Manager, Payment Risk & Optimization - Americas

Richemont, one of the world leaders in the luxury sector, has various Houses specializing in jewelry, watches and high-end accessories. Each Maison proudly embodies a tradition of style, quality and craftsmanship and Richemont strives to preserve the heritage and identity specific to each of them. At the same time, we are committed to innovating and designing new products in line with the values ​​of our Houses, through a process of permanent creativity.

At Richemont Americas, we aspire to reflect the ever-changing world around us. We are proud to employ talent from many different backgrounds, experiences, and identities to build a continually evolving, inclusive community where the diversity of our colleagues and clients is rich and celebrated. We believe when inclusion is fully embraced and empowered, creativity and knowledge emerge to deliver excellence, advancing the community that is uniquely Richemont Americas.

Manager, Payment Risk & Optimization - Americas

Finance | Shelton, CT

Reports to: VP, Retail Finance, Americas

Role Overview

This role represents a strategic leadership evolution within Richemont’s Finance organization. Moving beyond traditional operational fraud prevention, the Payment & Risk Optimization Manager is mandated to define, lead, and execute the holistic B2C payment-funnel and risk optimization strategy across all Richemont Maisons.

The Manager serves as a strategic leader and key business partner to Maison Executive Leadership, Finance, E-Commerce, and Technology teams. Leveraging advanced data analytics, payment intelligence, and fraud strategy, the position balances maximum payment acceptance, conversion performance, and customer experience with robust, scalable fraud governance and loss prevention.

MISSION: Responsible for identifying points of friction in the performance of the B2C payment funnel — from authentication through to authorization — across all B2C channels (omnichannel).

The job holder works closely with the Customer Payment Services (CPS) Team and acts as a strategic business partner to Maisons, Finance, and Technology teams — leveraging data insights, payment intelligence, and fraud expertise to continuously improve payment acceptance performance while maintaining robust fraud prevention.

Responsibilities

STRATEGIC FRAUD GOVERNANCE & VENDOR MANAGEMENT (40% of working time)

• Strategic Fraud Tool Governance: Lead the overarching strategy, optimization, and contract/performance management of key fraud vendors (e.g., Forter, Adyen Revenue Protect) across all B2C channels and Maisons.
• Algorithmic & AI Governance: Establish guidelines and oversight to mitigate machine learning bias within automated fraud decisioning tools, ensuring fair, compliant, and accurate outcomes across diverse client segments.
• Automation & Efficiency Targets: Set strategic targets to maintain automated decisioning above 98%, minimizing manual review friction while protecting client experience and net revenue.
• Dispute & Chargeback Governance: Oversee end-to-end chargeback, dispute, and lost/missing parcel management processes. Define policy guidelines and monitor card scheme threshold compliance (Visa, Mastercard,American Express) to eliminate financial loss and program penalty risks.
• Holistic Performance Tracking: Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) and Objectives & Key Results (OKRs) covering prevented fraud, missed fraud, false decline rates, and net revenue impact.

 PAYMENT FUNNEL OPTIMIZATION & COMMERCIAL GROWTH (40% of working time)

• End-to-End Funnel Performance: Drive strategic performance management of the B2C payment funnel pillars (Authentication, authorisation, conversion)
• Issuing Bank & Partner Advocacy: Drive high-level discussions with strategic payment service providers (e.g., Adyen), card schemes, and key issuing banks to challenge underperforming issuers, reduce false declines, and optimize authorisation rates.
• Authentication Strategy (3DS / SCA): Lead cross-functional strategy to optimize 3D Secure and SCA friction, identifying regional checkout friction points and implementing frictionless authentication flows.
• Executive & Maison Partnership: Partner with Maison E-Commerce Directors and Commercial Leaders to turn complex payment data into strategic business recommendations that increase approval rates and elevate luxury client satisfaction.

BUSINESS PARTNERING, TRAINING & CAPABILITY BUILDING (20% of working time)

• Strategic Business Partnering: Serve as the senior Subject Matter Expert (SME) and primary escalation point for regional Maison Leadership, Retail Directors, Finance, Legal, Security, on all B2C payment risk and optimisation matters.
• Performance Analytics & Client Journey Enhancement: Continuously review and evaluate risk and payment performance metrics across all channels, transforming complex data into strategic business insights and actionable recommendations for Maison leadership to reduce customer friction and elevate the end-to-end client journey while reducing fraud.
• Culture Shift: Champion a cultural transformation across all Maisons from a traditional "fraud-blocking" mindset to a revenue-maximising, client-centric payment optimization approach.
• Regional B2C Data Coordination & Business Support:  B2C Payment and Risk data initiatives coordination, business alignment and support for regional business needs.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• 7+ years of progressive experience in digital Anti-Fraud, payment risk, fraud investigations, payment optimization, or a related discipline; retail and/or luxury experience strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience leading regional or enterprise-level fraud and payment programs and managing complex cross-functional initiatives.
• Knowledge of card-network rules, chargebacks, payment processing & fraud controls.
• Professional Anti-Fraud certification (e.g., MRC or Fraud Practice certification) strongly preferred.
• Prior experience with External payment and Anti-Fraud solution providers a plus

Technical & Analytical Skills

• Strong analytical and data-oriented approach, with experience using reporting and fraud-management systems.
• Experience with fraud rules, model tuning, risk matrices, order-management systems, and payment optimization.
• Proficiency in statistical analysis and the ability to explain results to non-technical audiences.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, database/CRM tools, and Looker, including dashboard and visualization development.

Leadership & Communication

• Strong relationship-building, communication, influencing, and stakeholder-management skills.
• Ability to manage ambiguity, adapt to change, and operate effectively in a fast-changing environment.
• Excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills.
• Fluent English.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally, approximately 10%.

Richemont offers a generous compensation and benefits package for eligible employees. Only candidates selected for further consideration will be contacted.

We Offer – United States

Employee wellbeing is a top priority at Richemont. We offer a comprehensive benefits program to support employees and their loved ones. Our core benefits include medical, dental, and vision programs. Health savings and flexible spending accounts are also available. The company offers income protection solutions including life insurance, disability benefits, and 401(k) with employer match. Understanding the importance of work-life balance, our total rewards include paid time off, a wellness reimbursement benefit, and access to the employee assistance program. Employees are encouraged to make a difference in their local communities with volunteer days off, supporting initiatives that drive change.

At Richemont, We Craft the Future!

Expected Salary Range: $115,000 – 136,000

Salary will be determined based on relevant skills and experience.

#Richemont #WeCraftTheFuture