Senior Settlement Operations Analyst

At Mudflap, we're modernizing the $1 trillion trucking industry, the backbone of the U.S. economy. By helping over 100,000 underserved small businesses save over $1 billion on fuel, Mudflap has quickly grown into a profitable fintech platform that processes billions in annual payment volume. As a Senior Settlement Operations Analyst, you will ensure our payments ecosystem operates accurately, efficiently, and at scale. In this role, you'll lead data-driven investigations into complex settlement issues, using transaction data, dashboards, SQL, spreadsheets, and AI to identify root causes and drive long-term solutions. You'll partner closely with Finance, Product, Engineering, Support, and Account Management to improve settlement operations, automate manual work, and deliver an exceptional partner experience. We're looking for someone who loves solving operational puzzles with data, thrives in ambiguity, and uses AI to work smarter every day. Work Location: We value in-person connection and have offices in both Palo Alto and Austin. While we prefer candidates located in these hubs for occasional meetings and team collaboration, we are open to remote team members who can travel periodically if needed. To support our team, we offer: - Commuter benefits to ease your travel - Lunches and snacks to keep you fueled - A collaborative, high-growth environment where you’ll work closely with talented teammates across the company Expectations (In this role, you will): - Lead investigations into complex settlement issues from intake through resolution, balancing financial accuracy, operational risk, and partner experience. - Research and resolve payment discrepancies, adjustments, refunds, chargebacks, reconciliation issues, and account-level inquiries. - Analyze transaction data using dashboards, spreadsheets, SQL, and internal tools to identify root causes and validate findings. - Partner cross-functionally with Finance, Product, Engineering, Support, and Account Management to resolve issues and implement long-term improvements. - Engage directly with merchants and external partners via email, Zoom, and occasional phone when needed to investigate issues and support resolution. - Identify opportunities to automate, simplify, and scale operational workflows, documentation, and internal processes. - Leverage AI tools to accelerate investigations, analyze data, improve documentation, draft communications, and increase operational efficiency. - Support reconciliation, reporting, audits, and other operational initiatives as needed. Experience (What we look for): - 4+ years of experience in settlement operations, payments, fintech, finance operations, merchant services, reconciliation, or a similarly analytical operations role. - Exceptional analytical and investigative skills with the ability to identify root causes, synthesize data, and make sound decisions. - Advanced proficiency with Excel or Google Sheets and experience working with dashboards and transaction-level data. SQL proficiency is strongly preferred. - Comfortable using AI as part of your daily workflow—not just for writing and communication, but to analyze data, accelerate investigations, automate repetitive tasks, summarize findings, and improve operational efficiency. - Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex issues clearly to both internal stakeholders and external partners. - Strong attention to detail, sound operational judgment, and the ability to manage multiple priorities without sacrificing quality. - A continuous improvement mindset with a track record of improving processes, reducing manual work, and driving operational excellence. - Experience with Zendesk, Metabase, or discount programs is strongly preferred. Perks and Benefits (What we offer): - Competitive salary and equity in a high-growth startup - Multiple health benefit options - Responsible Time Off - 401(k) matching - Opportunities and support for major career gr…