Underwriting- Payments

About the Role

An exciting opportunity has opened up for an experienced Underwriter to join a dynamic and fast-scaling Electronic Money Institution (EMI) based in Central London. Operating at the forefront of digital payments, this organization is committed to delivering secure, scalable, and compliant payment solutions for a diverse client base. As part of the Risk & Compliance function, you’ll play a key role in shaping the underwriting strategy, supporting client onboarding, and driving sustainable business growth.

What You’ll Be Doing

This role is based onsite in London and will involve building and evolving the underwriting framework to support business expansion. You’ll lead efforts to assess financial crime risk, creditworthiness, operational robustness, and reputational factors of prospective and existing clients. Collaborating across compliance, sales, onboarding, and operations teams, your goal will be to ensure thorough risk assessment and smooth onboarding processes.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and enhance underwriting policies and procedures aligned with business objectives
• Assess new and existing clients across various industries
• Evaluate business models, ownership structures, and financial information to identify risk
• Conduct in-depth analysis of financial statements including P&L, balance sheets, and cash flow
• Identify and escalate financial crime or regulatory concerns
• Collaborate with compliance teams to ensure AML, CTF, and regulatory requirements are met
• Prepare concise and insightful risk assessments and recommendations for internal stakeholders and committees
• Monitor client risk profiles and conduct periodic reviews
• Maintain and update relevant policies and procedural documentation
• Support recruitment, mentoring, and development of underwriting team members

What We’re Looking For:

• Strong experience in underwriting, onboarding, or risk, ideally in payments, fintech, banking, or EMI environments
• Strong understanding of the payments landscape and related risk considerations
• Familiarity with UK regulatory requirements (FCA, AML, KYC, etc.)
• Proven ability to interpret financials and assess complex business structures
• Strong analytical skills with excellent attention to detail and sound judgment
• Ability to communicate risk insights clearly and effectively to various stakeholders
• Proactive, adaptable, and comfortable working in a fast-paced environment
• Experience leading or mentoring a team

Desirable Experience:

• Exposure to high-risk sectors
• Knowledge of card scheme rules (Visa/Mastercard)
• Familiarity with tools such as Sumsub, WorldCheck, Webshield
• Relevant certifications in compliance or risk (e.g. ICA or equivalent)