Position: IAM Authentication Consultant - MFA Authentication Strategy

Client: Enterprise Banking Rate: 65-75/hr depending on incorporated or not – flexible for senior candidates Type: 12-month contract + extensions Location: 2 hybrid 2 days per week downtown Toronto

Role at its Core: IAM Strategic MFA Consulting

Lead the evolution of the organization's enterprise authentication strategy by assessing the current authentication landscape and identify gaps, risks, and opportunities for improvement. Develop and maintain authentication roadmaps. Drive initiatives related to MFA modernization, passwordless authentication, passkey adoption, identity proofing, etc

REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

7+ years of experience in Identity and Access Management (IAM) within a large enterprise environment, with a strong focus on authentication, identity security, and access governance programs. Demonstrated expertise in Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), including experience designing, implementing, and maturing enterprise authentication controls across complex organizations. Proven ability to provide thought leadership and strategic direction for authentication programs, including evaluating emerging technologies, industry trends, and best practices to strengthen security posture and user experience. Strong experience developing authentication roadmaps and long-term strategies, identifying capability gaps, assessing risks, and recommending solutions that align with business objectives and regulatory requirements. Experience documenting processes, standards, and operating procedures, while effectively communicating recommendations, presenting to senior leadership, and influencing decisions across multiple stakeholder groups. Hands-on experience with Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD), including authentication policies, conditional access, identity protection, and MFA-related capabilities. Deep understanding of modern authentication technologies and frameworks, including: Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) Passkeys and passwordless authentication Identity Proofing Identity Governance & Administration (IGA) Privileged Access Management (PAM) Experience working within a large North American financial institution or insurance organization, with a strong understanding of security, risk, compliance, and regulatory expectations. Ability to identify control gaps, assess authentication risks, and communicate findings to executive leadership, helping drive prioritization and investment decisions. Strong understanding of regulatory requirements impacting authentication and identity security, including NYDFS regulations and industry mandates requiring MFA adoption across applications and critical systems. Knowledge of privacy, security, and authentication-related requirements across different jurisdictions within North America, ensuring authentication strategies align with regional compliance obligations. Strategic mindset with the ability to balance security, user experience, business objectives, and regulatory requirements when designing and evolving authentication controls.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Lead the evolution of the organization's enterprise authentication strategy, helping transition from a primarily workforce-focused MFA program to a broader application-level authentication program across the enterprise. Assess the current authentication landscape and identify gaps, risks, and opportunities for improvement across applications, platforms, and user populations. Develop and maintain authentication roadmaps that align with business priorities, cybersecurity objectives, and regulatory requirements. Evaluate emerging authentication technologies, industry trends, and security best practices, bringing thought leadership and recommendations to senior leadership teams. Partner closely with security, infrastructure, application, architecture, risk, compliance, and business stakeholders to define and implement authentication standards and requirements. Drive initiatives related to MFA modernization, passwordless authentication, passkey adoption, identity proofing, and other advanced authentication capabilities. Ensure authentication controls meet evolving regulatory and compliance obligations, including NYDFS and other North American privacy and security requirements. Conduct strategic reviews of existing authentication capabilities, identify control deficiencies, and build business cases for enhancements, new tooling, or process improvements. Create executive-ready documentation, presentations, and recommendations that clearly articulate risks, gaps, priorities, and proposed solutions. Act as the subject matter expert for authentication and identity assurance, providing guidance to project teams and influencing enterprise-wide identity security decisions. Collaborate with technology and business leaders to establish a long-term vision for authentication services, ensuring the organization remains secure, compliant, and aligned with industry-leading IAM practices.

Please note that artificial intelligence (AI) tools may be used to assist in the creation and formatting of this job description.