Payments Operations & Controls Officer

Our client, a well-established financial services organisation, is seeking an experienced Senior Payments Controls Officer to join its Payments team.

Reporting to the Senior Payments Manager, you will play an important role in ensuring the smooth and controlled execution of payment operations. The successful candidate will be responsible for strengthening operational controls, supporting reconciliations, monitoring payment performance, identifying opportunities for process improvements, and helping maintain compliance with internal policies and regulatory requirements.

This is an excellent opportunity for a detail-oriented professional with strong analytical skills who enjoys working in a fast-paced and highly regulated environment.

• Analyse payment operations and prepare reports that provide insight into operational performance, key risks, trends, and improvement opportunities.
• Perform settlement, fee, and payment provider reconciliations, ensuring discrepancies are investigated and resolved promptly.
• Develop, maintain, and enhance operational controls to support compliance with internal procedures and regulatory requirements.
• Identify opportunities to improve existing payment processes by introducing efficiencies and automation where appropriate.
• Support the daily processing of incoming and outgoing payment transactions, working closely with the Payments Operations team to ensure accuracy and timely completion.
• Assist with liquidity management and daily funding activities required to support payment operations.
• Monitor the performance of payment service providers, including transaction success rates, system availability, and operational performance, escalating issues when necessary.
• Carry out routine operational reviews and control checks to identify potential risks, process weaknesses, and control gaps.
• Participate in testing activities following system enhancements and releases to verify operational stability and process integrity.
• Monitor chargebacks, payment disputes, and fraud-related activity, supporting initiatives that reduce operational and financial risk.
• Work collaboratively with internal stakeholders and external service providers to resolve operational issues and improve service delivery.
• Prepare, maintain, and update operational documentation, including procedures, controls, and process guidelines.
• Support internal and external audit activities by providing documentation and assisting with control reviews.
• Provide guidance and knowledge sharing to colleagues to promote consistent application of operational procedures and controls.
• Contribute to payments-related projects and continuous improvement initiatives across the business.
• Keep up to date with industry developments, regulatory changes, and best practices through ongoing learning and professional development.

• A Bachelor's degree in Finance, Banking, Business Administration, or another relevant field.
• A minimum of five years' experience within payments operations, banking, financial services, or a similar environment.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to identify risks and recommend practical solutions.
• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• A high level of accuracy and attention to detail when handling operational processes and sensitive information.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across different teams.
• Ability to work independently, take ownership of responsibilities, and use sound judgement when resolving operational issues.
• Good understanding of payment operations, reconciliations, operational controls, and risk management principles.
• Experience working within a regulated financial services environment will be considered an advantage.
• A proactive approach with a continuous improvement mindset and a willingness to contribute to operational excellence.