Risk & Compliance Specialist

About Polar

Polar develops a cutting-edge billing platform tailored for modern startups that need rapid iteration speed in monetizing software. Our solution combines billing and analytics to provide real-time customer and feature unit economics, along with built-in pricing insights, simulations, and optimizations. We also ensure compliance with international regulations, handle tax management, and prevent fraud to support scaling innovative software companies.

Role Overview

As a Risk & Compliance Specialist, you will help safeguard the Polar platform's integrity by evaluating merchant applications, monitoring ongoing accounts for risk, and ensuring all activity aligns with company policies and payment partner standards. Collaborating closely with Merchant Support, Product, and Operations teams, you will strike the balance between a smooth merchant experience and diligent risk control.

Key Responsibilities

• Assess new merchants for eligibility on the Polar platform during application review.
• Conduct continuous reviews of merchant accounts to detect changes in activity or potential risks.
• Evaluate merchant adherence to Polar's Acceptable Use Policy and other platform regulations.
• Investigate potential fraud cases, payment risk signals, disputes, chargebacks, and suspicious activities.
• Handle merchant offboarding, placing payout holds, and other required risk mitigation steps.
• Collaborate with payment partners and internal teams to resolve compliance and account issues.
• Document decisions clearly and maintain consistent internal protocols.
• Identify opportunities to enhance risk workflows, tools, and process efficiency.
• Stay alert to emerging abuse patterns and escalate significant or complex risks to leadership.

Candidate Profile

We seek a professional passionate about addressing intricate risk problems, adept at making sound judgements, and committed to protecting platform integrity. You must thrive in analyzing details amidst ambiguity and be capable of balancing compliance with providing a positive merchant experience. Clear communication and empathetic explanation of tough decisions are essential.

Required Qualifications & Skills

• Minimum of 2 years’ experience in Risk Operations, Trust & Safety, Compliance, Fraud Operations, Payments, or Merchant Operations.
• Strong analytical and investigative abilities with keen attention to detail.
• Excellent written communication skills for explaining complex decisions professionally.
• Proven experience examining accounts, detecting fraud, and assessing merchant risk.
• Ability to juggle competing priorities and consistently make well-reasoned decisions.
• Comfortable collaborating cross-functionally with Support, Product, and third-party payment providers.
• Knowledge of SQL for data investigation and risk signal validation is advantageous.

Onboarding Plan

First 30 Days – Learning:
Become acquainted with Polar's products, merchant onboarding procedures, Merchant of Record model, Acceptable Use Policy, and review workflows. Shadow existing review and investigation processes and start assessing low-risk merchant applications with guidance.

First 60 Days – Implementing:
Independently conduct new merchant and account reviews. Investigate fraud alerts, disputes, and payment risks. Manage routine offboarding and payout holds. Begin enhancing documentation and risk review procedures.

First 90 Days – Contributing:
Take ownership of merchant reviews from assessment through final decision with thorough documentation. Handle complex compliance cases, identify risk trends, and suggest operational improvements. Partner with Product, Support, and Operations to refine workflows and improve merchant experience.