Merchant and Network Compliance Manager

About the role

Block's Merchant Network & Compliance (MNC) team sits within the Business Product Compliance and Partnerships organization. Our mission is to ensure Block maintains strong standing with payment networks, acquiring banks, and partner institutions by running a comprehensive, end-to-end compliance oversight program. We guide cross-functional teams on network rules and partner obligations, strengthen Block's compliance control environment, and collaborate on new business models and global expansion efforts.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary owner of inbound payment network and acquiring bank escalations, managing investigations end-to-end from intake through resolution and formal partner response
• Investigate and remediate brand risk violations, restricted and illegal product inquiries, account data compromise events, complex surcharge matters, and payment service provider escalations across bank-acquired and Square-acquired merchants
• Prepare and deliver evidence packages, remediation plans, and formal written responses to Visa, Mastercard, Amex, and acquiring bank partners under strict deadlines
• Manage acquirer-driven escalations involving suspicious merchant activity, MCC classification, and merchant governance issues across multiple bank partners, each with distinct requirements and escalation paths
• Conduct merchant due diligence, apply network rule interpretation, and assess compliance posture to determine appropriate remediation strategy
• Support network and acquiring bank audits end-to-end, including evidence preparation, coordination, and closeout documentation
• Identify recurring escalation patterns and contribute to scalable control improvements, AI-enabled workflow enhancements, and standardized SOPs
• Maintain accurate case records, tracking, and reporting to support audit readiness and leadership visibility

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience in compliance, risk, or a related function in financial services or payments, or equivalent work experience
• Working knowledge of payment network rules and regulations across Visa, Mastercard, and/or Amex, with the ability to interpret and apply rule language to specific merchant and partner situations
• Experience managing partner-facing escalations and communications, including preparation of evidence packages and formal responses under time-sensitive deadlines
• Solid understanding of merchant acquiring risk, including brand risk, prohibited merchant categories, MCC classification, account data compromise, and surcharging compliance
• Familiarity with BSA/AML, sanctions, and broader financial crimes compliance frameworks
• Strong organizational and analytical skills with the ability to manage multiple active escalations, prioritize effectively, and meet strict deadlines
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage credibly with internal stakeholders and external bank and network partners
• Sound judgment when navigating complex, ambiguous escalations with significant financial or partner-relationship consequences
• Comfort operating in a fast-paced, evolving environment where partner expectations and network rules shift frequently

Qualifications

• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, evolving environment where partner expectations and network rules shift frequently
• Sound judgment when navigating complex, ambiguous escalations with significant financial or partner-relationship consequences
• Experienced in managing partner-facing escalations and communications, including preparation of evidence packages and formal responses under time-sensitive deadlines
• Understanding of merchant acquiring risk, including brand risk, prohibited merchant categories, MCC classification, account data compromise, and surcharging compliance
• Knowledge of BSA/AML, sanctions, and broader financial crimes compliance frameworks
• Ability to interpret and apply payment network rules and regulations to specific merchant and partner situations
• Strong organizational and analytical skills with the ability to manage multiple active escalations, prioritize effectively, and meet strict deadlines
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage credibly with internal stakeholders and external bank and network partners

Skills

• Payment network rules and regulations
• Merchant acquiring risk management
• Compliance oversight and control environment
• Escalation management and partner communications
• Network rule interpretation and application
• Merchant due diligence and compliance posture assessment
• Scalable control improvements and AI-enabled workflow enhancements
• Standardized SOP development

Benefits

Block offers a range of benefits designed to empower employees to do their best work and build fulfilling lives. These include remote work options, medical insurance, flexible time off, retirement savings plans, and modern family planning initiatives. For more details, visit our benefits page.

Pay

Pay varies based on location and job-related skills, experience, qualifications, and market conditions. For more information, refer to the Zone Designations provided in the Application Guidelines section.

Schedule

Block offers flexible scheduling options to accommodate various lifestyles and preferences. For more details, refer to the Application Guidelines section.