Underwriting Specialist

2–5 years of experience in KYC/KYB, compliance, onboarding, or underwriting within a payments, fintech, or financial services organization Well-versed in identity verification protocols, including the review of business formation documents, beneficial ownership, and government-issued identification Working knowledge of AML/BSA regulatory frameworks, sanctions screening (OFAC), and customer due diligence (CDD/EDD) requirements Confident reviewing business models and legal structures, and can validate entity legitimacy and expected transaction behavior Detail-oriented and understand the importance of regulatory adherence across onboarding and ongoing monitoring 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 Experience with compliance tools such as Alloy, Middesk, ComplyAdvantage, or similar vendor platforms (Bonus)

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. 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. 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.