Compliance & Controls Manager, Growth

About Upstart

At Upstart, we’re united by a mission that matters: to radically reduce the cost and complexity of borrowing for all Americans. Every day, we bring creativity, experimentation, and advanced AI to reshape access to credit, helping millions move forward financially with clarity and confidence.

As the leading AI lending marketplace, we partner with banks and credit unions to expand access to affordable credit through technology that’s both radically intelligent and deeply human. Our platform runs over one million predictions per borrower using more than 3,000 signals, powering smarter, fairer decisions for millions of customers. But the numbers only hint at the impact. Every idea, every voice, and every contribution moves us closer to a world where credit never stands between people and their financial progress.

We’re proudly digital-first, giving most Upstarters the flexibility to do their best work from wherever they thrive, alongside teammates across 80+ cities in the US and Canada. Digital-first doesn’t mean distant. We’re intentional about in-person connection through team onsites, planning sessions, and moments that spark creativity and trust. And whether you choose to work primarily from home or collaborate in-person from one of our offices in Columbus, Austin, the Bay Area, or New York City (opening Summer 2026), you’ll have the support to work in the way that works best for you.

If you’re energized by tackling meaningful problems, excited to innovate with purpose, and motivated by work that truly matters, we’d love to hear from you.

The Team: 

Upstart's Growth Compliance team partners with Marketing, Product, Legal, and second-line Compliance to help the business grow responsibly. The team enables the launch of marketing campaigns, customer experiences, and lending products by providing practical, risk-based compliance guidance that supports innovation while meeting consumer protection requirements.

As the Compliance & Controls Manager, you'll serve as a trusted first-line compliance partner for Upstart's Growth organization. This is a First Line of Defense (1LOD) role, working directly with the business to enable growth while managing risk. Unlike Upstart's Second Line of Defense (2LOD) Compliance and Risk teams, this role is embedded with the business, helping shape customer experiences and product initiatives before they launch.

This is an opportunity to help build and scale Upstart's first-line Growth Compliance function. During your first year, you'll play a key role in developing review frameworks, operating processes, and scalable ways of working that support new marketing, advertising, customer experience, and partnership initiatives as the business continues to grow.

How you’ll make an impact

• Review marketing campaigns, customer communications, partner materials, and product launches to ensure compliance with applicable consumer protection laws and regulations before launch.
• Partner closely with Marketing, Product, Legal, and second-line Compliance to provide practical, risk-based guidance that enables timely business decisions while managing regulatory risk.
• Apply regulatory frameworks, including UDAAP and other consumer protection requirements, to evaluate new marketing claims, customer journeys, and emerging product experiences.
• Help build and scale the team's first-line compliance operating model by developing practical review frameworks, governance, and processes that support a growing business.
• Develop and continuously improve scalable review processes, procedures, checklists, and guidance that increase consistency and reduce review cycle times as the business grows.
• Identify recurring compliance themes and recommend process improvements that strengthen first-line risk management and reduce future operational risk.
• Leverage internal tooling and Generative AI solutions to improve review efficiency, document guidance, and enhance compliance workflows while applying appropriate human judgment

Minimum Qualifications 

• 7+ years of experience reviewing marketing, advertising, or customer-facing content for compliance within banking, fintech, consumer lending, or another highly regulated industry.
• Experience applying consumer protection regulations, including UDAAP and one or more of the following: Regulation B, TCPA, CAN-SPAM, or Fair Lending requirements.
• Experience managing high-volume compliance reviews while meeting competing deadlines and supporting multiple concurrent product or marketing initiatives.
• Experience partnering cross-functionally with Product, Marketing, Legal, or Compliance stakeholders to support product launches or marketing initiatives.
• Knowledge of secured lending products, including HELOC or other secured consumer lending products.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of compliance considerations related to AI-enabled customer experiences or automated decisioning.
• Ability to translate complex regulatory requirements into practical guidance, procedures, and scalable review processes.
• Experience using Generative AI tools to improve research, documentation, or compliance review workflows.
• Ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders and build trusted partnerships in a fast-paced environment.

 

Position location This role is available in the following locations: Remote 

Time zone requirements The team operates on the East & West coast time zones.

Travel requirements As a digital first company, the majority of your work can be accomplished remotely. The majority of our employees can live and work anywhere in the U.S but are encouraged to to still spend high quality time in-person collaborating via regular onsites. The in-person sessions’ cadence varies depending on the team and role; most teams meet once or twice per quarter for 2-4 consecutive days at a time.

 

#LI-MidSenior 

At Upstart, your base pay is one part of your total compensation package.  The anticipated base salary for this position is expected to be within the below range. Your actual base pay will depend on your geographic location–with our “digital first” philosophy, Upstart uses compensation regions that vary depending on location. Individual pay is also determined by job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process.

In addition, Upstart provides employees with target bonuses, equity compensation, and generous benefits packages (including medical, dental, vision, and 401k).

United States | Remote - Anticipated Base Salary Range$145,100—$201,100 USD

What you'll love

At Upstart, our benefits are designed to support your health, financial well-being, family, and personal growth. Here’s what you can expect:

• Competitive compensation, including base pay, bonus opportunities, and annual equity grants that vest quarterly 
• Retirement benefits to help you plan for the future, including a 401(k) or Group Retirement Savings Plan with a company match of $2 for every $1 contributed, up to $15,000 annually (USD in the US, CAD in Canada)
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) with discounted stock purchase options for eligible employees (US only)