Sr. Associate, Merchant & Commercial Payments Risk

First National Bank•Omaha, NE

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

We are seeking a high-performing Senior Associate to support and enhance the risk oversight framework for our Merchant Services and Commercial Payments business lines. This role operates within the first line of defense and plays a critical part in ensuring that risk management practices are effectively embedded into day-to-day product management, operations, and strategic initiatives. This position is ideal for a candidate who combines strong risk and control expertise with a deep understanding of payments products and a desire to influence how those products are designed, delivered, and scaled. You will work closely with product, operations, and technology partners to strengthen controls while enabling responsible growth.

Requirements

5+ years of experience in risk management, operational risk, audit, compliance, or related functions within financial services
Direct experience supporting payments, merchant services, or commercial banking products, with a strong understanding of payments ecosystems (e.g., card networks, ACH, wire processing) and familiarity with merchant acquiring, payment gateways, or treasury management services
Knowledge of risk and control frameworks (e.g., RCSA, issue management, control testing)
Proven ability to influence stakeholders and partner effectively with product and business teams and excellent communication skills, including experience presenting to senior stakeholders
Candidates must possess unrestricted work authorization and not require future sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a first line of defense role supporting product or business teams
Experience supporting new product development or product risk assessments
Analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and identify trends or anomalies
Relevant certifications (e.g., CRCM, CISA, or similar)

Responsibilities

Risk & Control Oversight Support and enhance the risk and control framework across Merchant Services and Commercial Payments products
Identify, assess, and document risks across the full product lifecycle, including onboarding, transaction processing, settlement, servicing, and third-party interactions
Evaluate control design and effectiveness; recommend and help implement enhancements to strengthen the control environment
Ensure alignment with enterprise risk frameworks and regulatory expectations
Assess product-specific risks including fraud, operational, compliance, and third-party/vendor risks
Ensure issues are resolved in a timely and sustainable manner, with appropriate documentation, validation, and stakeholder alignment in partnership with Issues Management Team
Audit & Compliance Testing Management Serve as the primary first line contact for Internal Audit, External Audit, and Compliance testing engagements impacting Merchant Services and Commercial Payments
Coordinate and manage all phases of audit and testing activities, including planning, walkthroughs, evidence gathering, and stakeholder alignment
Ensure timely, accurate, and well-controlled responses to audit and testing requests, maintaining high standards of documentation and traceability
Partner with business and control owners to proactively identify potential gaps ahead of formal reviews and implement corrective actions
Translate audit and testing results into actionable insights, driving sustainable remediation and control enhancements
Track and report on audit findings, management actions, and validation efforts to ensure closure within established timelines
Identify thematic issues and trends across audits and testing results to inform broader risk assessments and oversight program improvements
Governance & Reporting Contribute to governance routines, including risk committees, new product approval forums, and control reviews
Develop and deliver clear, actionable reporting and risk insights to senior management
Monitor and refine key risk indicators (KRIs) and metrics specific to payments products to proactively identify emerging risks
Change & Initiative Risk Support Partner directly with Risk Implementation Leads, Product Managers and Business Leaders to embed risk and controls into product design, development, and lifecycle management
Assess risks associated with new product launches, enhancements, and strategic initiatives
Partner with stakeholders to ensure appropriate controls are designed and implemented as part of change efforts
Business Partnership & Risk Culture Collaborate closely with Product, Operations, Technology, Compliance, and Internal Audit teams
Provide effective challenge while enabling business objectives and innovation
Promote a strong risk culture and proactive risk identification within the first line of defense