• Lead the payments underwriting process from application through approval for U.S. and Canadian merchants, ensuring accuracy, efficiency, and consistent decisioning. • Establish, maintain, and regularly review underwriting policies and procedures in alignment with regulatory requirements and industry best practices. • Conduct and oversee risk assessments and creditworthiness evaluations of prospective merchants. • Develop and implement underwriting risk-mitigation strategies within onboarding and application systems to minimize loss exposure. • Implement and enhance advanced modeling and data-driven techniques to improve underwriting precision and decision quality. • Partner with Product, Engineering, Operations, and external vendors to design and execute onboarding and underwriting process enhancements. • Provide strategic leadership for Agreement Express (AEX) platform. • Monitor and analyze portfolio performance and risk trends, identifying emerging risks and opportunities for improvement. • Partner with Product and Engineering to design and execute risk monitoring process enhancements. • Utilize internal reporting and analytics tools to support data-driven risk decisions. • Partner with Legal and Compliance to remain current on PayFac regulations and network rules, including AML, KYC, OFAC, and card network and ACH requirements. • Prepare and present risk management reporting to the CFO and other senior stakeholders. • Complete and file all required Unusual Activity Reports (UARs) with acquiring banks. • Manage relationships with acquiring bank risk teams, AML partners, and auditors. • Oversee the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of high-risk alert monitoring systems and criteria. • Partner with Product, Engineering, and internal stakeholders to design and implement funding and settlement automation solutions. • Coordinate cross-functional communication related to funding issues between Support, Finance, Accounting, and business units. • Own the collections function for software and payments accounts, including returned merchant funding and billing. • Collaborate with Accounting to provide monthly write off data for reconciliation and close processes. • Establish and maintain collections policies, workflows, and escalation paths. • Ensure accurate merchant account changes and adjustments in accordance with policy and contractual requirements. • Partner with Accounting, Finance, and Operations to ensure alignment between collections activity, reconciliation, and financial reporting. • Manage relationships with underwriting, onboarding, risk technology vendors, and 3rd party collections agency. • Ensure vendor capabilities align with business objectives, regulatory requirements, and scalability needs. • Monitor vendor performance, deliverables, contracts, and issue resolution. • Lead, coach, and develop a team of underwriters, risk/funding specialists, and collections specialists. • Set clear performance goals and regularly evaluate progress, providing timely feedback and guidance. • Drive development and execution of communication plans that promote transparency, alignment with company values, and a strong employee experience. • Foster a collaborative and inclusive culture that encourages continuous improvement and professional growth. • Support administrative processes and initiatives that enable effective team operations. • Model and reinforce company values and expected behaviors, contributing to a positive and high-performance culture.