Payments Operations Specialist

Description

The Payments Operations Specialist is responsible for the accurate and timely processing of incoming and outgoing payments across multiple channels. In addition to daily transaction processing, this role supports back‑end operational functions including system configuration, data reporting, payment reconciliation and balancing, client billing, payment investigations, fraud monitoring, and OFAC screening and decisioning. The specialist ensures transactions comply with internal policies and regulatory requirements while contributing to operational efficiency.

This full‑time position is primarily work from home, however, the candidate will occasionally need to attend mandatory meetings, required training or cultural events in person. Candidates must reside within a reasonable commuting distance to one of our four Vizo Financial locations or within the state of Texas. This ensures team members can participate in on‑site activities and collaborate effectively.

• Middletown, PA
• Pittsburgh, PA
• Greensboro, NC
• Columbia, SC

• Process daily payment transactions including ACH, wire transfers, foreign checks, positive pay/corporate share drafts, and other payments according to established procedures and SLAs.
• Monitor payment queues and elevate exceptions, failures, or suspicious activity to the appropriate team.
• Respond to internal inquiries from support, accounting, compliance/risk, and account management regarding payment status and issues.
• Collaborate with the Payments Support Specialist team to share operational insights, root cause findings, and process updates that support front‑line interactions.
• Provide subject‑matter guidance to the Payments Support Specialist team on complex payment processing questions as needed.

• Review and decide OFAC alerts generated by sanctions screening system for all applicable payment types, exercising independent judgment to evaluate risk.
• Evaluate flagged transactions against SDN list and other relevant sanctions lists to determine true matches versus false positives based on available data and contextual analysis.
• Document decision‑making rationale and elevate confirmed or uncertain matches to the BSA/Compliance team in accordance with regulatory requirements.
• Make time‑sensitive decisions on whether to release or hold transactions pending further review, ensuring OFAC‑related tasks are completed within required time frames to avoid processing delays.

• Monitor payment transaction activity for signs of unauthorized, fraudulent, or anomalous entries using established screening tools and criteria.
• Review and decide flagged ACH transactions within required time frames, making independent decisions on whether to release, return, or hold items for further review.
• Evaluate wire transfers flagged for anomalies such as new IP addresses, unusual amounts, new beneficiaries, or other risk indicators, making time‑sensitive decisions on whether to process, hold, or elevate.
• Coordinate with members/clients and internal teams on suspected fraudulent activity, including return processing and notification procedures.
• Maintain awareness of current fraud trends, wire risk indicators, and Nacha rule updates that impact monitoring procedures.

• Research and resolve payment exceptions including failed transactions, duplicate payments, unauthorized entries, and misdirected funds.
• Manage and respond to payment trace requests, recalls, and return inquiries from members/clients, correspondents, and internal teams.
• Investigate disputed transactions, gathering supporting documentation and coordinating with relevant parties.
• Document investigation findings, root causes, and resolutions in accordance with departmental standards and audit requirements.
• Elevate cases involving potential fraud, regulatory concerns, or significant financial exposure to management or compliance.

• Perform daily reconciliation of ACH, wire, and positive pay/corporate share draft transactions against general ledger accounts to ensure accuracy and completeness.
• Post and balance payment…