Assistant Manager, Payment Operations

Role Overview:

As an Assistant Manager in Payment Operations, you will oversee and execute end-to-end cross-border remittances, domestic clearing, FX settlements, and complex account reconciliations. You will handle advanced SWIFT MT and ISO 20022 messaging, manage high-value transfers, resolve transaction exceptions, and ensure strict adherence to global AML, Sanctions, and regulatory compliance standards.

Key Responsibilities:

Payment Investigations & Query Management

• Manage end-to-end payment investigations related to cross-border remittances, including non-receipt of funds, amendments, and cancellations.

• Draft and process SWIFT messages for investigations and inquiries, specifically MT199 (Free Format), MT192 (Request for Cancellation), MT195 (Queries), and MT196 (Answers).

• Handle payment returns and rejects using pacs.004 and status updates via pacs.002 in line with ISO 20022 standards.

• Liaise closely with correspondent banks and internal stakeholders to resolve outstanding "breaks" and payment delays promptly.

• Respond to client inquiries regarding payment status, ensuring a high level of service and professional communication.

Trade Confirmation & Settlement:

• Manage daily FX conversion and cross-currency trade settlements, ensuring execution accuracy and timely value-date processing across correspondent accounts.

• Oversee trade settlements with counterparty institutions and coordinate with Treasury to optimize liquidity, and daily Nostro float.

Daily Operations & Reconciliation:

• Monitor and resolve Nostro account breaks related to remittance activities to ensure timely reconciliation.

• Perform daily transaction monitoring to identify failed or stuck payments for immediate remediation.

• Support the processing of inward and outward remittances during peak periods to meet currency cutoff times.

• Maintain accurate logs of all investigation cases and provide regular status updates to management.

Risk, Compliance & Controls:

• Ensure all investigations and returns are handled in strict accordance with AML, Sanctions screening, and KYC regulatory requirements.

• Identify recurring payment issues or bottlenecks and suggest process improvements to mitigate operational risk.

• Identify operational risk gaps, assist in refining Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), support internal/external audit reviews, and enforce strict SLA targets.

System & Project Support:

• Assist in User Acceptance Testing (UAT) for payment system enhancements

• Provide feedback on system workflows to improve the efficiency of the investigation process.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Business, or a related field.

• 5 to 7+ years of hands-on operational experience within payment operations, correspondent banking, cross-border remittance, or institutional crypto/fintech operations.

• Technical Proficiency: Solid understanding of SWIFT MT (Category 1, 2, and 9) and ISO 20022 (pacs) messaging.

• Experience in MT199, MT192, pacs.002, and pacs.004 is highly preferred.

• Strong knowledge of the global clearing landscape and correspondent banking.

• Ability to work under pressure and manage high-volume queries within strict cutoff times.

• Excellent communication skills with a "client-first" mindset.

• Strong analytical skills with high attention to detail with ability to "connect the dots" in complex payment chains.