Vice President of Merchant Credit Risk Management

Synchrony Financial
Chicago, US
Hybrid

Job Description

Role Summary: The Vice President of Merchant Credit Risk Management is a key leadership position within our credit fraud acquisitions strategy team. In this role, you will oversee merchant underwriting, monitoring, and risk operations, working closely with Credit & Fraud teams and other important stakeholders.

Our Way of Working: At our company, we believe in flexibility. You have the option to work from home, near one of our hubs, or come into one of our offices. Occasionally, travel for in-person meetings or training may be required.

Essential Responsibilities:

  • Lead a team of 7 professionals focused on mitigating merchant credit and fraud risk through effective underwriting and monitoring programs.
  • Contribute to Portfolio Credit Manager duties, including industry reviews and driving strategy improvements.
  • Develop a thorough understanding of the merchant underwriting process and related fraud controls, addressing identity theft and various fraud types.
  • Collaborate with stakeholders to enhance loss-avoidance initiatives and strengthen risk controls.
  • Work with Credit teams and clients to support portfolio growth while adhering to a disciplined risk appetite.
  • Create and implement enhanced monitoring strategies to identify emerging risks and manage credit exposure.
  • Uphold bank credit policies and ensure compliance within underwriting processes.
  • Prepare and present client-facing and internal reports on portfolio performance and risk themes.
  • Monitor operational risks and propose process improvements.
  • Drive strategy enhancements by applying champion/challenger approaches to manage credit and fraud risk.
  • Participate in collaboration with Finance, Client Development, and Marketing to align business plans.
  • Address customer and client issues through root-cause analysis and improvement of the overall experience.
  • Provide support through analytics and reporting for leadership decisions and special projects.

Qualifications:

  • Bachelor's degree with 8+ years in a commercial Credit/Risk role; or 10+ years in lieu of degree.
  • 5+ years’ experience in credit risk/fraud strategy development.
  • Proficient in SAS/SQL/Python with 5+ years of experience.
  • Able to navigate uncertainty and work collaboratively across teams.

Desired Characteristics:

  • Leadership experience operating strategically in cross-functional teams.
  • Advanced technical and analytical skills for effective goal achievement within functional areas.
  • Solid understanding of the consumer credit lending lifecycle and card programs.
  • Knowledge of credit and fraud models.
  • Exceptional communication skills with the ability to influence.
  • Proven ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.
  • Experience working with off-shore teams.
  • Master's Degree or MBA with an analytics focus is a plus.

Compensation: The salary range for this position is between $155,000 and $260,000, with eligibility for an annual bonus based on both individual and company performance. Compensation may vary based on experience and market conditions.

Eligibility Requirements: Applicants must be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or equivalent. You may be required to take a drug test and undergo a background investigation. Legal authorization to work in the U.S. is required; we will not sponsor employment visas for this position.

Our Commitment: We are committed to an inclusive culture where diversity is celebrated. When you join us, your skills and voice will be valued. More than 50% of our workforce participates in Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) that foster community and support.

Reasonable Accommodation Notice: If you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for this job, please inform us. We are here to support your needs throughout the application process.

Skills & Requirements

Technical Skills

SasSqlPythonCredit riskFraud strategyCredit policiesRisk controlsLeadershipCommunicationAnalytical skillsProject managementCredit risk managementFraud preventionPortfolio management

Salary

$155,000+

year

Employment Type

FULL TIME

Level

mid

Posted

4/10/2026

Apply Now

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