seeing how you grow with us.

KPMG Australia: grow with us!