Underwriting Specialist

Job Description:

Underwriting Specialist

Job Overview:

• Payabli is seeking a detail-oriented and analytically minded Underwriting Specialist to join our CRU team. In this role, you will be responsible for reviewing and analyzing merchant applications to determine their risk profile and processing eligibility. You will work closely with senior team members to assess high-risk accounts, optimize underwriting workflows, and provide exceptional communication and guidance to applicants.
• This is a high-impact role ideal for someone who thrives in fast-paced fintech environments and is passionate about managing financial risk while supporting business growth.

Key Responsibilities:

• Application Review & Risk Assessment
• Conduct thorough analysis of merchant applications, including financial statements, processing history, and KYC documentation.
• Verify business legitimacy through entity formation documents, EIN verification, and ownership structure validation.
• Evaluate creditworthiness, processing behavior, and potential exposure risk for both credit card and ACH transactions.
• Flag and escalate high-risk or unusual business models to the Director of CRU for deeper review.
• Maintain comprehensive documentation of underwriting decisions, ensuring compliance with internal policies and regulatory standards.
• Client Communication & Guidance
• Interact with merchants to gather missing information, clarify discrepancies, or provide feedback on required improvements.
• Respond promptly and professionally to application-related inquiries and proactively guide applicants through the process.
• Educate merchants on underwriting expectations and provide tailored advice on best practices for application success.
• Internal Collaboration
• Partner with Compliance and Risk Analysts to support deeper risk investigations or chargeback-related assessments.
• Collaborate with CRU leadership to refine risk models, underwriting criteria, and approval matrices.
• Mentor and support junior team members by reviewing applications, offering feedback, and leading knowledge-sharing sessions.

We’d love to hear from you if you:

• Have 2–5 years of experience in KYC/KYB, compliance, onboarding, or underwriting within a payments, fintech, or financial services organization
• Are well-versed in identity verification protocols, including the review of business formation documents, beneficial ownership, and government-issued identification
• Have working knowledge of AML/BSA regulatory frameworks, sanctions screening (OFAC), and customer due diligence (CDD/EDD) requirements
• Are confident reviewing business models and legal structures, and can validate entity legitimacy and expected transaction behavior
• Are detail-oriented and understand the importance of regulatory adherence across onboarding and ongoing monitoring
• Are comfortable communicating with clients to collect and validate sensitive documentation, while maintaining a high degree of professionalism and care
• Thrive in a collaborative, fast-paced environment and bring a mindset of continuous improvement to workflows, tools, and procedures
• Bonus: Experience with compliance tools such as Alloy, Middesk, ComplyAdvantage, or similar vendor platforms

We think you'll love being part of our team because:

• At Payabli, you’ll have a front row seat into building a high-growth venture backed fintech company. You’ll work directly with the Founders and be considered an integral part of our leadership team. You’ll stretch yourself every day, learn a ton, grow alongside the company, and have a lot of fun building Payabli with us.

We’re a values driven company that cares deeply about our team, partners, and customers. Our north star values are:

• Team First: We invest in our people to foster a vibrant culture where we all love coming to work everyday
• Customer Love: We go above and beyond to woo Customers so that they write us love letters
• Small Giant: We plan to build a massive business; however, we are also building a sustainable organization that has a strong sense of purpose and practices long-term thinking
• Run to the Fire: We embrace difficult situations and lean in when confronted with adversity. We don’t shy away from doing the right thing even if it's hard
• Bias for Action: We operate with urgency; we don’t leave for tomorrow what can be done today
• Little Things Count: We differentiate ourselves by focusing on the little things. We believe small but thoughtful considerations and gestures can have an outsized impact
• Punch Above our Weight: We don’t fear the competition, rather we see our nimbleness as a competitive advantage. We carry ourselves with confidence and conviction in our abilities
• Truth Seekers: We seek truth above pride and ego. We hold each other accountable with respect and in the open. We don’t talk behind each other’s backs. One team member’s problem is the whole team’s problem

What we can offer you:

• Executive level responsibilities that grow with the company as we scale
• Competitive base and strong upside potential
• Stock options with the potential to unlock more equity as we grow
• Flexible PTO and paid parental leave
• Medical, dental, & vision insurance
• 401K, HSA, pre-tax savings programs
• Option to be fully remote or hybrid
• Monthly education fund to spend on anything that enhances your skills or gets you one step closer to your passion goals