Operations Intern - Underwriting & Risk

Upgrade•Atlanta, GA

About The Position

Upgrade is seeking Summer Interns to join our North American Operations team. This team is responsible for reviewing relationships with new and existing contractors on the Upgrade Home Improvement platform, where our payment options can help their customers start a dream home project. This role offers hands-on exposure to the core operational functions that power our business — from reviewing applications and supporting merchant onboarding to assessing and monitoring risk. This role will allow the Summer Intern an opportunity to experience multiple aspects of creating a new line of business at a rapidly accelerating start-up along-side an experienced leadership team. This is an ideal opportunity for students interested in finance, operations, business, risk, compliance, or fintech who want real-world experience working alongside cross-functional teams and contributing to meaningful projects.

Requirements

Strong attention to detail and excellent organizational skills
Clear written and verbal communication skills
Ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines in a fast-paced environment
Strong work ethic with a proactive, team-first mindset
Comfortable asking questions, learning new processes, and adapting to shifting priorities
Analytical mindset with an interest in operations, finance, risk, or compliance
Currently pursuing or recently completed a degree in Business, Finance, Economics, Operations, or a related field
Proficiency with Microsoft Office / Google Workspace
Interest in financial services, fintech, operations, or risk management

Responsibilities

Support the Underwriting team by helping gather, review, and verify documentation for merchant applications
Communicate with merchants via phone and email to collect required materials and answer questions
Assist with merchant onboarding processes, including verifying email addresses, staged funding details, and responsible party information
Participate in joint calls with merchants and banking partners to verify bank account information
Review submitted documents for accuracy and completeness in accordance with internal guidelines
Collaborate with Sales and Underwriting teams to ensure timely and accurate application processing
Assist the Risk team with reviewing new vendor requests and performing initial risk assessments
Support due diligence efforts by helping collect and organize merchant documentation
Participate in risk-based reviews, including background research and document evaluation
Help prepare summaries of materials reviewed during vendor diligence and monitoring
Support ongoing oversight of higher-risk merchants and assist with maintaining accurate records
Work with stakeholders across Legal, Compliance, Product, Credit teams