Merchant Acquiring Risk and Governance Manager

Woodforest National Bank • The Woodlands, TX

179d

About The Position

The Merchant Acquiring Risk and Governance Manager reviews, monitors, and provides guidance and oversight for merchant acquiring operations conducted by the bank’s subsidiary, ISO partners, other third parties such as Third Party Processors, and merchant customers. The role aligns these activities with regulatory and card brand requirements and ensures appropriate governance, risk management, and control over the bank subsidiary’s merchant acquiring activities while streamlining oversight to avoid unnecessary operational burden and duplication.

The manager serves as the primary liaison between the bank and its subsidiary on merchant acquiring oversight matters, oversees approval and challenge of underwriting decisions, and evaluates proposed business verticals. The role develops formal risk analyses and oversees underwriting, risk, and compliance audits. It supervises the Merchant Acquiring team and may require travel of up to 10%25. Working conditions involve mostly sitting, with some walking, moving, standing briefly, and occasional lifting and carrying items; lifting is limited to no more than 10 pounds.

Requirements

• 5–7 years of merchant acquiring industry experience with exposure to underwriting, risk management, and compliance.
• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Strong working knowledge of merchant acquiring operations, including underwriting, risk management, and compliance.
• Ability to evaluate new business models, verticals, and partner structures from a risk and regulatory perspective.
• Experience reviewing policies and governance frameworks, with emphasis on clear control ownership and accountability.
• Proficiency with Microsoft applications and merchant processing systems.
• Excellent communication and relationship management skills, including the ability to influence and present to executive stakeholders.
• Organizational skills to prioritize workload, multitask, meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment, and maintain accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to create reports and presentations for executive-level audiences.
• Sound business judgment and independent discretion, with the ability to express rationale and deliver defensible recommendations.
• Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills, including synthesizing data from multiple sources and recommending appropriate actions.
• Ability to work independently under minimal supervision while supporting a team environment.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree preferred.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary liaison between the bank and the bank’s subsidiary for merchant acquiring oversight matters.
• Oversee approval and challenge of underwriting decisions for merchants, ISOs, and large exposures presented by the bank subsidiary.
• Review and evaluate new business verticals proposed by the bank subsidiary, providing recommendations to the Director of BaaS regarding approval, conditions, or restrictions.
• Develop and maintain formal risk analyses for business verticals, ISOs, and large merchants to support bank decision-making and risk acceptance.
• Oversee underwriting, risk, and compliance audits to ensure compliance with the bank’s underwriting policy, card brand rules, and regulatory requirements.
• Supervise the Merchant Acquiring team.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: High school or GED