Merchant Acquiring Risk And Governance Manager

Take the next step toward your new career today!

Become a part of the diverse and inclusive team within our nationally recognized award-winning Bank that is one of the strongest in the nation. Woodforest National Bank is privately owned, and our Employee Stock Ownership Plan is the largest shareholder. We focus on building relationships and discovering opportunities to better serve our communities and understand the financial needs of every customer we serve. At Woodforest we care and prove it by volunteering with local charities and foodbanks to give back to the communities we serve. By joining Woodforest you will become a part of one of the largest employee-owned banks in the country!

The Merchant Acquiring Risk and Governance Manager is responsible for reviewing, monitoring and providing guidance and oversight on merchant acquiring operations conducted by the bank's subsidiary, ISO partners, other third parties (e.g., Third Party Processors), and merchant customers while aligning with regulatory and card brand requirements.

This role ensures the Bank maintains appropriate governance, risk management, and control over the bank's subsidiary-related merchant acquiring activities, while streamlining the oversight process to avoid unnecessary operational burden and duplication.

Key Responsibilities:

• Serves as the primary liaison between the bank and the bank's subsidiary for merchant acquiring oversight matters.
• Oversees the approval and challenge of underwriting decisions for merchants, ISOs and large exposures presented by the bank subsidiary.
• Reviews and evaluates new business verticals proposed by the bank subsidiary, providing clear recommendations to the Director of BaaS regarding approval, conditions, or restrictions.
• Develops and maintains formal risk analyses for business verticals, ISOs, and large merchants to support Bank decision-making and risk acceptance.
• Oversees underwriting, risk and compliance audits to ensure compliance with bank's underwriting policy, card brand rules and regulatory requirements.

Competencies Required

• Business acumen with strong working knowledge of merchant acquiring operations including underwriting, risk management and compliance.
• Strong ability to evaluate new business models, verticals, and partner structures from a risk and regulatory perspective.
• Experience reviewing policies and governance frameworks with emphasis on clear control ownership and accountability.
• Solid technology abilities, including proficiency with Microsoft applications and merchant processing systems.
• Excellent communication and relationship management skills; ability to influence and present to executive stakeholders.
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to prioritize workload, multi-task and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment while maintaining accuracy and strong attention to detail.
• Ability to create reports and presentations for executive level audiences.
• Exercises sound business judgment and independent discretion in decision making, with an ability to clearly express rationale and deliver defensible recommendations.
• Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to synthesize data from a multiple sources and recommend appropriate actions.
• Self-starter effective at working independently under minimal supervision while supporting a team environment.

Minimum Qualifications/Experience

• 5-7 years merchant acquiring industry experience with exposure to underwriting, risk management and compliance.

Formal Education and Certification

• High school diploma or equivalent required
• Bachelor's degree preferred.

Work Status

• Full-Time

Supervisory Responsibility

• Merchant Acquiring team

Travel

• Up to 10% of travel expected

Working Conditions

• Conditions involve lifting no more than 10 pounds, sitting most of the time, but may involve walking, moving, standing for brief periods, and occasionally lifting and carrying articles like files, ledgers, folders, etc.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Nothing herein restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

Woodforest is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including Disability and Veterans.