When you join KPMG Ireland, you are joining a community of over 4,200 employees who collectively work together, both in person and virtually, to achieve their full potential.
We are known as an organisation who want you to come as you are and do work that truly matters. Joining KPMG Ireland is an opportunity to enhance your career, not only in the work that you enjoy doing, but equally through the global connections that you make, the lifelong learning that you can accomplish and the chance to make your mark.
Are you our next Associate Director – IT Security
Location: Dublin, as part of our hybrid working model.
Grade: Associate Director
Contract type: Permanent
We are seeking an experienced Associate Director – IT Security to lead the firm’s Cyber Security Engineering and Operations capability, ensuring that our information assets and technology platforms are protected against evolving cyber threats.
The Associate Director – IT Security will be responsible for the design, implementation, and operation of technical security controls across the organisation, delivering measurable risk reduction and maintaining a strong security posture.
The successful candidate will be a technical leader with strong operational experience in cyber defence, capable of leading a high-performing team and engaging confidently with senior stakeholders across the business and the wider KPMG global network.
A snapshot of your peer group:
- A Bachelor’s degree in Information Security, Computer Science, Information Technology or a related field; a Master’s degree is desirable.
- Professional security certifications such as CISSP, CISM, CEH, or equivalent are strongly preferred.
- Ideally 8 -10 years experience
- Extensive experience in cybersecurity operations, engineering, or related technical security roles, including leadership responsibility.
- Demonstrated experience in security incident response, vulnerability management, and security tooling implementation.
- Strong familiarity with security frameworks and standards such as ISO 27001 and NIST, and practical experience supporting compliance and audit processes.
- Proven track record in delivering measurable improvements in security posture and operational effectiveness.
- High level of personal integrity, sound judgement, and ability to operate autonomously in a senior leadership role.
Your responsibilities and achievements will evolve as you enhance your career with us. Here is what you can initially expect:
- Lead the Cyber Security Engineering & Operations function, providing strategic direction, technical leadership, and day-to-day oversight of security operations.
- Develop, implement, and maintain the firm’s cyber defence capabilities, including detection, response, and resilience against current and emerging threats.
- Oversee Security Operations and Incident Response, including:
- Threat monitoring and triage
- Threat hunting and intelligence-led investigations
- Tier 3 incident response, escalation, and post-incident review
- Own the Vulnerability and Patch Management programme, including:
- Identification, prioritisation, and remediation tracking of vulnerabilities
- Coordination with IT Operations to ensure timely patching
- Continuous improvement of remediation processes and SLAs
- Lead Security Engineering and Architecture, including:
- Secure design and implementation of security controls across infrastructure, cloud, and end-user environments
- Security input into new systems and projects
- Continuous optimisation of the firm’s security tooling (e.g. Microsoft security stack)
- Drive Identity and Access Security controls, including privileged access, authentication, and access governance mechanisms.
- Ensure effective operation of endpoint, network, and cloud security controls, including configuration baselines and hardening standards.
- Collaborate closely with the Information Security Office, ensuring:
- Alignment with policies, standards, and risk appetite
- Support for audits, risk assessments, and regulatory requirements
- Timely remediation of identified risks and control gaps
- Monitor and report on the organisation’s technical security posture, including:
- Key metrics (e.g. MTTD, MTTR, vulnerability remediation performance)
- Security tool effectiveness
- Emerging threats and operational risks
- Lead, develop, and mentor the IT Security team, ensuring clarity of roles, capability development, and high levels of performance.
- Coordinate with global KPMG teams to align with firmwide security standards, tooling, and threat intelligence.
Your team:
You will be joining a department of 10 IT and Information Security professional, who are responsible for protecting the internal infrastructure of KPMG Ireland. This role is a key component of a two-tier Information Security operating model, working in close partnership with the Information Security Office, which is responsible for governance, risk, and compliance oversight.
The Associate Director will lead a team of 4 security engineers in implementing, operating and monitoring technical security controls.
Discover How KPMG Can Enrich Your Life Beyond Your Career
Benefits Tailored for You
At KPMG, we understand that life is multifaceted. That’s why we offer a flexible benefits package designed to support your unique lifestyle. Our benefits include:
- Discounted Health Insurance: Prioritise your well-being with our health insurance options.
- Additional Annual Leave: Purchase extra leave to spend more time with friends and family or to travel.
- Enhanced Family Leave: Enjoy more time with your family with our generous leave options.
- Emergency Childcare Cover: For times when your regular childcare plans fall through
- Social Events: Connect and network with colleagues through our engaging social events.
- Early Finish Fridays: Start your weekends early on bank holidays and during the summer.
- Relocation Assistance: Smooth your transition if you’re moving to Ireland.
- Learning & Development: Access our extensive supports, including LinkedIn Learning, to grow your skills.
We also offer a variety of flexible working options to help you balance your professional and personal life.
Career Progression with Continuous Support
From the moment you join KPMG, you’ll receive dedicated support from your performance manager to enhance your skills. Our award-winning Business School provides continuous learning opportunities to deepen your expertise.
We stand out as the only Big Four firm to announce promotions four times a year, offering you frequent opportunities for career advancement.
Commitment to Inclusion & Diversity
Inclusion, diversity, and equity are at the heart of KPMG. We celebrate diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives, and we’re committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable environment at every level. Our goal is to attract and retain the best talent by building a culture where everyone can achieve their potential. Learn more about our commitment here - https://kpmg.com/ie/en/home/about/inclusion-diversity-equity.html
Ready to Join Us?
If you meet most of the criteria, we encourage you to apply by submitting your CV. KPMG is an equal opportunities employer, welcoming applications from people of all backgrounds. We are happy to provide reasonable accommodations during the recruitment process if needed. Necessary arrangements can be made at interview stage to accommodate the needs of candidates with disabilities.
For any specific queries about the role, please contact Sharon Griffin
For a glimpse into life at KPMG, follow #ExperienceKPMG on LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and X.
Please note that agency assistance is not required for this position.
By clicking apply to this role your application will not only be considered for this position, but your details will be stored on our database and may be considered for similar future positions that may arise. This means that the personal data contained in your application and provided to KPMG as part of the application process may be retained by us for up to 18 months from the date of your application and you hereby agree to that. If you do not wish your details to be stored on our recruitment database, please email [email protected] stating this and we will ensure that such information is not stored other than for the purposes of this application.
