Sr Underwriter

Job title: Senior Underwriter

Reports to: Manager, Underwriting

Department: Business Resource Group

Location: Remote

Grade: 16 

About Priority Commerce: 

Priority Commerce is a leading financial technology company on a mission to deliver a personalized, easy-to-adopt financial toolset that accelerates cash flow and optimizes working capital for businesses. Our vision is to eliminate the barriers to unlocking revenue - empowering businesses to grow faster and operate smarter.

We achieve this through the Priority Commerce Engine, an innovative platform that combines payables, acquiring, and banking and treasury solutions. This unified approach allows businesses to streamline financial operations, reduce unnecessary costs, and uncover new revenue opportunities.

At Priority Commerce, we're driven by results. We expect our people to be known for results - bringing expertise, momentum, and relentless focus to every challenge, helping our clients and each other thrive.

About the Role:

As a Senior Underwriter, you will independently evaluate and manage the risk associated with large, complex merchant accounts through in-depth analysis of financial statements, banking data, processing history, credit reports, and other relevant information. You will exercise independent judgment in assessing complex or non-standard risk scenarios, determining appropriate underwriting strategies and controls, and applying Card Brand underwriting requirements across a variety of processing relationships, including merchants, payment facilitators, and marketplaces.

You will lead comprehensive financial reviews, including spreading financials and preparing detailed credit packages for internal and external approval. With ownership of the credit decisioning process, you will evaluate available options, make recommendations and decisions within delegated authority, and structure approvals in alignment with the organization’s risk appetite. This includes assessing the potential financial and operational impact of underwriting decisions and balancing commercial objectives with prudent risk management.

You will also develop and negotiate risk mitigation strategies, including reserves, ACH delays, and other approval conditions, to appropriately manage exposure while supporting sustainable revenue growth.

As a subject-matter expert and trusted advisor, you will provide guidance to management, Sales, Operations, and other internal stakeholders on complex credit and risk matters. You will also support the development of the broader underwriting team by providing training and guidance to junior underwriters and sales partners and offering expert consultation on underwriting policies, risk interpretation, and complex account structures.

Responsibilities: 

• Own and manage the end-to-end underwriting and credit process for large, complex merchant accounts, exercising independent judgment to make or recommend risk-based decisions within delegated authority.

• Evaluate overall merchant risk by analyzing business models, transaction volumes, processing structures, financial statements, banking data, processing history, and credit information, including weighing conflicting or incomplete information and assessing potential financial, operational, and regulatory exposure.

• Interpret and apply Card Brand requirements and company policies across Merchant, Payment Facilitator, and Marketplace models, using independent judgment to address complex or non-standard situations and determine appropriate underwriting approaches.

• Determine and negotiate appropriate approval structures and risk mitigants, including reserves, ACH delays, and other conditions, while balancing risk exposure, organizational risk appetite, and business objectives.

• Serve as a subject-matter expert by providing guidance to management, sales partners, and junior underwriters on complex credit and risk matters, identifying emerging risks, and contributing to the continuous improvement of underwriting practices and processes.

• Identify, investigate, and mitigate potential fraud by analyzing trends, transaction activity, business information, and documentation; recognizing sophisticated or potentially altered documents; and determining appropriate verification, investigative, or third-party resources to confirm or rule out suspected fraud.

What Success Looks Like:

Success in this role means consistently making sound, well-documented underwriting decisions that effectively balance risk mitigation with business growth through the appropriate exercise of independent judgment and analysis of complex and sometimes non-standard situations.

• Large and complex merchant accounts are approved and structured in alignment with Card Brand rules, company policies, and the organization’s risk appetite while appropriately addressing material financial, operational, regulatory, and processing risks.

• Financial, credit, and processing analyses are thorough, accurate, and clearly communicated through high-quality credit packages that provide management and other decision-makers with the information necessary to understand material risks, alternatives, and recommended actions.

• Risk exposure is proactively identified and mitigated through appropriate approval conditions, negotiations, and monitoring with risk structures tailored to the specific circumstances of each account rather than solely through routine application of standardized procedures.

