Temporary Electronic Payments Specialist

Tompkins Community Bank•City of Ithaca, NY

11d•Onsite

About The Position

This position is responsible for performing a range of tasks related to the daily processing of wire transfers, ACH/Direct Deposit transmittals, and correspondent bank reconciliation within a multi-bank environment. The role requires a high level of accuracy and attention to detail to manage cash management solutions effectively (including positive pay account reconciliation). The Specialist provides an exceptional customer experience for both internal and external clients, ensuring that all transactions comply with relevant regulations and internal policies.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent, required.
Minimum of 1 year of experience in banking operations, preferably within electronic payments, wire transfers, or ACH/Direct Deposit processing.
Demonstrated experience in reconciling general ledger accounts and identifying discrepancies.
Strong customer service skills with experience in handling complex inquiries and resolving issues in a fast-paced environment.
Acute attention to detail with the ability to manage repetitive tasks involving sensitive data accurately.
Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks under tight deadlines.
Proficient in reading, writing, grammar, and basic accounting principles.
Proficiency in using various computer programs, including MS Office Suite, and financial software systems.
Analytical mindset with the ability to review information from multiple sources, identify inconsistencies, draw conclusions, and solve problems effectively.

Nice To Haves

Associate’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, or a related field, preferred.
Certification in AAP (Accredited ACH Professional) or other relevant banking certifications preferred.

Responsibilities

Execute a variety of operational tasks involving wire transfers and ACH/Direct Deposit transactions.
Reconcile Incoming and Outgoing Wires to the Federal Reserve daily, ensuring all transactions are accurately processed and documented.
Reconcile international wire correspondent bank statements daily, identifying and resolving discrepancies in a timely manner.
Perform tasks related to the large dollar review of bank official checks and check reconciliation support.
Balance multiple general ledger accounts daily, including wire suspense GL, Fed Wire statement, wire fee GL, ACH Non-Fed, and ACH returns from the Fed, with a focus on accuracy and timely resolution of any outages.
Ensure all wire transfers comply with bank policies, OFAC regulations, and UCC 4A guidelines, including verifying funds availability and placing holds against funds as necessary. Reviewing potential OFAC hits
Input and verify wire details on the system, ensuring accuracy and maintaining detailed wire transfer logs.
Communicate with branch personnel and/or customers to verify wire details, review new wire transfer instructions, identify potential fraud and report concerns immediately.
Ensure proper record retention for compliance purposes.
Process ACH/Direct Deposit transactions ensuring all entries are accurate and compliant with bank policies.
Create and transmit files for operations, verify and balance daily output files, and ensure compliance with NACHA rules and regulations.
Manage ACH Stop Payment requests for customers and process payment dispute forms in compliance with Regulation E.
Monitor all payments for fraud risks, follow dual control procedures to prevent fraud, and report suspicious activity to management.
Review and decision ACH return and exception items daily, ensuring timely and accurate processing.
Respond to ACH Reclamations and Letter of Indemnity requests from government departments and other financial institutions.
All other duties as assigned.