Head of Underwriting (MALPB)

Checkout.com•Atlanta, GA

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

We’re looking for a Senior Manager, with a background in payments and/or financial analysis, to join our team in Atlanta. You will be part of a team that is responsible for underwriting enterprise customer applications with a focus on analysis relevant to Business Models, Credit Exposure, Due Diligence, Financial Analysis, and Scheme Rules. This role offers a unique exposure to our core business areas, collaborating closely with our key internal players (Business Development, Financial Partnerships, Sales, Risk, Compliance, Legal teams, and Senior Management) and our high-value merchants and partners. The role will initially be IC (Individual Contributor) focused, with additional responsibilities related to Checkout’s newly formed Merchant Acquiring Limited Purpose Bank, and provide an opportunity to grow and manage a team in the future.

Requirements

8+ years of work experience in merchant underwriting or similar underwriting roles.
Expert business model assessment and identification of credit risk exposure.
Expert level understanding in financial analysis and analyzing credit exposure.
Excellent written and interpersonal communication skills.
Adopt a ‘customer first’ mindset to deliver creative solutions for our merchants and will contribute to cross-team collaboration and building a ‘One Team’ culture.
Competent escalation management - act with urgency to ensure escalations are prioritized, owned, and resolved effectively.
You have a passion for operational improvement initiatives and can contribute to broader department initiatives and projects.
Passion for coaching and nurturing talent, helping team members develop their technical skills and professional skills to achieve their goals.
Apply qualitative and quantitative criteria to evaluate team performance against KPIs.
Demonstrated ability to make sound judgment, balancing risk and reward.
Competent escalation management - act with urgency to ensure escalations are prioritized, owned, and resolved effectively.
Ability to continually monitor and manage competing priorities and adjust accordingly.
Possess enthusiasm to drive process improvement initiatives, and contribute to broader department initiatives and projects.
High performance mindset defined by rigorous discipline and execution intensity.
Leading by example, you will demonstrate our core Values and live out our Operating Principles in everything you do.
Experience within Customer Due Diligence, KYC, and KYB.

Responsibilities

Conduct business model analysis in line with internal policy guidelines and apply evaluation techniques to achieve the desired results for complex deals.
Calculate exposure in line with existing guidance, with the ability to tailor the approach based on merchant specifics.
Conduct proficient analysis of P&L, balance sheet and cash flow statements of large, complex deals.
Prepare detailed oral and written summaries to assess micro and macro risks, mitigating factors, and make balanced risk recommendations and decisions.
Experience in underwriting high-risk lines of business including travel, furniture, ticket and events, securities, gambling etc.
Represent Underwriting in customer calls and meetings alongside Sales or Account Management.
Represent Underwriting in external calls and/or meetings with third-parties such as the regulator, auditors and the card schemes.
Access and process Pay to Card and Pay to Bank applications.
Responsible for exercising oversight over decisions made by Risk Operations, developing and implementing the underwriting and onboarding strategy for Checkout’s Merchant Acquiring Limited Purpose Bank entity, ensuring alignment with local regulatory requirements and global underwriting standards, and overseeing all Merchant Acquiring Limited Purpose Bank merchant onboarding approvals.
Leveraging experience, you will upscale junior team members through training initiatives on business model and credit analysis, in-line with internal policy guidelines.
Identify operational issues and areas for improvement, and make detailed recommendations on how to improve the merchant onboarding experience.
Foster a culture of collaboration with key internal stakeholders, in particular Sales, and first and second line Risk and Compliance personnel and Legal.