Risk Operations Specialist Jobs in California
Risk Operations Specialist jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in financial services, fintech, insurance, and technology sectors, with openings from entry-level analysts through senior risk leads. Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego are the primary hiring centers, where major employers like Wells Fargo, JPMorgan Chase, and Pacific Premier Bancorp maintain large risk operations teams. The most in-demand specialties are fraud detection, operational risk compliance, and credit risk analytics. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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About Us:
At Parafin, we’re on a mission to grow small businesses.
Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, but traditional banks often don’t have their backs. We build tech that makes it simple for small businesses to access the financial tools they need through the platforms they already sell on.
We partner with companies like DoorDash, Amazon, Worldpay, and Mindbody to offer fast and flexible funding, spend management, and savings tools to their small business users via a simple integration. Parafin takes on all the complexity of capital markets, underwriting, servicing, compliance, and customer service for our partners.
We’re a tight-knit team of innovators hailing from Stripe, Square, Plaid, Coinbase, Robinhood, CERN, and more — all united by a passion for building tools that help small businesses succeed. Parafin is backed by prominent venture capitalists including GIC, Notable Capital, Redpoint Ventures, Ribbit Capital, and Thrive Capital. Parafin is a Series C company, and we have raised more than $194M in equity and $340M in debt facilities.
Join us in creating a future where every small business has the financial tools they need.
About the Position
We are looking for a Product Operations Specialist to help us scale operations and grow our capital products.
This role will be a critical operator of the company's product suite by providing a positive experience for the small businesses we support. You will be responsible for running and building best-in-class processes for payments and fraud. You will become an expert on Parafin’s Capital products, digging deep into the details to solve problems, and being an on-the-ground operator to support day-to-day functions, from troubleshooting payment issues to data analysis to building documentation.
Are you an adaptable all-rounder who is passionate in building at scale, while enjoying rolling up your sleeves to get the job done? Are you excited to work collaboratively at a fast-growing startup to help grow small businesses? If so, come join us!
What You’ll Be Doing:
Assist in developing operational solutions to help evaluate complex business risk issues in a fast-paced environment
Find solutions to automate and streamline ops processes, leading efforts to build in-house or finding external vendors
Conduct reviews to assess risk factors for high-priority merchants
Troubleshoot and resolve payment issues with our merchants, while providing high-quality service via email and phone
Manage cross-functional work streams with our customer support, data science, compliance, and engineering teams to improve the merchant experience and grow capital originations
Review current processes and provide feedback on how to improve product operations and Parafin as a whole
Work closely with our partners to identify areas of risk and investigate fraudulent behavior
Use data-driven analysis to identify areas of optimization and growth
What We’re Searching For:
3 - 5 years of work experience
2 - 3 years of operational experience working in a fintech startup, bank, or payments company
Strong understanding of payments
Excellent communication skills
Strong quantitative / detail-oriented background
Thrive in an entrepreneurial environment
We Prefer If You Have:
Experience with fraud/ risk management
Strong understanding of, or desire to learn, about a capital or lending product
Fluency in, or desire to learn, data analysis skills and tools, such as SQL / R / Python
What We Offer
Salary Range: $118k - $123k
Equity grant
Medical, dental & vision insurance
Unlimited PTO
Work-from-home flexibility
Commuter benefits
Free lunches
Paid parental leave
401(k)
Employee assistance program
If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please contact us.
See All 24 Risk Operations Specialist Jobs in California
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Find JobsRisk Operations Specialist Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Risk Operations Specialist Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring



Top Industries Hiring
- Science & Research
- Banking & Financial Services
- Technology & Software
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in risk operations specialist jobs across California.
- Bachelor's degree in finance, business administration, or a related quantitative field
- Demonstrated proficiency with risk management frameworks such as COSO or ISO 31000
- Experience using SQL, Excel, or risk analytics platforms for data analysis and reporting
- Familiarity with California financial regulations and relevant federal compliance standards
- Strong written communication skills for producing risk assessments and regulatory documentation
- Professional certification such as FRM, PRM, or CRMA preferred for mid-level and senior roles
Risk Operations Specialist Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a risk operations specialist in California?
Most risk operations specialists in California start with a bachelor's degree in finance, economics, business, or a related field, then build experience in audit, compliance, or operations roles. While California does not require a state-issued license specific to this title, many employers expect credentials like the Financial Risk Manager or Certified Risk Management Assurance designation. Candidates who combine analytical coursework with exposure to California's heavily regulated banking or insurance environment tend to progress fastest.
How much do risk operations specialists make in California?
Risk operations specialists in California earn a median of about $129,110 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $76,610 for the lowest 10% to over $208,360 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire risk operations specialists in California?
Employers hiring risk operations specialists in California right now include OpenAI, TikTok, and Airwallex, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. California's dense concentration of regional banks, insurers, and fintech firms means hiring is sustained year-round rather than clustered around seasonal cycles.
Which California cities have the most risk operations specialist jobs?
San Francisco, Ontario, and Los Angeles account for the largest share of risk operations specialist openings in California. Los Angeles and San Francisco drive volume through their financial services headquarters and tech-adjacent fintech companies, while San Diego's growing insurtech and defense-adjacent compliance sector pulls in a consistent share of roles outside the two largest metros.
Are there remote risk operations specialist jobs in California?
Yes, and more than most fields. Risk operations specialist work is largely desk-based and data-driven, making it well suited to remote arrangements. About 79% of risk operations specialist openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, reflecting broad employer comfort with distributed teams. Fraud monitoring, compliance reporting, and credit risk analysis are the sub-functions most commonly offered on fully remote terms.
How can I get hired as a risk operations specialist in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is through an operations analyst, compliance coordinator, or audit associate role at a California bank, insurer, or credit union, then moving laterally into risk. Large California institutions such as Bank of the West, CalSTRS, and regional credit unions regularly hire associates for rotational programs that include risk exposure. Earning a foundational credential like the Associate in Risk Management while in an adjacent role gives candidates a concrete differentiator when applying to specialist positions.
Where can I find and apply to risk operations specialist jobs in California?
You can find and apply to risk operations specialist jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings across financial services, fintech, insurance, and technology employers. Find the roles that fit your experience and location, then apply directly to each opening without creating a profile or going through an intermediary.
See All 24 Risk Operations Specialist Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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