Director, Payment Risk Operations

Role Description

Maxio Payments is one of the fastest-growing parts of our business. In just over three years we've built an embedded payments offering from the ground up — and we're doubling down. We recently launched the first native B2B surcharging engine on the market, and we see a clear path to tripling the volume processed on our platform over the next two to three years.

We're looking for a Director, Risk & Payments Operations to take what we've built and lead it into its next stage. Reporting directly to the CFO, you'll set the risk strategy and appetite for Maxio Payments and own the function end to end — underwriting, transaction monitoring, card scheme compliance, and the broader risk operations that keep the business safe, scalable, and ahead of the market. You'll inherit a team of three and shape how it grows as volume scales.

This is a rare role for a rare profile. You bring real depth in payments risk — but you've also spent time inside a B2B SaaS or software company, so you understand the kind of merchant base and growth curve we operate against. You've led a risk function or major risk domain before, and you're ready to own one outright. Just as important, you come in with a builder's mindset: you look at a fast-scaling payments business and get energized by building the frameworks, systems, and team that will carry it through its next order of magnitude.

What you'll own

• Risk strategy & appetite: Set and own Maxio Payments' risk strategy, appetite, and policy framework in partnership with the CFO.
• End-to-end function ownership: Own the full risk function — underwriting, transaction monitoring, dispute and fraud management, and compliance.
• Underwriting & merchant onboarding: Direct credit and risk decisioning across the merchant lifecycle.
• Transaction monitoring & fraud: Own the standards, tooling, and escalation paths for surfacing credit, fraud, and compliance risk early.
• Card scheme & network compliance: Own compliance with card brand rules, sponsor bank requirements, and applicable regulations.
• Build & scale for the next stage: Design and implement the tooling, automation, reporting, and playbooks.
• Executive & board partnership: Be the risk voice in the room with the CFO, executive team, sponsor banks, and the board.
• Team leadership & growth: Lead, mentor, and grow the team (currently three).
• Cross-functional leadership: Partner with Product, Sales, Customer Success, Partnerships, and Finance.

Qualifications

• A blend of payments/risk depth and B2B SaaS/software fluency.
• 8+ years in payments, risk management, or financial services operations.
• A track record of owning a risk function or major risk domain.
• Hands-on expertise in underwriting, credit risk, fraud prevention, and transaction monitoring.
• Working knowledge of card brand rules, sponsor bank guidelines, NACHA, and payment processing systems.
• A builder's mindset — comfortable operating where the playbook doesn't fully exist yet.
• Strong analytical skills; fluency in Excel/Google Sheets and reporting tools.
• Board-ready communication — clear and credible across executive, partner, and technical audiences.
• Bachelor's degree in business, finance, or a related field, or equivalent experience.

Why this role

• You'll own an entire function at one of Maxio's fastest-growing lines of business.
• You'll be the risk voice in the room with the CFO, the executive team, and the board.
• You'll build and scale, not just maintain, as we grow toward 3x processed volume.

How you'll show up — our HYPE values

• Honest and Open: You're candid about risk, tradeoffs, and yourself.
• Your Input Matters: You bring diverse perspectives together and make the function better through collaboration.
• Passion for Progress: You push for incremental improvement in process, systems, and controls every day.
• Expect Excellence: You hold yourself and your team to a high bar for performance, compliance, and accuracy.

Maxio is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.