• The Senior Underwriter is viewed as a trusted subject-matter expert by internal partners, merchants, and external stakeholders and is relied upon to provide independent analysis, recommendations, and expert judgment on complex underwriting and risk matters.

• Fraud risks are proactively identified and appropriately addressed through independent analysis of account data, documentation, transaction patterns, and other available information, with effective verification strategies and risk mitigants used to prevent fraudulent or suspicious accounts from creating material exposure.

• The Senior Underwriter independently identifies emerging risk trends, evaluates their potential impact on the organization, and recommends appropriate changes to underwriting practices, risk controls, or account structures.
  
  

Candidate Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience, with 5+ years of relevant underwriting, credit, risk, payments, or financial services experience.

• Experience interpreting and applying underwriting policies, Card Brand requirements, and risk-management standards to complex and non-standard situations.

• Demonstrated ability to analyze complex financial, credit, operational, and transactional information, evaluate alternatives, and exercise sound independent judgment in making risk-based recommendations and decisions.

• Ability to assess significant financial and operational risk, balance competing business considerations, and determine an appropriate course of action within established authority and risk parameters.

• Ability to negotiate and structure risk-mitigation solutions, including reserves, ACH delays, and other appropriate controls based on the underlying risk.

• Ability to provide expert guidance and recommendations to management and business partners regarding complex credit, underwriting, and risk matters.

• Ability to work independently with limited supervision and manage complex assignments with significant potential impact to the organization’s risk exposure.

• Demonstrated experience identifying fraud trends and sophisticated fraud indicators through analysis of financial, transactional, and business data, with strong judgment in determining appropriate verification methods, investigative resources, and risk mitigants to identify or rule out potential fraud.

• Strong communication, interpersonal, organizational, problem-solving, and leadership skills.

• Ability to effectively manage priorities and make sound decisions in a fast-paced environment.

• Strong knowledge of the payments, merchant acquiring, credit, or financial services industry.

• Banking and/or credit card issuing experience preferred.

• Excellent management, communication, interpersonal, organizational and leadership skills.

• Ability to communicate effectively both written and verbal.

• Attention to detail.

• Excellent organizational skills.

• Ability to work in a fast paced environment.

• Industry knowledge.

Work Environment & Culture:

We believe that performance and experience go hand in hand - an exceptional employee experience is earned through contribution. We are a results-driven team, grounded in our core values: ownership, authenticity, service, trust, innovation, and camaraderie.

Our culture is built for those who want to make an impact. We challenge each other to grow, celebrate progress, and support one another through shared goals and real connection. Whether you're building technology, serving clients, or supporting internal teams, you’ll be part of a company that empowers you to perform at your best and be known for results.

Compensation and Benefits:

Compensation range: $75k - $102k
We invest in the whole employee - personally and professionally. Our benefits package is designed to support your well-being, growth, and success - both inside and outside of work.

Financial Wellness

• Bonus programs

• 401(k) match

• HSA and FSA options

• Financial wellness resources and employee discount programs

Health & Well-being

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage

• Mental health support for employees and dependents through Lyra Health

• Family planning and women’s health benefits through Carrot

• Gym membership reimbursement and virtual wellness programs (including yoga)

Time Off

• 3 weeks PTO to start, with unlimited PTO after year one

Growth & Development

• Education expense reimbursement

• Leadership development programs

• Certified Payments Professional (CPP) certification support

We believe great performance starts with feeling supported - and we’ve built our benefits with that in mind.

 Traditional Physical Requirements:

• Requires prolonged sitting, standing, bending, stooping and stretching.

• Requires the ability to lift 10 pounds.

• Requires eye-hand coordination, manual dexterity and a normal range of hearing and vision (with or without correction).

Join our team at Priority Commerce and be part of a dynamic and innovative company that is transforming the financial technology landscape. Together, we can shape the future of payments and banking solutions while providing unmatched value to our clients.