Vice President, Underwriting

Role Overview

• Define and execute a forward-looking underwriting strategy aligned to corporate growth targets, risk appetite, and capital efficiency objectives.
• Establish and maintain dynamic risk tolerance frameworks segmented by vertical, channel, and product type.
• Partner with Sales, Product, Finance, and Compliance to embed risk-adjusted decisioning into go-to-market strategy.
• Oversee end-to-end merchant underwriting across SMB, mid-market, and enterprise segments.
• Develop and maintain underwriting policy, exception governance, and escalation protocols.
• Monitor portfolio performance metrics (loss rates, chargeback exposure, fraud indicators, concentration risk) and proactively recalibrate underwriting criteria.
• Support with the implementation of predictive modeling and machine learning capabilities to enhance risk scoring and pricing precision.
• Drive underwriting automation and straight-through processing to improve speed-to-decision while preserving control integrity.
• Optimize workflow design, capacity planning, and service-level standards to support scalable growth.
• Build robust QA and second-line review mechanisms to ensure policy adherence and regulatory compliance.
• Ensure underwriting practices comply with card brand rules, sponsor bank requirements, AML/BSA standards, and applicable state and federal regulations.
• Maintain strong documentation, audit trails, and defensible decision frameworks.
• Serve as primary underwriting liaison during regulatory exams, sponsor bank reviews, and internal audits.
• Champion data-driven decisioning, including integration of alternative data sources and third-party risk intelligence tools.
• Collaborate with Technology and Data teams to modernize underwriting systems and reduce manual friction points.
• Leverage analytics to identify emerging industry risk trends and proactively adjust exposure.
• Recruit, develop, and retain high-performing underwriting and risk professionals.
• Establish a culture of accountability, analytical rigor, and commercial partnership.
• Create clear performance KPIs tied to portfolio outcomes and operational efficiency.

Requirements

• 10+ years of progressive underwriting or credit risk leadership experience within payments, fintech, merchant acquiring, or financial services.
• Deep expertise in merchant risk, card-not-present exposure, chargeback management, fraud typologies, and high-risk vertical underwriting.
• Demonstrated experience scaling underwriting functions in high-growth environments.
• Strong knowledge of card network rules, sponsor bank frameworks, AML/BSA expectations, and regulatory risk management principles.
• Proven track record of leveraging analytics, automation, and technology to modernize risk operations.
• Executive-level communication skills with the ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders and board-level audiences.

Benefits

• Health insurance
• 401(k) matching
• Flexible working hours
• Paid time off
• Professional development opportunities