Electronic Payments Operations Specialist III

THIRD COAST BANK•Humble, TX

2d•Onsite

About The Position

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.

Requirements

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.
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.
Maintains a high level of accuracy, ensuring all records, reports, and metrics are precise and compliant with regulatory standards.
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.
Works effectively with internal and external customers across teams and departments, communicating information clearly and building partnerships to meet shared goals.
High school diploma or equivalent required.
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.
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.
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.

Nice To Haves

associate or bachelor’s degree in business, finance, banking, risk management, or a related field preferred.
advanced hands-on processing, research, exception resolution, and risk or control responsibilities preferred.
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.

Responsibilities

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.