ACH Payments Specialist II

About the role

The ACH Payments Specialist II ensures accurate, timely, and compliant processing of ACH and related electronic payment activity. This includes file monitoring, complex exception processing, returns, disputes, settlements, fraud monitoring, reconciliations, and customer/internal support. The role demands strong knowledge of Nacha Operating Rules, banking regulations, OFAC requirements, internal procedures, and risk-based controls.

Responsibilities

• Monitor and process ACH activity in accordance with established processing windows, Bank procedures, Nacha Operating Rules, OFAC requirements, and applicable regulatory guidance.
• Review ACH files, batches, returns, notifications of change, disputes, stop payments, non-post items, overdraft exceptions, and other complex exception activity; independently research and resolve discrepancies accurately and within required timeframes.
• Perform daily ACH Federal Reserve settlement balancing, including review of FIS reports for receiving and origination activity; research, document, and clear differences timely.
• Review ACH OFAC reports and other sanctions-related alerts according to established procedures and deadlines.
• Monitor fraud and suspicious activity reports, including ACH, debit card, external transfer, online banking, and Verafin alerts; identify trends, document findings, recommend next steps, and escalate concerns promptly to management, BSA/AML, Risk, or Compliance as appropriate.
• Review external transfer setup and activity to identify potential fraud, confirm customer eligibility, and ensure controls are followed.
• Process ACH disputes, written statements of unauthorized debit, stop-payment requests, and related customer correspondence in accordance with regulatory and Bank requirements.
• Review and process death notifications received through Fedline Web and government reclamations timely to mitigate loss exposure.
• Perform daily ATM settlement functions and prepare posting documentation for ATM discrepancies reported by branches.
• Prepare, review, and maintain assigned general ledger account reconciliations; research and resolve outstanding items by required deadlines.
• Support accurate documentation, audit readiness, record retention, and procedure maintenance for ACH and payment operations processes, including updates to procedures and job aids as needed.
• Assist with testing, validation, and implementation of system changes, product updates, service enhancements, and department projects with limited supervision.
• Identify and recommend opportunities to improve controls, automate manual work, streamline processing, reduce risk, and strengthen the customer and employee experience.
• Provide timely, professional support and procedural guidance to internal and external customers regarding ACH transactions, exceptions, online banking issues, external transfers, account activity, and related payment inquiries.
• Partner with Deposit Operations, BSA/AML, Risk, Compliance, Treasury Management, Retail, Contact Center, and technology partners to resolve escalated issues and support effective payment operations.
• Serve as a backup for other Deposit Operations functions as needed and maintain cross-training to support business continuity.
• Complete all internal Company training as assigned and required.
• Adhere to the Company’s privacy, information security, data protection, and record retention policies, including safeguarding non-public personal information and sensitive Bank data.
• Demonstrate behaviors that support and strengthen the Company’s culture, including accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and service excellence.

Requirements

• Associate’s degree or equivalent combination of education and progressively responsible relevant banking, deposit operations, ACH, electronic payments, or financial services experience.
• Minimum of three (3) years of banking operations experience preferred, including direct ACH, deposit operations, electronic payments, treasury management support, or related back-office processing experience.
• Working knowledge of Nacha Operating Rules, ACH file processing, returns, disputes, reclamations, notifications of change, stop payments, complex exceptions, and related regulatory requirements.
• AAP or APRP accreditation preferred, or willingness to pursue relevant payments certification.
• Experience with fraud monitoring, exception processing, account reconciliation, audit support, procedure documentation, and risk escalation preferred.
• Familiarity with FIS, Verafin, Fedline Web, online banking platforms, Microsoft Office, and related deposit operations systems preferred.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, customer service, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to prioritize work, meet strict deadlines, manage multiple processing timeframes, and maintain accuracy in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong oral and written communication skills with the ability to interact professionally with customers, employees, management, vendors, and business partners.
• High level of attention to detail, accountability, confidentiality, initiative, independent judgment, and sound judgment.

Skills

• Knowledge of banking operations, electronic payments, ACH processing, and related federal regulations, including privacy, information security, BSA/AML, OFAC, and consumer protection requirements.
• Ability to interpret procedures, apply rules consistently, identify exceptions, resolve routine issues independently, and escalate complex issues appropriately.
• Strong technical aptitude and willingness to learn new systems, payment tools, automation opportunities, and reporting processes.
• Intermediate to advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including the ability to review reports, reconcile data, identify variances, and support management reporting.
• Strong mathematical and reconciliation skills, including the ability to balance accounts, calculate totals and differences, research exceptions, and identify routine processing errors.
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to explain account activity, payment issues, procedures, and next steps clearly to customers and employees.

Additional Requirements

The employee must be able to communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders, including clients, prospects, employees, management, and external partners in person, by phone, virtually, and in writing. The role requires the ability to read, interpret, and prepare business, banking, regulatory, proposal, contract, and client documentation. Work is primarily performed in a professional office environment and may include client locations, meetings, presentations, conferences, and other business development settings. The role requires regular use of a computer, phone, virtual meeting tools, and standard office technology; occasional travel within the market area; and occasional lifting or moving of materials up to 10 pounds.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage
• Flexible Spending
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Childcare Subsidy
• Retirement plan
• Life Insurance

Pay

The pay range for this position is $28.31 to $36.51 per hour. The Company may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range, and the range may be modified in the future. An employee’s pay position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, sales or revenue-based metrics, and business or organizational needs and affordability.