Director Risk and Underwriting

Overview:

In this role, you will play a key role in driving the organization's risk strategy, ensuring operational resilience, and safeguarding data integrity across complex and dynamic business environments. This includes overseeing the identification, monitoring, and mitigation of risks across the entire merchant portfolio, with a focus on maintaining the quality, accuracy, and consistency of data and transactions. You will lead teams of risk analysts and department specialists to implement, review, and optimize risk and compliance processes and procedures, ensuring alignment with regulatory requirements and industry best practices.

Responsibilities:

• Design and implement a comprehensive risk management framework tailored to the needs of the organization and aligned with industry best practices.
• Develop policies and systems to prevent fraud, manage alerts, and oversee investigations, including coordination with law enforcement as required.
• Oversee and optimize risk monitoring tools and processes integrated with TSYS and Fiserv, ensuring timely detection and mitigation of potential vulnerabilities.
• Coordinate fraud investigations and manage the dispute claims process and chargebacks, liaison with executive team and industry organizations (Visa, MasterCard, Sponsor Banks, etc.)
• Work with the Executive Leadership Team to understand and achieve business and strategic goals; implements procedures and controls to mitigate losses.
• Responsible for appropriately staffing the department, hiring and training employees, planning, assigning, directing work, appraising performance, mentoring, addressing complaints, and resolving problems.
• Ensure compliance with all regulations associated with the card portfolios and minimizes reputational risk through industry "best practices,” act as Compliance Officer.
• AML and KYC liaison for the organization, responsible for maintaining company certifications.

Requirements:

• Previous experience in merchant processing, payment processing, or a related financial services field
• Strong expertise in TSYS and Fiserv platforms, including risk monitoring and fraud prevention tools.
• Ability to detect and report fraud trends and identify ways to improve fraud detection, prevention, and avoidance.
• High level of integrity and excellent judgment concerning private/sensitive matters
• High level of knowledge of the card payment system, authorization, clearing, and settlement.
• Thorough understanding of card data security trends and standards, card processing regulations
• Excellent leadership skills: ability to motivate and manage staff.
• Strong knowledge of industry regulations and compliance requirements
• Excellent attention to detail and analytical skills
• Practical communication skills, both written and verbal
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Bachelor’s degree in finance, business, or related field, or equivalent experience
• Minimum five (5) years of direct acquiring experience with a proven track record of success.