Banking Senior Payment Operations Specialist – ACH

Newtek One

5d•$65,000 - $85,000

About The Position

The Senior Payment Operations Specialist is a key member of the Payment Operations team, responsible for overseeing the accurate, timely, and compliant processing of ACH transactions as the primary area of responsibility. This role serves as the team's subject‑matter expert for ACH processing, exception handling, regulatory adherence, and system functionality. The Specialist will also provide secondary support for wire transfer processing, as well as broader payment operations including RTP, Zelle, checks, debit cards, internal transfers, and exception research. The ideal candidate possesses strong technical expertise in ACH processing, exceptional problem‑solving skills, and a meticulous approach to compliance, controls, and risk mitigation. This role is critical in ensuring the stability, accuracy, and integrity of the bank's payment ecosystem.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business, or related field preferred; equivalent experience considered.
5+ years of payment operations experience, with significant hands‑on ACH processing experience required. AAP and/or APRP accreditation preferred or willing to obtain.
Strong working knowledge of Nacha rules, ACH return reason codes, settlement processes, and exception handling.
Experience with payment systems, core banking platforms, and ACH processing tools.
Ability to diagnose and resolve complex operational issues with a high degree of accuracy.
Strong analytical, organizational, and problem‑solving skills.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to collaborate professionally with internal and external stakeholders.
Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.

Nice To Haves

Experience with wire processing, debit card processing, or other payment channels preferred.

Responsibilities

Perform and oversee end‑to‑end ACH processing, including file initiation, transmission, receipt, returns, NOCs, prenotes, reversals, and exception handling.
Monitor ACH transaction flows, settlement reports, and error queues to ensure transactions are executed accurately and on schedule.
Serve as the team's ACH subject‑matter expert for payment workflows, operating rules, processing windows, and troubleshooting.
Ensure timely resolution of ACH exceptions, including out‑of‑balance conditions, unauthorized returns, and posting discrepancies.
Partner with the ACH operator, vendors, and internal teams to resolve complex ACH issues, processing delays, or system errors.
Maintain ACH-related documentation, including procedures, rules updates, and processing standards.
Support daily wire processing as needed, including initiation, verification, release, and exception review.
Assist in troubleshooting wire-related issues and serve as an escalation point during high-volume or high-risk situations.
Collaborate with the wire processing team to ensure compliance with wire transfer regulations and internal controls.
Provide operational support for other payment channels, including (e.g., Debit card transactions, Real-time payments (RTP), Zelle, Checks, Internal transfers, and Card-related disputes and exceptions.
Monitor payment queues, system alerts, and exception reports to minimize operational risk and ensure timely processing across all channels.
Act as the primary escalation point for complex ACH exceptions, customer-impacting issues, and system errors.
Investigate and resolve high-risk or time‑sensitive payment discrepancies, ensuring detailed documentation and audit trails.
Collaborate with internal stakeholders (Fraud, Risk, Accounting, IT) and external partners to resolve operational challenges efficiently.
Ensure all ACH and payment activities comply with applicable regulations, including (e.g., Nacha Operating Rules, Regulation E, UCC Articles 4 & 4A, OFAC, and Internal policies and risk controls).
Support internal and external audits, regulatory examinations, and risk assessments.
Maintain strong operational controls to minimize financial, reputational, and regulatory risk.
Participate in and support ACH and payment-related projects, including UAT testing, system upgrades, workflow changes, and new product implementations.
Assist with processor migrations, rule changes, and automation initiatives.
Identify opportunities to streamline ACH workflows, reduce exceptions, improve operational efficiency, and strengthen control frameworks.
Assist in developing procedures, training materials, and knowledge resources for the Payment Operations team.