Senior Underwriter — Lead Risk & Mentor Team

Merchant First; Lakewood Township (NJ); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental and vision

Paid vacation

Professional growth

Collaborative team

Job summary

Merchant First, a fast-growing lender in the alternative financing space, seeks a Senior Underwriter to lead merchant application reviews, analyze financial documents, and assess risk for funding eligibility. This role demands a seasoned underwriter with a strong MCA background, ready to mentor juniors and shape underwriting strategy.

Join a data-driven team that leverages AI tools and analytics to accelerate decisions, while maintaining regulatory and internal standards.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of underwriting or financial analysis experience, preferably in merchant cash advance or related lending.
• Strong ability to read bank statements, cash-flow patterns, and financial docs.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and data analysis proficiency.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• High attention to detail and strong organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• Review merchant applications, bank statements, credit reports and documents to assess risk and funding eligibility.
• Conduct in-depth financial analysis including cash-flow trends and revenue stability.
• Identify fraud indicators and escalate high-risk deals.
• Communicate with ISOs, sales reps, and internal teams to gather missing data.
• Prepare underwriting notes and recommendations; review junior underwriters' deals.
• Structure offers consistent with risk guidelines; exercise independent judgment.
• Maintain accuracy and compliance with internal policies and industry standards.
• Support development of underwriting technology and scalable processes.
• Develop and maintain underwriting pricing models.
• Identify opportunities to improve underwriting processes and reporting.
• Mentor and train junior underwriters on deal structuring and risk assessment.
• Plan and lead underwriting closing calls with team and merchants.

Skills

Underwriting

Financial analysis

Cash flow analysis

Excellent communication

Attention to detail

Tools

Excel

Salesforce

MCA portals

Job description

Merchant First operates in the alternative financing space and provides fast and flexible funding solutions that help small and medium-sized businesses access capital when they need it most. Through technology-driven underwriting and data analytics, we deliver same-day and next-day funding options with repayment structures designed around real-world cash flow.

Our platform combines experienced operators with advanced analytics and AI tools to make faster and smarter credit decisions while delivering a seamless experience for our clients. As we continue to scale, we are building a high-performing organization to support data-driven decision making across the business in all departments.

If you’re looking to join a company that moves quickly, embraces innovation, and makes a real impact on the businesses we serve, Merchant First is the place to build your career.

About the Role

We are hiring a Senior Underwriter who will lead the review of merchant applications, analyze financial documents, and assess risk to determine eligibility for merchant cash advances. This role is ideal for an experienced underwriter with a strong track record in MCA or related lending who is ready to take on greater ownership, mentor junior team members, and help shape underwriting strategy.

What You Will Do

• Review merchant applications, bank statements, credit reports, and supporting documents to assess risk and determine funding eligibility
• Conduct in-depth financial analysis, including cash‑flow trends, average daily balances, NSFs, and revenue stability
• Identify potential fraud indicators, make final risk determinations, and escalate complex or high exposure deals as needed
• Communicate with ISOs, sales reps, and internal teams to gather missing documents or clarify deal details
• Prepare clear, concise underwriting notes and recommendations, and review deals submitted by junior underwriters
• Structure offers that align with company risk guidelines, exercising independent judgment on complex deals
• Maintain accuracy and compliance with internal policies and industry standards
• Support development of the Company’s underwriting technology and infrastructure to create a scalable platform as the company grows
• Develop and maintain underwriting pricing models
• Identify opportunities to improve underwriting processes and reporting
• Mentor and train junior underwriters, providing guidance on deal structuring and risk assessment
• Plan and lead underwriting closing calls with team and merchants

Who You Are

• 7+ years of underwriting or financial/business analyst experience, preferably in merchant cash advance (MCA), alternative lending, or a related field
• Strong understanding of bank statements, cash‑flow patterns, and basic credit analysis to assess business health
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills
• Ability to interpret financial documents quickly and accurately
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
• High attention to detail and strong organizational skills
• Proficiency with underwriting or CRM platforms (Salesforce, MCA portals, etc.) is a plus
• Intellectual curiosity, analytical mindset and a desire to continuously improve processes
• Strong sense of urgency and ownership
• Comfortable asking questions and seeking clarity
• Team‑oriented with a willingness to mentor and support junior underwriters
• Self-starter with strong initiative and accountability

What We Offer

• Competitive market compensation and performance incentives
• Comprehensive health, dental and vision insurance plans
• Paid vacation and holidays
• Opportunities for professional growth and advancement
• Collaborative team who is energized by solving problems together
• Ability to work closely with senior leadership and see your ideas turn into reality