Senior Risk Strategist - Fraud

Mercury•Portland, OR

3h•$200,700 - $250,900

About The Position

Mercury is building a complete finance stack for startups, aiming to create the easiest and safest banking experience. The Risk Strategy team, a hybrid of analytics and thought leadership, identifies, assesses, and mitigates financial, regulatory, and reputational risks. This role focuses on data-driven insights, process improvements, and maintaining a stellar customer experience to foster trust. As a Senior Risk Strategist focused on fraud, you will shape and execute Mercury’s fraud strategy across multiple payment rails and fraud types, combining data-driven analysis with strategic problem-solving. You will be a core contributor to Mercury’s Personal Banking fraud program build-out and also cover broader Business Banking fraud domains. You will partner closely with Product, Engineering, Operations, and Compliance to deliver scalable outcomes that enable the business, reduce fraud losses, and protect customer experience. Mercury is a fintech company, not an FDIC-insured bank. Banking services are provided through Choice Financial Group and Column N.A., Members FDIC.

Requirements

6+ years of experience in an analytical role, including 4+ years in fraud detection and strategy
Consumer fintech experience strongly preferred
Proven ability to design and execute fraud strategies across multiple payment rails and fraud types (ACH, checks, RTP, onboarding, ATO, friendly fraud)
Hands-on experience contributing to consumer / personal banking fraud programs, including familiarity with consumer-specific fraud patterns and regulatory context
Skilled in customer risk scoring/modeling and process automation
Strong SQL proficiency and ability to translate data into actionable strategy
Track record of balancing risk, compliance, and customer experience in cross-functional settings
Excellent communication skills to simplify complex risk concepts into clear recommendations
Proven ability to operate in ambiguity and make high-quality decisions with imperfect information
Highly self-motivated with a strong work ethic
Curious, growth-oriented, and motivated to work on fraud problems at all lifecycle stages (new product launches, scaling, and legacy optimization)

Responsibilities

Own strategy and execution across multiple fraud domains – including ACH, Check Deposits, Checkbooks, RTP, onboarding, and ATO – with a bias toward action and a high bar for results
Drive Mercury’s Personal Banking fraud program build-out, applying consumer fintech expertise to design controls and strategies tailored to consumer account holders
Use data and quantitative analysis to design fraud controls, mitigate risk, and improve customer experience while balancing trade-offs
Partner with Compliance and Legal to ensure solutions align with regulatory requirements
Lead cross-functional efforts with Product, Engineering, and Operations to design and implement scalable risk solutions
Serve as a domain expert across fraud types, proactively identifying gaps and driving systemic improvements across fraud programs
Define and track metrics that measure both risk effectiveness and customer impact
Take initiative without waiting to be directed – identify problems, build the case, and push work across the finish line