Real-Time Payments Operations Associate

Join one of the world's leading payment franchises and play a key role in supporting the continued growth of Real-Time Payments (RTP) and emerging digital payment solutions.

As an Associate within Payments Operations, you will be responsible for overseeing critical reconciliation, settlement and control processes across multiple RTP schemes. You will help ensure the accuracy and integrity of payment activity through effective transaction monitoring, exception management and financial reconciliation, while supporting the development of scalable operational processes and controls. You will help deliver operational excellence, strengthen risk management and support the ongoing evolution of real-time payment capabilities. Working closely with Product, Technology, Finance, Risk, Compliance and Operations teams, you will play a key role in safeguarding the integrity of payment processing, driving process improvements and supporting business growth in a fast-paced and evolving payments environment.

Job responsibilities

- Provide operational oversight of Real-Time Payments (RTP) reconciliation and settlement processes across multiple payment rails.
- Perform and oversee end-to-end transaction monitoring, post-settlement reconciliations and exception management activities to ensure the completeness and accuracy of payment processing.
- Investigate and resolve reconciliation breaks, unmatched transactions, settlement discrepancies and accounting exceptions, partnering with stakeholders to achieve timely resolution.
- Monitor daily cash, settlement and accounting positions, ensuring exceptions are identified, escalated and resolved in accordance with established procedures.
- Support the execution and enhancement of the RTP risk and control framework, ensuring reconciliation processes operate within established standards and control requirements.
- Analyse transaction, settlement and accounting data to identify trends, root causes and opportunities to improve reconciliation effectiveness.
- Monitor operational performance, control effectiveness and key risk indicators, escalating material risks and issues where appropriate.
- Develop and maintain reconciliation reporting, management information, KPIs and operational metrics to support business performance and decision-making.
- Partner with Product, Technology, Finance, Compliance, Control and Operations teams to support new payment products, system enhancements and strategic initiatives impacting settlement and reconciliation activities.
- Support month-end, quarter-end and year-end control activities, ensuring reconciliations are completed accurately and remain audit-ready.
- Contribute to audit reviews, risk assessments, control testing and remediation activities relating to RTP operations and financial controls.

Required qualifications, capabilities and skills

- Experience within Payments, Treasury Services, Cash Management, Reconciliations, Finance Operations or a similar financial services environment.
- Strong understanding of payment operations, settlement lifecycle processes and reconciliation methodologies.
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to investigate complex operational and financial exceptions.
- Advanced Excel and data analysis skills, with experience working with large volumes of transactional and financial data.
- Understanding of operational risk, governance, controls and regulatory requirements within a financial services environment.
- Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to accuracy within a high-volume, time-sensitive environment.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly communicate findings, risks and recommendations to stakeholders and senior management.
- Proven stakeholder management skills and the ability to work effectively across Product, Technology, Finance, Risk and Operations teams.
- Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities, meet deadlines and deliver results in a fast-paced environment.
- A proactive mindset with a focus on continuous improvement, operational excellence and control effectiveness.

Preferred qualifications, capabilities and skills

- Knowledge of Real-Time Payments, Faster Payments, ACH, FedNow, SEPA Instant or other domestic and international payment schemes.
- Experience performing cash, settlement, suspense account or general ledger reconciliations within a payments environment.
- Understanding of accounting principles and the end-to-end financial lifecycle of payment transactions.
- Experience investigating and resolving payment exceptions, settlement discrepancies and reconciliation breaks.
- Exposure to audit, control testing, regulatory reviews or operational risk management activities.
- Familiarity with reconciliation and reporting tools, including Alteryx, SQL, Tableau or similar analytics platforms.
- Developing experience using AI-powered analytics, workflow automation, or intelligent process tools to drive efficiency gains, reduce manual effort, or improve accuracy in operational processes