Associate Merchant Risk Analyst

About the role

The role sets and maintains excellence standards for merchant partners as part of a rapidly growing risk team. It guides merchant approval decisions and recommends process improvements to support company growth.

Analysts turn data into clear answers. They pull numbers, clean data, build dashboards, and explain what changed and why. The work supports decisions across sales, product, marketing, and operations. Strong analysts pair technical skill with business curiosity. Analysts are the bridge between data and decisions. Most analysts own recurring reports and are expected to improve them over time.

Key facts

What you'll do

Merchant application risk is evaluated by assessing risk scores, products, and policies to determine partnership suitability. Potential fraud and reputational loss are reduced by investigating high-risk merchant account activity. Merchant approval processes are refined through communication and coordination across teams. Merchant information and performance metrics are analyzed by writing and executing queries in MySQL. Customer NPS reviews are used to analyze merchant reputational risk. The merchant fraud detection framework is enhanced to identify fraud more effectively. Methods, policies, and internal tools for merchant approval are improved through extensive analysis of streamlining and automation, with work done collaboratively and independently.

Requirements

A Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution is required. At least 1 year of experience in risk management, fraud, or financial crime prevention operations is required. Data analysis experience is necessary, along with the ability to make impactful decisions in a fast-paced and sometimes ambiguous environment. Work experience with MYSQL and PostgreSQL is required. Attention to detail and the ability to multitask are required. Strong problem-solving and analytical skills are required. Sound business judgment and communication skills are required. The ability to self-start and work with minimal supervision after training is required. Experience working with Claude or equivalent large language model tools is required, using AI to enhance productivity, research, and communication. Full-time availability Tuesday through Saturday, 9:00 am to 5:30 pm Central Time is required.

Nice to have

Real-world analytical experience in merchant or business fraud and credit risk management within e-commerce, banking, fintech, or financial institutions for 2+ years is preferred. Availability to start within two weeks following an offer is preferred.

Practical notes

This is a salaried contractor position requiring full-time availability Tuesday through Saturday, 9:00 am to 5:30 pm Central Time. The role operates within a rapidly growing risk team at Sezzle. Typical interview steps

Analyst interviews often include a SQL or spreadsheet exercise, a case question, and behavioral rounds. Candidates may be asked to analyze a dataset, define a metric, or estimate an outcome. Presenting findings clearly is tested as often as the analysis itself. Interviewers often test speed and clarity with a timed exercise. Explaining what the numbers mean, not just what they are, is the differentiator.

Good to know

Risk analysts evaluate merchant behavior to protect company and customer interests. The role uses data queries and reviews to guide approval decisions. Strong judgment and clear communication help align risk with business growth. Analysts refine processes, test improvements, and document findings. This position uses data analysis and AI tools to support merchant risk management.

Career growth

Analyst careers can grow into senior analyst, analytics manager, or data science roles. Some analysts move into product or business operations. Deeper technical skills or broader business ownership are the two main paths. Analyst roles are a common on-ramp into product, marketing, or operations leadership. Building deep domain knowledge alongside analytics is the fastest path.