Payment Officer

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Job Summary

Payment Processing & Operations:

• Execute all approved incoming and outgoing customer payment instructions accurately and within agreed timelines.

• Process and capture approved vouchers and ensure completeness of documentation.

• Handle day-to-day payment processing activities, including general transactional support tasks.

• Manage and resolve customer enquiries and complaints related to payment and non-core payment activities.

• Process local cheque clearing and dormancy claims.

• Perform reconciliations of processed payments and Commercial Operations suspense accounts.

• Process manual standing order instructions.

• Support and manage failed online payment transactions.

Risk Control & Compliance

• Conduct call-backs on payment instructions to verify authenticity and mitigate fraud risk, in line with Best Practice Standards and Principles.

• Perform call-over checks of captured financial and non-financial transactions to ensure accuracy.

• Ensure all Trade Finance and Working Capital transactions comply with ICC guidelines (UCP, URC, URDG, ISP98).

Customer Service & Communication

• Deliver high-quality customer service aligned with service level agreements (SLAs).

• Mail payment advice and dormancy letters to customers.

• Acknowledge and log all documents/vouchers received from branches or departments.

Systems & Administrative Tasks

• Capture transactions and maintain records using UT Teller systems.

• Open and maintain customer accounts on UT Teller.

• Prepare documentation and ensure proper storage and retrieval of payment-related records.

Trade Finance Support

• Ensure accurate and timely processing of all Payment, Trade Finance, and Working Capital applications.

• Support the Trade Finance team in introducing new products in line with the New Product Approval (NAPA) process.

Performance & Team Contribution

• Achieve individual operational performance targets and contribute to team objectives.

• Prioritise tasks, monitor workload, and maintain workflow efficiency.

• Provide support and coverage for team members when required.

• Support implementation of change initiatives within the department.

Strategic & Community Contribution

• Contribute to initiatives that support broader societal and Pan-African citizenship goals.

• Demonstrate strong operational discipline across all processes and procedures, ensuring readiness for and successful outcomes in internal and external audits.

• Conduct regular spot checks, proactively identifying gaps and implementing corrective actions where necessary.

• Maintain strict adherence to operational risk and control standards, including Health & Safety, premises security, KYC, and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) requirements.

• Track and execute remediation plans to address audit findings, conformance reviews, and spot check results within agreed timelines.

• Identify, escalate, and resolve deviations from approved procedures, recommending process enhancements through appropriate governance channels.

• Take ownership of Operational Risk Management within the department, ensuring risks are effectively mitigated and controlled.

• Promote a strong customer-centric culture by embedding client-focused thinking into all operational activities.

• Ensure all processing and servicing activities comply with established policies, procedures, and service standards.

• Build and maintain strong cross-functional relationships to support operational efficiency and broader business objectives.

• Collaborate closely with team leaders and colleagues to drive high performance and consistent service delivery.

• Continuously improving ways of working by challenging the status quo, sharing best practices, fostering an empowering team environment, and providing constructive feedback.

• Ensure all activities and responsibilities are performed in full compliance with regulatory requirements, the Enterprise-Wide Risk Management Framework, and Absa internal policies and standards.

• Demonstrate a strong understanding of role-related risks, proactively identifying, managing, and mitigating risk events (incidents).

• Record and report all risk events within the required timelines in accordance with Operational Risk Standards.

• Comply with the Clean Desk Policy by securely storing and locking away all bank documents before leaving the premises at the end of each day.

Education