Senior Payments Officer

At Aztec, we’re committed to building and nurturing a diverse and inclusive workforce where everyone feels valued, respected, and able to grow. We know that different backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences strengthen our business and we welcome applications from all individuals. So, if your experience doesn’t exactly match with every part of the job description, but you are excited about the role, we would still like to hear from you. If you are passionate, curious, innovative and data driven, you could still be a good fit.

About the role:

Reports to the Banking Relationship Manager

The Senior Payments Officer will support the US Banking Team in the accurate, timely, and controlled processing of client payment activity across US banking platforms and payment channels. The role will help ensure payments are processed in line with internal deadlines, bank cut-off times, approval requirements, and applicable control standards.

Key responsibilities:

• Prepare, input, review, and support the release of payments through US bank portals and payment platforms in accordance with internal procedures and approval requirements.

• Process and support US payment activity across applicable payment methods, including ACH, domestic wires, Fedwire, check payments, book transfers, and SWIFT or international wires where required.

• Ensure payment activity is completed accurately and within agreed service level agreements, internal deadlines, and relevant US bank cut-off times.

• Assist with supporting processes that promote straight-through processing, reduce manual intervention, and improve payment data quality.

• Coordinate with the wider Banking Team, Payments Center of Excellence, Operations, and client-facing teams to resolve payment queries and provide guidance on US banking requirements.

• Follow the relevant payment control framework, including maker/checker controls, segregation of duties, approval evidence, audit trail requirements, exception handling, and escalation procedures.

• Support routine payment administration, including payment status checks, bank portal confirmations, returned or rejected payment follow-up, and maintenance of payment records.

• Provide support on ad hoc projects related to US payment operations, banking platform enhancements, process improvement, and control transformation.

Skills, knowledge, expertise:

• 4+ years of experience in a financial service, banking operations, treasury, cash management, or payments role is preferred.

• Experience preparing, inputting, reviewing, or supporting payment release activity within a controlled banking environment is essential.

• Working knowledge of US payment rails and banking channels, including ACH, domestic wires, Fedwire, bank portals, and SWIFT or international wires, is preferred.

• Strong understanding of payment controls, fraud prevention, approval workflows, segregation of duties, exception management, and audit trail expectations.

• Competent computer skills, including experience using banking platforms, payment systems, Microsoft Office, and workflow or case-management tools.

• High level of accuracy, strong attention to detail, sound judgment, and the ability to manage time-sensitive payment activity.

• Professional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to interact effectively with colleagues, client-facing teams, banks, and other business contacts.

Training will be provided on internal procedures, US banking requirements, payment controls, and the banking systems used by the team. The successful candidate will need to learn new systems quickly, apply controls consistently, and work collaboratively with colleagues, client-facing teams, and banking partners.

We understand that everyone has different needs, and that’s why our employee package includes a variety of benefits. In addition to a competitive salary, here are some examples of the benefits that we may offer for our permanent roles:

• Discretionary bonus scheme
• Flexible, hybrid working
• Ability to work abroad for up to 3 weeks per annum
• Generous holiday allowance
• Pension scheme
• Private medical insurance, including eye care
• Life assurance (death in service and critical illness benefit)
• Worldwide travel insurance
• Health and wellbeing programmes
• On-site parking