Senior CDD Risk Analyst, Direct Customer Onboarding

Adyen•Chicago, IL

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

Adyen is seeking an experienced Senior CDD Risk Analyst to join its Direct Customer Onboarding (CDD) team. The role focuses on leading quality improvements and quality-control sign-offs while directly managing complex enterprise onboarding cases. The analyst will serve as a subject matter expert and mentor, help develop the team, and work with Quality Assurance, Compliance, Commercial, Product, Engineering, and Operations to improve onboarding while maintaining regulatory compliance. The role autonomously leads onboarding for strategic and complex enterprise merchants, conducts multi-jurisdictional due diligence, assesses complex corporate structures and risks, and translates second-line compliance policies into practical first-line procedures. It also maintains high-quality decision-making, identifies process bottlenecks, improves tools and workflows, and partners directly with merchants and commercial teams on negotiations and escalations. The position is based in the San Francisco or Chicago office, with employees expected to work in-office at least three days per week on average.

Requirements

At least 6 years of experience in CDD, KYC/EDD operations, or a Second Line Risk or Compliance role within a FinTech, payment service provider, or financial institution.
Deep experience evaluating complex risk scenarios, including layered corporate structures, offshore or nominee entities, UBO transparency, high-risk business models, scheme rules, and multi-jurisdictional AML/CFT standards.
Experience navigating commercial dynamics and high-pressure go-live targets while maintaining risk controls, and implementing risk-mitigation solutions that support compliant business growth.
Experience in direct customer interactions or merchant-facing roles, with the ability to bridge compliance requirements and commercial and operational needs.
Analytical skills and proficiency in using data and analytics to identify causes of onboarding friction and contribute to automation and tooling improvements.
Autonomy, resilience, clear written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to coach colleagues and collaborate across operational, second-line, and commercial teams.
Must be authorized to work in the United States without requiring new visa sponsorship. Visa transfers may be supported, but H-1B CAP applications will not be sponsored.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience as a Quality Checker or QA auditor in first- or second-line functions.
Experience with and understanding of financial products or issuing, such as business bank accounts, card issuing, and capital.

Responsibilities

Lead onboarding for strategic and complex enterprise merchants, including multi-jurisdictional due diligence and assessment of corporate structures and risks related to PEPs, sanctions, adverse media, and high-risk industries.
Translate second-line compliance policies into actionable first-line procedures and lead calibration sessions to promote consistent application.
Perform regular team quality-control checks, maintain first-time-right accuracy, uphold SOPs, and promote accurate risk reasoning and high-quality decisions.
Identify operational bottlenecks and collaborate with Product, Engineering, Compliance, and Operations to improve workflows, tooling, and automation while maintaining regulatory safeguards.
Partner with Commercial, Sales, and Account Management during high-stakes negotiations and merchant escalations, including participating in customer and commercial calls and explaining compliance requirements.
Develop practical, compliant onboarding pathways that balance regulatory integrity with business growth.
Mentor CDD analysts, provide guidance on complex cases, and foster proactive risk ownership.
Develop and lead training on emerging risk typologies and regulatory changes.