ACH Operations Specialist

Idbny•New York City, NY

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

The ACH Operations Specialist supports IDB Bank’s day-to-day ACH processing and ensures transactions are handled accurately, on time, and in accordance with Nacha Operating Rules, regulatory requirements, Bank policies, and operational controls. The role requires hands-on ACH experience and independent research and resolution of exceptions, returns, client issues, and processing discrepancies. It supports both ODFI and RDFI activities and collaborates with Treasury Management, Client Service, Account Officers, Risk, Compliance, Fraud, Technology, and other operational teams. The specialist also supports audits, risk assessments, regulatory examinations, system testing and enhancements, and ongoing operational improvements. The position requires sound judgment about whether transactions should be processed and awareness of associated operational and compliance implications. The role operates on a hybrid schedule.

Requirements

At least 3–5 years of direct ACH Operations experience in a bank, credit union, payment processor, or comparable financial institution.
Strong working knowledge of Nacha Operating Rules and ACH processing requirements.
Demonstrated experience with both ODFI and RDFI ACH operations.
Hands-on experience with ACH origination, returns, NOCs, reversals, exceptions, settlement, and transaction research.
Strong understanding of ACH SEC Codes and return reason codes, including applicable return timeframes.
Ability to independently research and resolve complex ACH processing issues.
Understanding of consumer versus non-consumer ACH requirements, including Regulation E considerations.
Experience with ACH risk controls, exposure limits, debit return monitoring, or similar operational risk processes.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills and excellent attention to detail.
Ability to manage multiple processing deadlines and priorities in a time-sensitive payment operations environment.
Strong written and verbal communication skills and ability to communicate ACH requirements to operational and non-operational stakeholders.
Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Copilot, and other Microsoft Office applications.

Nice To Haves

Accredited ACH Professional (AAP) certification is strongly preferred.
Experience using Fiserv PEP+, including ACH processing, reporting, exception handling, or Risk Manager functionality.
Experience with commercial online banking or Treasury Management platforms.
Familiarity with ACH Positive Pay, ACH fraud controls, originator exposure monitoring, and ACH risk-management programs.
Experience supporting internal or external ACH audits and regulatory examinations.
Experience with ACH Operators such as The Clearing House EPN or the Federal Reserve.

Responsibilities

Perform and monitor daily ACH processing, including incoming and outgoing files, origination, settlement, returns, exceptions, reversals, and adjustments.
Monitor ACH processing windows and ensure files and transactions meet applicable deadlines.
Review and resolve processing exceptions, suspended transactions, rejected files, posting issues, and other discrepancies.
Support ODFI origination activity by reviewing originator activity, exposure limits, exceptions, return activity, and unusual processing patterns.
Monitor originator risk limits and assist with reviewing and escalating transactions that exceed established credit or debit exposure limits.
Process RDFI returns and determine appropriate return reason codes based on transaction type, SEC Code, account classification, timeframes, and Nacha Operating Rules.
Handle unauthorized ACH claims and related processing, including appropriate treatment of consumer and non-consumer transactions.
Research ACH transactions using trace numbers, Company IDs, settlement information, transaction history, and other available data.
Process and review ACH reversals and verify that requests meet applicable Nacha requirements.
Assist with Proof of Authorization, Written Statement of Unauthorized Debit, Permission to Return, and other ACH documentation and requests.
Monitor ACH debit return activity and identify and escalate originators approaching or exceeding applicable Nacha return-rate thresholds.
Investigate ACH settlement and reconciliation discrepancies and coordinate resolution with Accounting, Deposit Operations, Technology, ACH Operators, and other parties.
Respond to internal ACH inquiries and escalations and explain processing requirements and operational procedures.
Maintain accurate documentation for transactions, exceptions, approvals, investigations, and operational decisions.
Support ACH audits, risk assessments, regulatory examinations, and remediation by gathering documentation and demonstrating adherence to controls.
Participate in testing and implementing ACH system enhancements, products, processing changes, and operational improvements.
Identify opportunities to strengthen controls, reduce manual processing, improve efficiency, and mitigate ACH operational and fraud risk.
Maintain current knowledge of Nacha Operating Rules, Regulation E requirements applicable to ACH, Bank policies, and industry developments.
Provide operational backup and cross-training within ACH Operations as needed.