Vice President, Underwriting

Kurv

Vice President of Underwriting shaping underwriting strategies and leading risk management in the payments domain. Focused on balancing growth and risk with data-driven insights and automation.

Posted 6/30/2026full-timeRemote • 🌎 Anywhere in the WorldLeadWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Define and execute a forward-looking underwriting strategy aligned to corporate growth targets, risk appetite, and capital efficiency objectives.
Establish and maintain dynamic risk tolerance frameworks segmented by vertical, channel, and product type.
Partner with Sales, Product, Finance, and Compliance to embed risk-adjusted decisioning into go-to-market strategy.
Oversee end-to-end merchant underwriting across SMB, mid-market, and enterprise segments.
Develop and maintain underwriting policy, exception governance, and escalation protocols.
Monitor portfolio performance metrics (loss rates, chargeback exposure, fraud indicators, concentration risk) and proactively recalibrate underwriting criteria.
Support with the implementation of predictive modeling and machine learning capabilities to enhance risk scoring and pricing precision.
Drive underwriting automation and straight-through processing to improve speed-to-decision while preserving control integrity.
Optimize workflow design, capacity planning, and service-level standards to support scalable growth.
Build robust QA and second-line review mechanisms to ensure policy adherence and regulatory compliance.
Ensure underwriting practices comply with card brand rules, sponsor bank requirements, AML/BSA standards, and applicable state and federal regulations.
Maintain strong documentation, audit trails, and defensible decision frameworks.
Serve as primary underwriting liaison during regulatory exams, sponsor bank reviews, and internal audits.
Champion data-driven decisioning, including integration of alternative data sources and third-party risk intelligence tools.
Collaborate with Technology and Data teams to modernize underwriting systems and reduce manual friction points.
Leverage analytics to identify emerging industry risk trends and proactively adjust exposure.
Recruit, develop, and retain high-performing underwriting and risk professionals.
Establish a culture of accountability, analytical rigor, and commercial partnership.
Create clear performance KPIs tied to portfolio outcomes and operational efficiency.

Requirements

What you’ll need

10+ years of progressive underwriting or credit risk leadership experience within payments, fintech, merchant acquiring, or financial services.
Deep expertise in merchant risk, card-not-present exposure, chargeback management, fraud typologies, and high-risk vertical underwriting.
Demonstrated experience scaling underwriting functions in high-growth environments.
Strong knowledge of card network rules, sponsor bank frameworks, AML/BSA expectations, and regulatory risk management principles.
Proven track record of leveraging analytics, automation, and technology to modernize risk operations.
Executive-level communication skills with the ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders and board-level audiences.

Benefits

Comp & perks

Health insurance
401(k) matching
Flexible working hours
Paid time off
Professional development opportunities

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

Underwriting Policy DevelopmentPredictive ModelingMachine Learning ImplementationChargeback ManagementFraud Risk AnalysisPortfolio Performance MonitoringAutomation of Underwriting ProcessesKPI Creation and ManagementRisk Tolerance FrameworksHigh-Risk Vertical Underwriting

Soft Skills

Executive-Level CommunicationInfluencing StakeholdersTeam DevelopmentAccountability Culture BuildingAnalytical Rigor