Senior Merchant Risk Monitoring Analyst

About the position

Upgrade is a fintech company that provides affordable and responsible credit, mobile banking, and payment products to everyday consumers. We were the fastest growing company in the Americas last year according to the Financial Times and Upgrade Card was the fastest growing credit card in America two years in a row. We have delivered over $33 billion in affordable and responsible credit to our 5.5M customers. The company is backed by some of the most prominent technology investors and was recently valued at $6.3B. We have built an energizing, collaborative and inclusive culture where team members help each other, learn and innovate to move the company and its customers in the right direction, and own the outcome of their efforts. Upgrade has been named a “Best Place to Work in the Bay Area” three years in a row, “Top Companies to work for in Arizona” and one of the "Best Engineering Department" awarded annually by Comparably. We've also received recognition for being a best company for Diversity, Women, Culture, and Veterans. We are looking for new team members who get excited about designing and delivering new and better products to join a team of 1850 talented and dedicated professionals. Come work with us if you like to tackle big problems and make a meaningful difference in people's lives. We are seeking a detail-oriented and analytical Senior Analyst for Merchant Risk Monitoring, specializing in Operational Risk. This role is responsible for identifying, assessing, and mitigating operational risks associated with merchant activities. The ideal candidate will monitor merchant performance, detect fraud or compliance violations, and take proactive measures to protect the organization from financial, reputational, and regulatory risks.

Responsibilities

• Continuously analyze merchant activities and transaction patterns to identify potential operational risks, fraud, or compliance breaches
• Lead investigations into high-risk merchants, escalate concerns to management, and recommend appropriate actions
• Ensure adherence to internal risk policies and regulatory requirements. Recommend and develop risk mitigation strategies
• Generate risk reports, track key risk indicators (KRIs), and provide insights to stakeholders for informed decision-making
• Work closely with internal teams (Underwriting, Compliance, Legal, Finance, and Operations) to ensure coordinated risk management
• Enhance risk monitoring systems and workflows to improve efficiency and accuracy
• Conduct periodic merchant reviews and audits to assess ongoing risk exposure and compliance adherence
• Support the development of junior analysts through training and mentorship in risk assessment techniques and best practices

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Business, Economics, Risk Management, or a related field
• 3-5 years of experience in merchant risk, operational risk, fraud detection, or compliance monitoring
• Strong understanding of merchant services, payment processing, and regulatory frameworks
• Experience working with risk assessment tools, fraud detection software, and data analytics platforms
• Ability to analyze large data sets to identify trends and risk patterns
• Strong investigative skills with attention to detail and critical thinking abilities
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to present findings to stakeholders
• Proficiency in Excel, SQL, and risk management software is a plus
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and manage multiple priorities

Benefits

• 100% paid coverage of medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid time off (PTO)
• Opportunities for professional growth and development
• 401k matching
• Health & wellness initiatives