Senior High-Risk Merchant Underwriter

Kurvpay; California, Northern (MO, KY); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Kurvpay is seeking a Senior Merchant Underwriter in Encino, CA, to review merchant applications and existing accounts with a focus on medium/high-risk, including forward-delivery models such as travel.

The role requires 5+ years in payments underwriting, strong analytical skills, and the ability to influence decisions with independent authority while mentoring junior staff and ensuring compliance across processes.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of payments/merchant underwriting experience, with high-risk exposure.
• Experience analyzing individual and company credit reports and financial statements.
• Familiarity with card network high-risk monitoring programs and compliance obligations.
• Understanding merchant risk fees, dispute processes and network registration requirements.
• Strong analytical and financial review skills; able to present findings clearly.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; able to brief senior management.
• Ability to mentor junior underwriting staff and share risk knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Conduct detailed credit/financial analysis of merchants with forward delivery exposure.
• Evaluate forward-delivery risk and recommend terms such as reserve or collateral.
• Prepare reports and present findings to senior management.
• Mitigate risk with approval terms and recommend periodic reviews or limits.
• Provide recommendations for approvals when outside personal authority.
• Collaborate with risk teams to align credit decisions with processing and risk.
• Mentor and QA underwriting decisions by junior staff as needed.
• Support relationships with sales partners, sponsor banks, and internal teams.
• Ensure underwriting activities comply with policy, rules, and regulations.

Skills

Merchants underwriting

Credit risk analysis

Financial statement review

Decision authority

Mentorship

Communication skills

Independence

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business/Finance or related field

Job description

Kurvpay is seeking a Senior Merchant Underwriter in Encino, CA, to review merchant applications and existing accounts with a focus on medium/high-risk, including forward-delivery models such as travel.

The role requires 5+ years in payments underwriting, strong analytical skills, and the ability to influence decisions with independent authority while mentoring junior staff and ensuring compliance across processes.