Wio Bank is redefining banking in the region through a digital-first, data-driven approach. As we continue to scale our payments and merchant acquiring capabilities, we are looking for a Lead – Merchant Underwriting & Fraud Risk to play a critical role in safeguarding growth, strengthening controls, and enabling secure innovation.This role sits at the intersection of risk, fraud, compliance, payments, and product, and is ideal for a senior professional with deep expertise in merchant risk within banking or digital payments environments.???? Key ResponsibilitiesMerchant Underwriting & OnboardingLead end-to-end merchant risk assessments, including KYC/KYB, digital footprint analysis, financial health reviews, and MATCH/VMSS screening Design, implement, and continuously enhance tiered underwriting frameworks for SMEs, corporates, and higher-risk merchant segments Partner closely with Sales, Compliance, Operations, and Product teams to enable efficient yet robust merchant onboarding Develop underwriting playbooks tailored to different merchant verticals (e-commerce, retail, travel, F&B, high-risk services, etc.) Fraud & Transaction Risk ManagementDefine and oversee fraud monitoring strategies across card-not-present (CNP), POS, and alternative payment channels Establish early-warning indicators including velocity checks, chargeback monitoring, BIN attack detection, and anomaly detection Work with internal teams and external fraud technology partners (e.g. Feedzai, Onlayer, Riskified) to enhance fraud detection models Lead fraud investigations and deliver root-cause analysis with clear mitigation actions Risk Policy, Governance & Regulatory AlignmentOwn merchant onboarding and continuous monitoring policies aligned with CBUAE regulations, AML/CFT requirements, FATF guidelines, and internal risk appetite Manage merchant risk rating frameworks, escalation triggers, and periodic reviews Support internal audits, regulatory reviews, and risk reporting related to merchant acquiring and payments Cross-Functional LeadershipCollaborate with Product, Technology, and Data teams to build automated decisioning, dashboards, and scalable risk controls Act as a subject-matter expert on merchant risk for new product launches, new verticals, and market expansion initiatives Provide training and guidance to internal stakeholders on merchant risk awareness and fraud typologies ???? Required Experience & Skills7–10 years of experience in merchant acquiring risk, underwriting, or fraud prevention within a bank, digital bank, PSP, or fintech Strong understanding of merchant fraud typologies, chargebacks, and high-risk business models Solid knowledge of CBUAE regulatory frameworks, AML/KYC/KYB standards, PCI-DSS, and GCC acquiring practices Hands-on experience with fraud and risk platforms such as Feedzai, Actimize, Onlayer, SAS, Taktile, or similar tools Ability to balance risk discipline with commercial enablement Strong analytical capability and excellent stakeholder-management skills PreferredExperience working with UAE and GCC merchants and regulators Exposure to digital onboarding, wallets, instant payments, BNPL, or marketplace models Arabic language skills are an advantage but not mandatory