Senior Merchant Underwriter — High-Risk Payments Expert

Kurv; Cleveland (OH); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Kurv in Cleveland, OH is seeking a Senior Merchant Underwriter to review, analyze, and decide credit risk for merchant applications, with focus on medium and high-risk, including forward-delivery business models.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years in payments underwriting, can analyze credit reports and financial statements, and mentor junior staff while ensuring regulatory compliance. This role is based at our Corporate Office in Cleveland.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of payments / 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 with effective written and verbal communication; ability to mentor junior staff.

Responsibilities

• Conduct detailed credit / financial analysis of merchants with forward-delivery exposure such as travel, furniture, and consulting services.
• Evaluate forward-delivery risk exposure and recommend appropriate approval terms (reserve, escrow, or collateral).
• Prepare detailed reports and present findings to senior management.
• Mitigate risk with approval terms and processing limits, and escalate to higher management when outside personal authority.
• Support and mentor junior underwriting staff; provide QA feedback on decisions as needed.
• Build and maintain relationships with sales partners, sponsor banks, and internal teams.
• Ensure underwriting activities comply with company policy, card network rules, and applicable regulations; maintain documentation.

Skills

Credit risk analysis

Financial statement analysis

Communication skills

Mentoring junior staff

Independent decision making

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business/Finance or related field

Job description

Kurv in Cleveland, OH is seeking a Senior Merchant Underwriter to review, analyze, and decide credit risk for merchant applications, with focus on medium and high-risk, including forward-delivery business models.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years in payments underwriting, can analyze credit reports and financial statements, and mentor junior staff while ensuring regulatory compliance. This role is based at our Corporate Office in Cleveland.