Senior Credit Underwriter

Senior Credit Underwriter

Who We Are Welcome to KORT Payments, where innovation meets excellence! We specialize in providing a state‑of‑the‑art omnichannel payments platform designed to make business transactions a breeze. Our mission is to empower businesses with top‑notch capabilities in compliance, risk management, and payment processing. Our trailblazing, enterprise‑grade platform, coupled with a veteran management team, ensures we stay ahead of the curve in delivering unparalleled service and satisfaction.

Location: Irvine (California), Toronto, Montreal, or remote.

Employment Type: Full‑time, exempt, new role.

Salary: $90,000 – $110,000 (actual compensation will be determined based on location, experience, and role requirements and will comply with applicable local pay transparency laws).

The Senior Credit Underwriter is responsible for independently underwriting and onboarding merchant payment processing accounts across a broad spectrum of risk profiles. This role plays a critical leadership position within the underwriting function, providing subject‑matter expertise on both high‑ and low‑risk merchants, supporting policy development, and driving continuous improvement in underwriting workflows, controls, and service levels.

• Independently underwrite complex merchant payment processing applications, including high‑risk, restricted, and newly emerging business models
• Perform comprehensive KYC/KYB due diligence, including business validation, ownership and principal reviews, credit analysis, and bank account verification
• Assess merchant risk exposure and recommend appropriate risk mitigation strategies such as reserves, funding delays, processing limits, or enhanced monitoring
• Apply and interpret card network rules, sponsor bank requirements, internal risk policies, and regulatory compliance standards
• Provide subject‑matter expertise on underwriting decisions involving escalations, exceptions, and non‑standard structures
• Assist in the development, documentation, and ongoing refinement of underwriting policies and procedures, particularly for restricted and emerging industry verticals
• Partner with Risk, Compliance, Sales, and Operations teams to support efficient onboarding while maintaining strong risk controls
• Identify opportunities to streamline underwriting workflows, improve turnaround times, and enhance SLA performance
• Support internal and external audits by providing documentation, rationale, and underwriting guidance as required
• Mentor and support junior underwriting analysts through knowledge sharing, case review, and informal coaching
• Navigate multiple underwriting, CRM, and risk systems to document decisions, maintain accurate records, and manage application pipelines
• Perform periodic reviews of existing merchant accounts and support portfolio risk management initiatives
• Perform additional duties as needed to support departmental and company objectives

• Minimum of 5–7 years of direct experience in merchant acquiring underwriting within the payments industry
• Demonstrated experience underwriting both low‑risk and high‑risk merchant accounts, including complex or non‑traditional business models
• Strong understanding of card network rules, sponsor bank requirements, and payment industry risk frameworks
• Proven ability to evaluate financial statements, processing data, credit reports, and business models to assess risk
• Experience contributing to the creation or enhancement of underwriting policies, procedures, and risk guidelines
• Demonstrated history of streamlining underwriting workflows, improving operational efficiency, and meeting or exceeding SLAs
• Excellent analytical, judgment, and decision‑making skills with a strong attention to detail
• Strong communication and relationship‑building skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across teams and seniority levels
• Ability to work independently in a fast‑paced, remote environment while managing competing priorities
• High level of professionalism, integrity, and accountability in handling sensitive financial and merchant information
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel, Word, and Outlook