Manager, Risk & Underwriting

The Manager, Risk & Underwriting owns the full merchant risk lifecycle. From initial underwriting and boarding through ongoing account monitoring and loss mitigation. This role leads the Risk and Underwriting teams to identify, measure, assess, and control both credit/underwriting risk and operational/fraud risk. The Manager ensures the teams meet SLAs, comply with card scheme and regulatory requirements, and make consistent, well-documented, defensible decisions, while partnering with sales agents, ISV partners, and sponsor banks to support sustainable, profitable growth.

Essential Duties

Team Leadership & Development

• Manage the Risk and Underwriting teams, delegating workflow and individual tasks required for departmental success

• Conduct quarterly and annual performance reviews of team staff for leadership review

• Develop, train, and onboard new associates within the Risk and Underwriting departments

• Monitor and coach the teams responsible for underwriting of all files presented for approval and onboarding

• Review risk team escalations & fraud investigations

Underwriting & Onboarding

• Shadow and coach Underwriters; act as primary Underwriter for high-volume, high-risk merchant accounts

• Evaluate current underwriting strategies and recommend changes, to support revenue growth

Ongoing Risk Monitoring & Fraud Prevention

• Oversee ongoing merchant monitoring, and Risk investigations

• Access Risk systems daily and analyze merchants who exceed established risk parameters

• Review transactions in the Real Time Fraud System and cycle batches when merchants are cleared

• Review the Daily Chargeback Summary Report and work with chargeback team in delegating high value tasks

• Contact merchants & partners directly to secure additional information as needed

Compliance & Regulatory

• File Unusual Activity Reports (UARs) in line with processor and sponsor bank guidelines.

• Review court-ordered subpoenas & help gather information in assistance with Director of Risk and legal.

• Maintain team adherence to established Risk and Underwriting policies and procedures

• Accept and evaluate recommendations from the Risk team on additions and changes to underwriting strategies

Policy, Reporting & Strategy

• Work with the Director of Underwriting and Director of Risk to make overall changes to policy

• Revise Risk and Underwriting policies and procedures as directed by leadership

• Develop and maintain department SOPs, escalation frameworks, and audit documentation for both teams

• Prepare executive reporting on high-risk/specialized investigations and on team member contributions or analytics as

directed

Required Skills/Abilities

• Strong competency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

• Ability to read and analyze business financial statements

• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and independent judgment skills

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills across all levels of the organization

• Strong organizational and time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines/SLAs

• Ability to multi-task, project manage, and function well in a high-paced environment.

• Resourceful, self-motivated, and able to take initiative and ownership of results

• Ability to collaborate effectively with team members and across departments

Education and Experience

• Minimum of five (5) years of merchant acquiring and/or payment experience in a financial, ISO, PayFac, or agent environment

• At least two years of supervisory experience

• Expert knowledge of FiServ processor systems (Access One and Merchant Manager) and First Data system required

• ACH process experience required;

• PayFac experience strongly preferred

• CAMS or CFE preferred

Physical Requirements

• Working Conditions: Hybrid position; office environment

• Physical Activities: Occasional standing, stooping, reaching, and lifting up to 25 pounds

• Physical Demands: Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk, typing on a computer keyboard, and speaking on the telephone; frequent repetitive motions

Note: This job description is not an employment agreement or contract. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of all

activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or

without notice.