Central Operations Manager

VP, Central Operations Manager

Location: Riverside, CA (North San Diego County may be considered)
Compensation: $110,000-130,000 Base Salary
Employment Type: Full-Time
Industry: Community Banking

Opportunity Overview

A well-established Southern California community bank is seeking an experienced VP, Central Operations Manager to lead its Central Operations department.

This is an opportunity for a hands-on banking operations leader who enjoys developing employees, improving processes, and taking ownership of critical back-office functions.

The bank is looking for someone with strong technical knowledge of wire transfers, payment processing, and operational exceptions, along with the leadership experience necessary to build a strong, well-trained team.

The ideal candidate will be comfortable working in a smaller banking environment where managers remain actively involved in daily operations and have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee daily Central Operations activities, including domestic and international wire transfers, ACH processing, and exception items.
• Manage, mentor, and develop Central Operations employees, ensuring appropriate training, accountability, and operational efficiency.
• Provide hands-on support with wire processing, verifications, repairs, OFAC screening, and regulatory compliance.
• Oversee payment investigations, adjustments, disputes, and operational exceptions.
• Maintain strong internal controls surrounding payment processing, fraud prevention, and operational risk.
• Develop and maintain department procedures, ensuring compliance with bank policies and regulatory requirements.
• Manage operational escalations and resolve complex processing issues.
• Oversee applicable legal processes, escheatment, account reconciliations, and other central operations responsibilities.
• Support department audits, regulatory examinations, and remediation efforts.
• Partner with senior leadership to strengthen operational performance, employee development, and overall department effectiveness.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• 10+ years of banking operations experience, preferably within a community or regional bank.
• Strong hands-on experience with wire operations, payment processing, ACH, and exception items.
• Previous experience managing, training, and developing banking operations employees.
• Solid understanding of operational risk, fraud prevention, and applicable banking regulations.
• Experience with Fiserv systems, WireXchange, FedLine, or comparable banking platforms preferred.
• Ability to independently manage operational workflows, troubleshoot issues, and support daily processing.
• Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Comfortable working in a hands-on, collaborative banking environment.
• AAP or NCP certification is a plus.

What Makes This Opportunity Attractive

• Direct visibility and interaction with executive leadership.
• Opportunity to take ownership of an important banking operations function.
• Ability to develop a team and establish strong operational practices.
• Community banking environment with an emphasis on collaboration and responsiveness.
• Competitive base compensation up to $130,000.
• Potential location flexibility for qualified candidates in North San Diego County.

Location Considerations

The position is primarily based in Riverside, California. For the right candidate, the bank may consider an alternative arrangement based in North San Diego County, with regular travel to Riverside to provide team oversight and support.