Strategic Interchange Analyst

Constellation Payments

7d

About The Position

Constellation Payment Processing is hiring a Strategic Interchange Analyst to own and advance interchange, card network, routing, and payment-cost optimization across its payments portfolio. This hands-on role is intended for a senior payments professional who can combine deep interchange and network knowledge with advanced data analysis, workflow automation, and clear business storytelling.

The analyst will build on an established analytical foundation, using transaction-level data to identify qualification issues, cost leakage, routing opportunities, and portfolio trends. The role monitors network changes, quantifies their impact, and turns complex findings into practical recommendations for technical, financial, and commercial stakeholders.

Requirements

• At least 5 years of experience in payments, merchant acquiring, payment facilitation, processing, card networks, issuing, gateway operations, or a closely related field.
• Deep knowledge of Visa and Mastercard interchange structures, qualification criteria, downgrade drivers, assessments, network fees, and card-brand operating rules.
• Strong understanding of the payments ecosystem, including card brands, networks, issuers, acquirers, processors, gateways, PayFacs, merchants, and sponsor banks.
• Advanced SQL proficiency, including independent querying, joining, validating, and interpreting large and complex datasets.
• Hands-on proficiency with Python, Java, or another programming or query language used for analysis, automation, and data workflow development.
• Demonstrated ability to use AI tools to automate workflows, improve analytical efficiency, and communicate data-driven insights.
• Degree in a quantitative or technical field such as Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Statistics, Economics, or Finance.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in merchant acquiring, payment facilitation, or processor environments.
• Knowledge of PIN debit, least-cost routing, FANF, VAMP, assessments, compliance fees, and other network-related costs.
• Experience building interchange reference tables, qualification engines, reconciliation frameworks, portfolio monitoring, or profitability models.
• Familiarity with payment-message data, gateway field mapping, and authorization-to-clearing analysis.

Responsibilities

• Own interchange qualification and network-cost performance across the portfolio, identifying downgrade drivers, cost leakage, routing opportunities, and remediation priorities.
• Monitor Visa, Mastercard, and other relevant network changes; assess financial impacts and maintain current interchange rules, cost tables, and optimization guidance.
• Analyze routing logic and transaction behavior to identify opportunities to improve qualification and payment economics.
• Use advanced SQL and other programming or query languages to analyze and reconcile large transaction, interchange, billing, and network-fee datasets.
• Build automated monitoring, reporting, and analytical workflows using AI, Python, Java, or comparable tools to improve efficiency, accuracy, and scalability.
• Translate complex payments analysis into clear executive insights, financial-impact assessments, and practical recommendations.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior