Payments Underwriting Manager

Celero Commerce•Brentwood, TN

2d•Onsite

About The Position

We’re looking for an experienced Payments Underwriting Manager to join our team in Brentwood, Tennessee and play a key role in shaping how we assess and manage risk across our merchant portfolio. In this role, you’ll lead a team of Underwriting Analysts responsible for merchant onboarding, underwriting review, and ongoing portfolio risk management. You’ll own underwriting decisions—from approvals and declines to conditional approvals—while ensuring alignment with card network rules, sponsor bank requirements, and internal risk policies. This is an opportunity to combine strong people leadership with sound risk judgment in a collaborative, fast-paced payments environment.

Requirements

3–5+ years of experience in payments underwriting, risk, or a related field.
Prior experience managing and developing teams.
Working knowledge of platforms such as TSYS, Global, Fiserv, Paysafe, EVO, and MES.
Strong judgment, communication, and leadership capabilities.
Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment.
Demonstrated discretion and ability to handle sensitive information.

Responsibilities

Lead, develop, and manage a team of Underwriting Analysts, including hiring, onboarding, performance management, coaching, and employee relations.
Oversee daily underwriting operations, including queues, escalations, staffing coverage, PTO planning, and workload distribution.
Make final underwriting decisions on merchant approvals, declines, and conditional approvals.
Review financials, business models, and key risk indicators to assess merchant risk.
Approve processing limits, reserves, and funding conditions; escalate exceptions as needed.
Monitor portfolio performance related to chargebacks, fraud, and overall exposure.
Analyze risk trends and implement proactive loss mitigation strategies.
Partner cross-functionally with Sales, Compliance, Operations, and Banking teams.
Communicate underwriting decisions clearly and effectively to internal stakeholders.
Maintain underwriting policies, procedures, and training documentation.
Ensure audit readiness and compliance with card brand, sponsor bank, and internal risk requirements.