Associate Merchant Risk Analyst

About Sezzle: 

With a mission to financially empower the next generation, Sezzle is revolutionizing the shopping experience beyond payments, blending cutting-edge tech with seamless, interest-free installment plans that make shopping smarter and more accessible. We’re not just transforming payments; we’re redefining how people discover, interact with, and purchase the things they love while driving real impact on merchant sales through increased conversions and higher order values. As we continue to shape the future of fintech and retail, we’re building an innovative, dynamic team passionate about creating more than just a transaction but a truly unique shopping journey. If you’re excited about pushing boundaries in tech and delivering a game-changing experience for consumers and merchants alike, come join us at Sezzle and help create the future of shopping! 

About the Role: 

We are seeking a talented and motivated Merchant Risk Analyst who is best in class with a high IQ plus a high EQ. This role presents an exciting opportunity to thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment within a rapidly growing team, with abundant prospects for career advancement. 

Sezzle currently partners with over 20,000 active merchants to offer their customers the ability to split orders into 4 interest-free payments over 6 weeks. As a Merchant Risk Analyst, you will be responsible for ensuring that none of our merchant partners are exhibiting behaviors that could negatively impact Sezzle or our customers. This means constantly monitoring all of our current merchant partners, as well as declining unsuitable merchants at the time of application. Essentially, it is your job to set and maintain a certain level of excellence for the merchants that Sezzle chooses to partner itself with and offer its services to. Analysts will also make recommendations to our management on how to improve and scale our processes.

We are looking for a teammate who can work full-time Tuesday through Saturday between 9:00 am - 5:30 pm - Central Time. This will be a salaried, contractor position. 

What You'll Do: 

• Actively analyze merchant applications by evaluating risk scores, products, and policies 
• Investigate high-risk merchant account activity to minimize loss from fraud and reputational risks 
• Communicate and coordinate processes between teams to refine the merchant approval process
• Write and execute queries in MySQL to analyze merchant information and performance metrics 
• Analyze merchant reputational risk based on customer NPS reviews
• Work as a mediator between the Merchant Success and Support teams to resolve merchant risk-related issues and provide guidance on overall risk tolerance and policy 
• Improve current merchant fraud detection framework to find fraud more effectively 
• Perform extensive analysis on ways the merchant approval process can be streamlined and automated and challenge the status quo by working collaboratively, as well as independently, on projects focused on improving methods, policies, and internal tools. 

What We Look For: 

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution 
• Minimum 1 year of experience in risk management, fraud or financial crime prevention operations 
• Experienced in analyzing data and comfortable making impactful decisions in a fast-paced and sometimes ambiguous environment
• Work experience with MYSQL, PostgreSQL 
• Attention to detail and ability to multitask 
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills 
• Strong business judgment and communication skills 
• Ability to self-start and work with minimal supervision after training 
• Demonstrated experience working with Claude or equivalent large language model tools is required; candidates must be comfortable leveraging AI to enhance productivity, research, and communication.

Preferred Qualifications 

• 2+ years of experience in real-world analytical experience in merchant/business fraud and credit risk management, fraud or financial crime prevention operations in e-commerce, banking, fintech or financial institutions is a plus 
• Ideal candidate will be available to start within two weeks following an offer

About You: 

• You have relentlessly high standards - many people may think your standards are unreasonably high. You are continually raising the bar and driving those around you to deliver great results. You make sure that defects do not get sent down the line and that problems are fixed so they stay fixed. 
• You’re not bound by convention - your success—and much of the fun—lies in developing new ways to do things
• You need action - speed matters in business. Many decisions and actions are reversible and do not need extensive study. We value calculated risk-taking. 
• You earn trust - you listen attentively, speak candidly, and treat others respectfully. 
• You have backbone; disagree, then commit - you can respectfully challenge decisions when you disagree, even when doing so is uncomfortable or exhausting. You have conviction and are tenacious. You do not compromise for the sake of social cohesion. Once a decision is determined, you commit wholly. 
• You deliver results - you focus on the key inputs and deliver them with the right quality and in a timely fashion. Despite setbacks, you rise to the occasion and never settle. 

What Makes Working at Sezzle Awesome: 

At Sezzle, we are more than just brilliant engineers, passionate data enthusiasts, out-of-the-box thinkers, and determined innovators. We believe in surrounding ourselves with only the best and the brightest individuals. Our culture is not defined by a certain set of perks designed to give the illusion of the traditional startup culture, but rather, it is the visible example living in every employee that we hire. 

Compensation: The compensation range for the role is $1,800 - $2,000 USD GROSS monthly as a contractor. Our ranges are very broad to accommodate all types of candidates and encourage growth. Specific compensation offered to a candidate may be dependent on factors such as education, experience, qualifications, and alignment with market data. Exceptional candidates may receive salaries outside of the posted ranges.