Jacob Kahn, MBA, MS, SPC

Risk & Controls Leader and Board Director in Boston

Jacob Kahn, MBA, MS, SPC

Risk & Controls Leader and Board Director in Boston

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I help boards and audit committees govern financial controls, enterprise risk, and technology change.

I bring two views in one seat: the controls owner inside a major system migration, and the institutional investor judging a company from the outside.

What I bring to a board

  • Controls under change. Risk management and financial controls for a $28M program on Lockheed Martin's 1LMX, the defense industry's largest ERP transformation (~$6B, 7-year). 25+ SOX controls through three releases, zero audit findings.
  • The investor's view. Advised investment committees and boards on $3B+ in endowment and foundation portfolios at Cambridge Associates, with 100% client retention. Earlier, directed programs for 11 global asset-management clients at Brown Brothers Harriman.
  • Audit committee experience. Finance & Audit Committee, Easterseals Massachusetts (2019–2021), backed by an MS in Accounting.

Governance: Board of Directors, Harvard Alumni Association · Insights Council, Nasdaq Center for Board Excellence · Advisory Board, Harvard Business Review · General Partner, Phoenix Fund · Former Board and Finance & Audit Committee, Easterseals Massachusetts

Credentials: Certified Private Company Governance Director (PDA) · NACD Directorship Certification candidate · Sidley Austin Director College · University of Oxford AI governance certificates (2026) · PMP · SPC

Open to: audit and risk committee seats at small-cap, newly public, and private companies in aerospace and defense, government services, financial services, and technology.

Explore: Board CV · The Boardroom Brief · Governance Toolkit (free board templates) · Governance Lab (AI & ERP oversight self-checks)

  • Education
    • Harvard University (Bachelors/Masters)
    • Boston University (MBA)
    • University of Illinois (MS in Accounting)