Payments Underwriting Manager Needed

We’re looking for an experienced Payments Underwriting Manager to join our team in Brentwood, Tennessee and play a key role in shaping how we assess and manage risk across our merchant portfolio. In this role, you’ll lead a team of Underwriting Analysts responsible for merchant onboarding, underwriting review, and ongoing portfolio risk management. You’ll own underwriting decisions—from approvals and declines to conditional approvals—while ensuring alignment with card network rules, sponsor bank requirements, and internal risk policies. This is an opportunity to combine strong people leadership with sound risk judgment in a collaborative, fast-paced payments environment.

Responsibilities: 

• Lead, develop, and manage a team of Underwriting Analysts, including hiring, onboarding, performance management, coaching, and employee relations.


• Oversee daily underwriting operations, including queues, escalations, staffing coverage, PTO planning, and workload distribution.


• Make final underwriting decisions on merchant approvals, declines, and conditional approvals.


• Review financials, business models, and key risk indicators to assess merchant risk.


• Approve processing limits, reserves, and funding conditions; escalate exceptions as needed.


• Monitor portfolio performance related to chargebacks, fraud, and overall exposure.


• Analyze risk trends and implement proactive loss mitigation strategies.


• Partner cross-functionally with Sales, Compliance, Operations, and Banking teams.


• Communicate underwriting decisions clearly and effectively to internal stakeholders.


• Maintain underwriting policies, procedures, and training documentation.


• Ensure audit readiness and compliance with card brand, sponsor bank, and internal risk requirements.

Experience & Requirements:

• Brentwood, TN - based position 


• 3–5+ years of experience in payments underwriting, risk, or a related field.


• Prior experience managing and developing teams.


• Working knowledge of platforms such as TSYS, Global, Fiserv, Paysafe, EVO, and MES.


• Strong judgment, communication, and leadership capabilities.


• Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment.


• Demonstrated discretion and ability to handle sensitive information.

Reports to: Director of Risk Management

Start date: Immediate

Employment type: Full-time; Exempt

Benefits: We provide a comprehensive benefits package including health insurance, dental, vision, life insurance, identify theft protection, paid time off, and 401k (4% match)

To learn more about our company, please visit Celero Commerce LinkedIn or Facebook pages: 

Celero Commerce provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

Please Note: Celero Commerce participates in E-Verify and performs background checks on all new hires. We will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with information from each new employee’s form I-9 to confirm work authorization. 

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