[Hiring] Head of Risk & Security @Akoya

Role Description

Akoya is seeking a seasoned, hands-on Head of Risk & Security to lead and mature our cybersecurity, risk management, and IT governance functions as we scale our secure, API-driven open finance network. This leader will serve as the operational backbone of Akoya’s security and risk programs — translating strategy into execution. You will lead and develop a team across security engineering, cyber operations, risk, compliance, and IT, while partnering closely with Engineering, Product, Legal, Customer Success, and Business Development.

This role is ideal for a builder — someone who has scaled capabilities in security and risk functions in startup or fintech environments and understands the unique demands of serving both:

• Financial Institutions (Data Providers) with rigorous regulatory and third-party risk requirements
• Fintechs and Data Recipients operating in agile, API-first ecosystems

You will play a critical role in protecting Akoya’s Data Access Network and Open Finance Solution while strengthening trust across our ecosystem of financial institutions and fintech partners.

Qualifications

• 12+ years in enterprise risk, cybersecurity, or information security.
• 5+ years leading risk/security teams in fintech, SaaS, or regulated environments.
• Experience building or scaling security programs in startup or high-growth organizations.
• Deep cloud security expertise (AWS required; multi-cloud a plus).
• Strong hands-on knowledge of:
  • Zero-trust architecture
  • Secure SDLC
  • Threat modeling
  • Vulnerability management
  • Incident response
• Demonstrated ownership of SOC 2 and regulatory audits.
• Experience working with both:
  • Regulated financial institutions (bank-side risk expectations)
  • Fintechs or API-based SaaS platforms (data recipient expectations)

Requirements

• Experience in open banking / open finance ecosystems.
• Familiarity with FDX standards and OAuth/OIDC-based authentication models.
• Certifications such as CISSP, CISM, CRISC, or equivalent.
• Experience briefing executives or board-level stakeholders.

Benefits

• This remote position is only available to individuals living in the greater Boston, MA, New York City, NY and Raleigh, NC areas.
• The actual base pay offered may take into account the candidate's work location, relevant education, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience, among other factors.
• Hiring Range: $160,000 — $200,000 USD