Senior Merchant Underwriter

About the role

The Senior Merchant Underwriter reviews, analyzes, and makes confident credit-risk decisions and recommendations for merchant applications and existing merchant accounts, with an emphasis on medium- and high-risk sectors—including high-volume, e-commerce, and forward-delivery business models such as travel.

The ideal candidate is a qualified, experienced payments underwriter with a proven track record of underwriting high-risk merchants efficiently, comfortable operating with significant independent decision authority while also mentoring less experienced team members.

Responsibilities

• Conduct detailed credit and financial analysis of merchants with forward-delivery exposure (e.g., travel, furniture, consulting).
• Evaluate forward-delivery risk exposure—risk arising when a merchant collects payment before delivering products or services—and recommend appropriate approval terms such as reserves, escrow, or collateral requirements.
• Prepare detailed reports and present findings and recommendations to senior management.
• Mitigate risk by setting approval terms, including periodic reviews, reserve levels, or processing limits.
• Provide recommendations for approval to higher management when applications exceed personal authority limits.
• Collaborate with the transaction risk team to align credit decisions with transaction processing and ongoing account risk.
• Serve as an escalation point and subject-matter resource for junior underwriters on complex or high-risk applications.
• Review and provide QA feedback on underwriting decisions made by junior team members.
• Assist in training new underwriters on risk factors and underwriting methodology for high-risk merchants.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including sales partners, sponsor banks, and internal teams.
• Ensure all underwriting activities comply with company policy, card network rules, industry regulations, and legal requirements.
• Maintain accurate records of credit decisions and ensure proper documentation of all underwriting activities.
• Spot trends in synthetic fraud and merchant risk, and communicate results to partner clients.

Requirements

• 5+ years of payments or merchant underwriting experience, including a minimum of 3 years managing high-risk and/or high-volume merchants.
• Demonstrated experience analyzing individual and company credit reports and interpreting financial statements.
• Working knowledge of card network high-risk/high-brand-risk merchant monitoring programs and related compliance obligations.
• Thorough understanding of merchant risk fees, dispute processes, and network registration requirements.
• Strong analytical and financial review skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience presenting findings to senior management.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor or provide guidance to junior underwriting staff.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, or a related field preferred (or equivalent work experience).
• Ability to operate independently under designated approval authority while maintaining sound judgment and compliance standards.
• Ability to underwrite and decision applications in a fast-paced environment, meeting departmental SLAs while maintaining accuracy.