Vice President of IT and Security

About Karbon

Karbon leads globally in AI-driven practice management software tailored for accounting firms. Our acclaimed cloud platform empowers tens of thousands of accounting professionals to enhance efficiency and collaboration daily. Operating across 40 countries, our team spans the US, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the UK, and the Philippines. We are a well-funded, rapidly expanding organization, recognized with Great Place To Work® certification and listed on Fortune magazine's Best Small Workplaces™.

Role Overview

We are seeking a foundational leader as Vice President of IT and Security. This senior role oversees the internal IT infrastructure, corporate and application security, governance, risk management, compliance, and enterprise incident response initiatives including business continuity and disaster recovery. Reporting directly to the CEO, you will collaborate closely with Engineering, Finance, Legal, and other executive leadership, as well as heading a small SecOps team.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day operations of Karbon’s device fleet and internal IT systems.
• Lead the transition from a managed service provider (MSP) to an in-house IT team, setting up IT service delivery including helpdesk and SLA management.
• Administer identity and access management (Okta), employee device provisioning, onboarding, and offboarding processes.
• Oversee endpoint management policies across global PC and Mac fleets using mobile device management tools.
• Develop and sustain vendor relationships, including contract negotiations, renewals, and monitoring vendor performance while optimizing license costs.
• Define, implement and champion security policies and standards across the organization, managing internal security tools like EDR, SIEM, and email security.
• Lead the Application Security team and develop the information security policies and risk management framework.
• Maintain Karbon’s risk register, fully own the SOC 2 compliance program including audit readiness and control oversight.
• Act as the internal subject matter expert on compliance for customer, partner, and enterprise sales.
• Oversee incident response plans and playbooks, defining incident severity, escalation protocols, and managing regulatory and legal notifications during major incidents.
• Maintain business continuity and backup strategies.

Desired Experience and Expertise

• Minimum of 12 years in IT and security roles including at least 5 years in senior leadership.
• Proven experience managing or establishing internal IT functions, especially transitioning away from MSPs.
• Strong operational and security hands-on skills.
• Deep knowledge of SOC 2 and other compliance frameworks.
• Preferred experience in B2B SaaS environments.
• Familiarity with key technologies including Okta & Entra for identity management, mobile and endpoint management tools, EDR solutions (Jamf Protect & Microsoft Defender, etc.), major cloud platforms (Azure, AWS, GCP), Google Workspace or O365, and Netskope considered a plus.

Skills and Traits

• Ability to effectively alternate between tactical execution and strategic planning.
• Excellent communicator capable of translating technical topics into business-relevant language for executive audiences.
• Commercially savvy with an understanding of security’s impact on sales, customer confidence, and product development pace.
• Comfortable leading in ambiguous environments and establishing processes.
• Collaborative leadership with the ability to assert boundaries when necessary.

Why Join Karbon?

• Work with a globally distributed team across multiple countries.
• A comprehensive benefits package including flexible time off, company-covered medical, dental and vision insurance for you and dependents, 401(k) with matching, flexible spending accounts, and up to 8 weeks paid parental leave.
• Support for remote work with stipends.
• Opportunity to collaborate with a high-performing, experienced team in a culture that values diversity and professional growth.
• Be part of a fast-scaling company committed to internal promotion and employee development.

Compensation Information

The estimated base salary for this role ranges from $220,000 to $245,000 USD annually. Compensation is influenced by location, experience, skills, and organizational needs. The salary is complemented by potential bonuses, equity grants, and a generous benefits package.

Diversity and Inclusion Statement

Karbon values diversity and inclusion in alignment with our company principles. We encourage applicants even if some criteria are unmet, as research indicates women and underrepresented groups are less inclined to apply without full alignment. We are committed to equitable recruitment and do not discriminate based on race, gender, sexual orientation, identity, age, education, national origin, religion, or any other factors. We provide accommodations during recruitment upon request.

Additional Notes

Agency referrals for this vacancy are not being accepted at this time. Applicants will only be contacted through official emails from karbonhq.com domain to prevent fraud. We emphasize a respectful, inclusive hiring process focused on capability and performance.