Karthikraja Raju | AI, Product & Tax Technology Executive

Executive profile

Where domain depth meets product leadership

I lead the work of turning complex, regulated processes into technology. At KPMG US I helped transform how R&D tax credit services are delivered, combining data engineering and artificial intelligence with the judgment of accounting and tax professionals. The result was faster delivery, stronger compliance and greater value for clients across more than 12 industries.

My career has moved deliberately from software engineering, to analyzing enterprise operations, to leading AI, product and tax technology services. That path gives me a rare combination: I can speak with engineers, tax partners and business owners in their own terms, and align them around a product.

Today I'm focused on taking AI products from zero to one, and on leadership roles where AI, product strategy and deep domain expertise drive the outcome.

Outside work, I've spent more than a decade raising funds and volunteering for heart health, childhood cancer research and children's literacy.

Last role: Senior Manager / Director, KPMG US, Dallas, Texas, USA
Experience: 15+ years across software engineering, analytics, and AI, product and tax technology
Expertise: AI & data solutions, product strategy, R&D tax credits (§41, SR&ED, HMRC), IRS examination defense
Industries: Technology, financial services, banking & capital markets, insurance, healthcare, pharma, telecom, media, retail, consumer goods
Education: Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Harvard Business School OnlineM.S., Information Technology and Management, The University of Texas at DallasB.E., Computer Science, Anna University, India
Markets: USA, Canada, UK
Community: American Heart AssociationSt. Jude Children's Research HospitalFirst BookCommunities In Schools

Areas of leadership

Three disciplines, one mandate

AI initiatives in regulated work succeed when technology, product and domain expertise are led together. That is the role I play.

Artificial intelligence

AI strategy & delivery

Moving AI from pilots to production in high-stakes, professional workflows.

AI and data solutions for client services
Agentic workflows and evaluation frameworks
Responsible AI and data governance

Product

Product innovation, zero to one

Defining new offerings, proving them with users, and taking them to market.

Product strategy and roadmap ownership
Go-to-market and new business development
Cross-functional teams of engineers and specialists

Domain

R&D tax technology

A decade of research credit expertise across three jurisdictions.

US §41 and §174, Canadian SR&ED, UK HMRC relief
IRS examination defense and claim substantiation
Technology-enabled tax service delivery

Professional experience

A career built across disciplines

From software engineering, to enterprise analytics, to a decade of progressive leadership in AI, product and tax technology services at KPMG US.

AI, Product, Tax Technology & Services

10.5years

Dallas, Texas, USA

KPMG US

kpmg.com/us ↗

Senior Manager / Director

Led innovation in R&D tax credit services through data engineering and artificial intelligence, serving organizations across 12+ industries, including technology and financial services.

Built technology solutions that streamlined delivery, strengthened compliance and increased client benefits
Led multidisciplinary teams that paired software engineers with accounting and tax professionals
Drove product management, new business development and go-to-market for technology-enabled offerings
Supported IRS examination defense and R&D credit work across US, Canadian and UK regimes

Analytics

2.5years

Plano, Texas, USA

Ericsson Inc.

ericsson.com ↗

Analyst II

Business analysis, data analysis and project management on large-scale Verizon telecom programs, applying Lean Six Sigma to operational improvement.

Software Engineering

2years

Bangalore, India

Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC)

CSC on Wikipedia ↗dxc.com ↗

Associate Software Engineer · now DXC Technology

Software development, enterprise content management and performance work in agile and waterfall delivery teams.

Industries served

Technology · Banking & Capital Markets · Financial Services · Insurance · Consumer Goods · Retail · Media · Telecom · Healthcare · Pharmaceuticals

Operating approach

How I take products from zero to one

A disciplined sequence for new AI products, refined through client delivery and formal product leadership training.

i.

Identify the costly workflow

Focus on work where expert time is scarce and errors carry real financial or regulatory risk.

ii.

Prove value early

Put working prototypes in front of users quickly, before committing major investment.

iii.

Measure quality

Define what "correct" means and evaluate AI output rigorously before scaling.

iv.

Scale to market

Position, price and launch with early customers, then let adoption shape the roadmap.

Current venture

Building an AI-native platform for R&D tax credit identification, documentation and claim substantiation

A product shaped by a decade of delivering this work for clients: designed to make research credit claims faster to prepare and stronger under examination.

Extensible across US §41 and §174, Canadian SR&ED and UK HMRC R&D relief.

Community & social impact

Giving back, consistently

For more than a decade I've raised funds and volunteered for causes in health, childhood cancer research and children's education, much of it alongside colleagues through KPMG's community programs.

10+years of continuous fundraising and volunteering

5nonprofit and foundation partners

3causes: heart health, childhood cancer, children's literacy & education

“Each life you touch matters, even if it is only one.”Karthikraja Raju

Heart healthSince 2015

American Heart Association

heart.org ↗

Fundraiser & volunteer

Raising funds for cardiovascular and stroke research, volunteering at AHA events and completing CPR training.

Why it mattersIn 2014, my family was deeply affected by cardiovascular illness. Supporting the AHA is my way of giving back to the community.

Childhood cancerSince 2015

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

stjude.org ↗

Fundraiser

Annual fundraising through St. Jude Marathon Weekend, helping families receive care without ever receiving a bill.

Why it mattersI discovered St. Jude while running my half marathon. Once I learned about its work for children, I began supporting it in every way I can.

Literacy2017 – Jun 2026

KPMG Family for Literacy & First Book

KPMG Family for Literacy ↗firstbook.org ↗

Volunteer & donor

Distributing new books and backpacks to children in low-income communities, part of a program that has delivered over 6.5 million books.

Why it mattersEvery child deserves the tools to learn, whatever their family's circumstances.

EducationDallas, Texas, USA

Communities In Schools of the Dallas Region

communitiesinschools.org ↗

Reading volunteer

Reading with students, supporting a program that keeps vulnerable children in school and on track to graduate.

Why it mattersI believe education can transform the world for good, but it must start young and be equal for every child, regardless of background or financial means. My own upbringing shaped that belief, and I want every child to have the same start.

Developing future talent. An advocate for KPMG's student and early-career hiring programs, helping students launch their careers.

Education & development

Grounded in engineering, sharpened by practice

Education

Entrepreneurship & InnovationHarvard Business School Online

online.hbs.edu ↗

Master of Science, Information Technology and ManagementThe University of Texas at Dallas · Dean's Impact Scholarship

utdallas.edu ↗

Bachelor of Engineering, Computer ScienceAnna University · First Class with Distinction

annauniv.edu ↗

Licenses & certifications33 total · most recent first

Select a certification to open the verified credential from the issuer, or the certificate itself.

Graduate Certificate in Data Mining & Business IntelligenceSAS | UT Dallas

E20-120 Documentum Content Management FoundationEMC