Director of Risk and Operations

A rapidly growing financial technology company is seeking an experienced risk leader to build and scale its merchant risk function. The company operates within the payments ecosystem and supports businesses across multiple industries through innovative financial products and services. The Opportunity This is a senior leadership role responsible for developing and executing the organization's merchant risk strategy. The successful candidate will oversee underwriting, merchant onboarding, ongoing risk monitoring, and operational processes while partnering closely with executive leadership and key internal stakeholders. This role offers the opportunity to shape risk policy, build scalable frameworks, and establish a high-performing team within a fast-growing environment. Key Responsibilities Develop and maintain merchant acceptance, underwriting, and risk management frameworks. Establish risk appetite, onboarding standards, and ongoing monitoring programs. Lead merchant review and approval processes while balancing growth and risk objectives. Oversee operational workflows related to merchant onboarding and activation. Partner with Compliance, Product, Operations, and senior leadership on risk-related initiatives. Build reporting, metrics, and governance frameworks to support informed decision-making. Manage and develop risk personnel while supporting future team growth. Lead risk reviews with external partners and stakeholders as required. Drive continuous improvement across risk operations, controls, and decision-making processes. Required Experience 8+ years of experience in merchant risk, underwriting, payments, fintech, banking, or related financial services environments. Strong understanding of merchant onboarding, underwriting, transaction risk, and ongoing monitoring. Experience designing and implementing risk policies, controls, and operational processes. Proven ability to balance commercial objectives with sound risk management practices. Experience working cross-functionally with business, operations, compliance, and technology teams. Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills. Preferred Experience Experience within payments, fintech, banking, digital assets, cryptocurrency, or emerging financial infrastructure businesses. Exposure to cross-border payments, treasury operations, digital wallets, virtual accounts, or stablecoin-enabled payment ecosystems. Experience assessing risk within complex merchant portfolios, including higher-risk or rapidly evolving industries. Familiarity with automation, workflow optimization, and technology-enabled risk management solutions. Experience building teams, processes, and governance frameworks within high-growth organizations. Why Join Opportunity to build and shape a critical function within a growing organization. Significant visibility and interaction with executive leadership. Ability to influence strategy, policy, and operational direction. Competitive compensation, performance incentives, and long-term growth opportunities. #J-18808-Ljbffr HW3