Senior Business Analyst - Payments Risk

We are hiring for this position out of our Toronto office. Successful candidates who apply outside of these areas will be expected to relocate and reside in a location that is within a commutable distance.  

Role Overview:

The role is focused on overseeing risk management activities across the Cards and Payments domain, with responsibilities spanning issuing, acquiring, funds transfer, and settlement processes. This includes monitoring client obligations, identifying emerging risks, and coordinating remedial actions to mitigate financial, operational, and reputational exposure.

The individual works closely with internal stakeholders to ensure timely and effective resolution of risk events, leveraging a deep understanding of payment systems and transaction flows. They are responsible for analyzing client behavior and transaction data to detect anomalies, assess exposure, and recommend targeted interventions. The role also involves producing regular reporting on risk indicators, client performance, and control effectiveness, while maintaining oversight of key risk metrics and watchlists.

A key aspect of the role includes collaborating with cross-functional teams such as Compliance, Legal, and Operations to support investigations, implement controls, and ensure alignment with regulatory expectations. The position also contributes to strategic initiatives by providing insights into risk trends, supporting policy development, and enhancing monitoring frameworks for high-risk activities.

About The Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Finance, Economics, Business or a related field required
• professional certifications (e.g., CAMS, CFE, FRM) are a strong plus
• Minimum 5 years of experience in risk analysis or operations within payments, merchant acquiring, card issuing, or fintech environments.
• Strong understanding of card network rules (Visa, Mastercard) and regulatory frameworks such as BSA/AML, OFAC, and PCI-DSS.
• Functional knowledge of Canadian Payments Landscape and functional knowledge of Payments.
• Experience and or knowledge of transaction monitoring systems and risk scoring models - especially in high-volume or high-risk merchant environments.
• Proficiency in data analytics tools (e.g., Power BI, Excel) to extract insights and build risk dashboards.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to present findings to senior leadership and cross-functional teams.
• Demonstrated ability to work in fast-paced, ambiguous environments, balancing strategic thinking with hands-on execution.

About The Day-To-Day:

• Monitor and assess risk exposure across sponsored merchant portfolios. Execute monitoring procedures for risk assessment from the Payments and Cards Client relationship. Support timely and accurate completion of business processes around client monitoring.
• Conduct due diligence and ongoing risk reviews of ISO partners, Payment Service Providers, and sponsored merchants to ensure compliance with card network rules and internal policies.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to evaluate risk across Acquiring portfolio, ensuring alignment with enterprise risk appetite.
• Proactively investigate, refer or escalate operation issues as needed based on clear understanding of the issue, connecting with appropriate department/ partner to facilitate resolution and ensure that service quality is maintained.
• Actively apply critical thoughts to existing tools, controls and processes, make recommendations and test solutions.
• Support regulatory audits and card brand reviews, preparing documentation and responses related to acquiring risk
• Develop and refine risk models and scoring frameworks for Cards & Payments Partners.
• Stay current on Visa, Mastercard rules and interpret their impact on acquiring operations.

About Us:

Peoples Group is a boutique financial institution with offices located in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, and Montreal that has been in the Canadian marketplace for over 35 years. Our mission is to exceed our customers' expectations by providing exceptional customer service backed by extensive product knowledge and experience. 

Our culture here at Peoples Group is formed by our values: Trustworthy, Creative, Willing. We believe people don't choose a company to work for, they choose a company to join. We prioritize risk-based practices and procedures in order to remain risk intelligent and compliant. We value people, building relationships, and focusing on strengths; we execute with passion. 

About The Work Environment:

Peoples Group offers a flexible and hybrid work environment. In this role you will work a combination of in-office and remotely from home. Typically, you'll be working regular business hours, Monday to Friday between 8:00am and 4:30pm with flexibility around start/end times. 

We Offer:

• A hybrid work environment, enabling you to balance your personal and professional life seamlessly. 
• Competitive salaries, profit sharing, RRSP matching and benefits from day one. 
• Generous paid time off to help achieve a healthy work-life balance. 
• A strengths-based approach, ensuring we work together more effectively. 
• A commitment to your well-being in five key areas: Financial, Physical, Social, Career, and Community. 

NOTE:  This job posting is for an existing vacancy. Peoples Group is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. Please accept our utmost appreciation for your interest; however, only those applicants under consideration will be contacted. 

We value and celebrate individuality while fostering an inclusive workplace for everyone. If there's any way we can support or accommodate you during the selection process, please don't hesitate to let us know.