Electronic Payments Operations Specialist III

Job Description

Job Description

Position Summary

The Electronic Payments Operations Specialist III is an advanced individual-contributor role within Deposit Operations responsible for supporting the accurate, timely, and compliant administration of the Bank’s electronic payment services. This position requires broad, hands-on experience across multiple payment channels, including ACH, RTP, FedNow, Zelle, and other assigned payment services, as well as strong knowledge of applicable network rules, regulatory requirements, fraud controls, and operational risk. The Specialist III performs complex processing, exception management, research, settlement, reconciliation, and issue resolution; serves as a subject-matter resource for payment operations; and assists the department manager with reviewing, developing, implementing, and strengthening payment programs, procedures, controls, training, and operational readiness.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Perform and provide advanced operational support across the Bank’s electronic payment channels, including ACH, RTP, FedNow, Zelle, Bill Pay, Online Banking, and other assigned payment services.
• Process, monitor, research, and resolve complex payment activity across multiple rails, including returns, rejects, exceptions, settlements, reconciliations, adjustments, posting issues, transaction tracing, and other time-sensitive matters.
• Administer ACH operational activities, including returns, Notifications of Change, corrections, prenotes, death notification entries, reclamations, reversals, origination-file review, suspended files, exposure and prefunding requirements, SEC-code exceptions, and required approvals or supporting documentation.
• Support ACH client and service maintenance, including originator onboarding and periodic reviews, entitlements and limits, agreement validation, Positive Pay, blocks and filters, micro-deposit verification exceptions, troubleshooting, and related customer or business-partner requests.
• Apply the rules, operating requirements, regulatory obligations, processing timeframes, and internal controls applicable to each assigned payment rail when making operational decisions and resolving exceptions.
• Serve as an escalation point and subject-matter resource for complex payment questions, unusual transactions, rule interpretation, processing issues, and customer-impacting exceptions.
• Monitor payment activity and processes for fraud indicators, rule violations, control gaps, operational trends, and potential compliance concerns; document findings and escalate matters to management or appropriate risk partners.
• Support OFAC-related payment review by researching potential screening holds, documenting disposition, and obtaining appropriate review or approval when required.
• Assist the department manager with evaluating, designing, implementing, and enhancing payment programs, workflows, procedures, controls, service standards, contingency processes, and operational readiness across existing and emerging payment rails.
• Review payment procedures and program documentation for accuracy, completeness, compliance, operational feasibility, and alignment with network rules, regulatory requirements, and the Bank’s risk tolerance.
• Support payment-rail implementations and enhancements, risk assessments, audits, examinations, quality-control reviews, vendor or system changes, testing, conversions, and remediation efforts.
• Maintain complete and accurate documentation, evidence, logs, and case notes, and develop or enhance job aids, training materials, monitoring reports, and operational metrics to support audit readiness, quality control, and staff development.

• Performs all other duties as assigned.

Core Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Working knowledge of ACH processing, Nacha Operating Rules, SEC codes, return reason codes, notifications of change, reclamations, reversals, ODFI and RDFI responsibilities, and ACH processing timeframes.
• Understanding of deposit operations, payment processing, regulatory compliance, fraud prevention, risk management, and internal control expectations.
• Strong research, analytical, reconciliation, and problem-solving skills with the ability to identify discrepancies and resolve issues accurately.
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines, prioritize competing requests, and work effectively in a fast-paced operational environment.
• Strong attention to detail, accuracy, documentation quality, and follow-through.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to support internal teams, branch personnel, business partners, and customers professionally.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and the ability to learn bank systems, payment platforms, case management tools, and reporting applications.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive customer, account, and payment information appropriately.
• Advanced knowledge of multiple electronic payment channels, including the operating requirements, processing flows, settlement considerations, exception handling, fraud controls, and service expectations associated with ACH, RTP, FedNow, Zelle, and related payment services.
• Ability to interpret payment-network rules, operating circulars, regulatory requirements, and bank policy and translate them into practical procedures, controls, and operational decisions.
• Ability to work independently on complex assignments, exercise sound judgment, recommend solutions, and support the manager in building a scalable and well-controlled payments function.

Analytical Thinking & Problem Solving –  Works well under pressure and deadlines with complex issues. Applies analysis to data and compliance requirements, identifying trends, addressing potential risks, and providing actionable insights to support strategic initiatives.

Attention to Detail –  Maintains a high level of accuracy, ensuring all records, reports, and metrics are precise and compliant with regulatory standards.

Risk Assessment & Management –  Evaluates situations to assess risk, applying appropriate policies, procedures, and judgment to anticipate and mitigate potential issues in alignment with the Bank’s risk tolerance and regulatory compliance requirements.

Relationship Building, Collaboration & Communication –  Works effectively with internal and external customers across teams and departments, communicating information clearly and building partnerships to meet shared goals.

Supervisory Responsibility

This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Job Type

This is a full-time, exempt position. Typical work hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm.

Travel

Occasional local travel is expected for this position. A current driver’s license, insurance, and reliable vehicle suitable for travel to clients is required. Mileage will be reimbursed at current IRS guidelines.

Working Conditions & Physical Requirements

This position operates in a professional office environment. This position requires regular sitting, walking, standing, lifting up to 50 pounds, reading, seeing including color, peripheral vision, depth perception, and adjusted focus, speaking, hearing, listening, organizing, interpreting data and information, operating office equipment, typing using a computer keyboard and mouse, viewing a computer screen monitor, and use of a telephone. The working environment consists of an indoor and climate-controlled setting most of the time.

Education, Experience & Other Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required; associate or bachelor’s degree in business, finance, banking, risk management, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum of seven years of progressively responsible banking operations, deposit operations, or electronic payments experience required, including advanced hands-on processing, research, exception resolution, and risk or control responsibilities preferred. 
• Demonstrated experience with ACH and at least two additional payment channels or services, such as RTP, FedNow, Zelle, wire transfer, debit card, Bill Pay, or other digital payment platforms, required.
• Experience interpreting and applying payment-network rules, operating requirements, regulations, and bank policies to processing decisions, exception handling, procedures, and controls required.
• Experience assisting with payment-program development, procedure design or review, risk assessments, control enhancements, testing, implementations, training, audits, or remediation strongly preferred.
• Experience with FIS IBS Insight or a similar core banking platform, payment-processing systems, network portals, online banking platforms, fraud-monitoring tools, and case or ticketing systems preferred.
• Accredited ACH Professional (AAP), Accredited Payments Risk Professional (APRP), Faster Payments Professional (FPP), or a comparable payments certification preferred; willingness to obtain an applicable certification within an established timeframe may be required.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities, independently resolve complex issues, communicate risk clearly, and work effectively in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Strong attention to detail, organizational skills, written communication, and proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word, and Outlook.