Manager, Payment Operations

Manager, Payment Operations Apply remote type Hybrid locations Absa House - ABT time type Full time posted on Posted Yesterday time left to apply End Date: December 3, 2024 (5 days left to apply) job requisition id R-15969800
Empowering Africa's tomorrow, together…one story at a time. With over 100 years of rich history and strongly positioned as a local bank with regional and international expertise, a career with our family offers the opportunity to be part of this exciting growth journey, to reset our future and shape our destiny as a proudly African group.
Job Summary
Reporting to the Head Transactional Banking Operations in Tanzania.
The role holder oversees overall wire transfers and low value payments processing, Inward and outward payments queues by ensuring payments are processed as per required standards and acceptable Turn-Around-Time (TAT) with nil RTS.
Strategically positioning payment Unit in meeting overall business strategy by implementing and enhancing systems, processes and controls that meet and exceed customer expectations.
Responsible for understanding and gaining knowledge of wire transfer and TACH end to end management.
Well knowledgeable on how payments related system operates e.g. SWIFT (CROSS BORDERS and TISS), TACH, EAPS, SADC-RTGS and TIPS.
Responsible for payments reconciliation, with a wider knowledge on reconciliation process and clear understanding of internal accounts and its uses.
The role requires a high degree of management, development and implementation of controls and compliance across the business and working closely with other people managers, functional business heads and COO to ensure support for Business growth, Controls Management and efficient processes.
Job Description
Main accountabilities and approximate time split:
Payments Operations Functionalities
Weighting 55%
Manage and control daily payment operations by ensuring timely and accurate execution of payments for both wire transfers and TACH (including Cheque processing).
Understand payments KPI that can measure efficiency, accuracy, and reliability of payment operations and use them to identify areas of improvements.
Regularly review and update process, procedures, Operational level agreements (OLA) and Service Level Agreement (SLAs) to align with regulatory changes and industry best practices.
Establish the strategic direction for payment operations focusing on identifying opportunities to enhance payment processes, systems and cost saving.
Be knowledgeable about payment networks and infrastructure e.g. SWIFT payments' applications including the current ongoing transitions from ISO 150022 (MT) to ISO20022 (MX) of SWIFT instruction messages and clearing and settlement systems (TACH, TISS, TIPS, EAPS etc.).
Create a strong relationship with business, understand customer demands and make improvements in payment operations to enhance customer experience.
Collaborate with Compliance, risks and Governance departments to help the business stay compliant with the financial regulations such that Anti Money Laundering and Fraud management.
Collaborate with Finance and Reconciliation Team to ensure both internal and external General ledger and Sub ledger books that facilitate payments processing are reconciled and operate in the agreed manner and ensure any exceptional entries are attended to on time as per the business rules.
Work effectively with other managers within operations and across the bank to share and gain knowledge that contributes to the overall performance of the bank.
Proactively participate in any technology payment-related projects to provide expertise and ensure a robust payment system is developed.
Liaise with Local IT and software vendor to increase and prioritize system enhancement to meet business requirements. Recommend where necessary, upgraded equipment to support the business as volumes and sophistication increase.
Maintain positive relationships with payment suppliers, resolve any discrepancies or issues, and negotiate payment terms when necessary.
Coordinate and ensure self-audit within payment space is carried out on a regular basis to obtain green status during internal and external audits.
Coordinate with respective units on Country Business Continuity Management (BCM) plan and ensure the plan is updated regularly.
People Management and team working
Weighting 25%
Supervise, train, and mentor payment staff, including performance evaluations and professional development.
Ensure that all your staff are becoming proficient where necessary, on system security, key functionality, standard reporting and report design, daily maintenance, end-of-day processing and backup requirements.
Work closely with the Head of Transactional Banking Operations as one team to ensure delivery of excellent performance and production of good quality work.
Provide cover for other team managers as required and be a fast learner, doing wholeheartedly, communicating with passion and enthusiasm, embracing change as a way of working.
Coordinate team meetings and have a succession plan for your roles and all that reports to you.
Achieve individual and team targets to meet customer expectations and improve customer experience (both internal and external).
Effective leadership and team development skills to manage Payment's resource, potentially between different cultures.
Ensure protection of the Bank's assets.
Drive process understanding within the function so that the team can operate efficiently when the systems are not fully operational.
Ensure that all staff are aware of the precautions against fire and safety, emergency evacuation, policy/procedural requirements, Whistle blowing, MCB rules & regulations, Business regulations including KYC, money laundering guidelines etc. as well as KYR (Know Your Responsibility).
Ensure adherence of individual delegated limits within function.
Risk Management
Weighting 15%
Ensure all outstanding entries in the NOSTRO/BOT / and Other Suspense Accounts that facilitate payments processing are attended per the business rules.
Regularly review and manage operational costs and losses to avoid revenue leakage.
Ensure a thorough understanding of the inherent risk that comes with Inward and Outward Transfers both TACH and wire transfers and the relevant mitigating controls for the process.
Ensure adherence to statutory, sanctions, legal, internal Controls and group requirements.
Comply with operational risk and rigour standards in respect of protecting people, customers, assets and the organisation.
Achieve operational rigour excellence in all aspects of activities, processes and procedures undertaken and ensure the bank attains a Green Audit.
Maintain high standard in day-to-day processes, fight negligence within the team and ensure nil operational losses.
Continuous Improvement/ development
Weighting 5%
Identify potential training for your team and personal development.
Identify knowledge gaps, skills and competences then engage with the People Function for development plan.
Develop and agree individual performance objectives, standards and targets for staff under your control.
Ensure skills matrix are in place and used for TNA (Training Needs analysis) purposes in conjunction with Learning and Development (L&D).
Responsible for control, direction and motivation of staff in Doc preparation and helpdesk. These include performance contracts, constant coaching and feedback.
Provide payments expertise to ensure complex cases are handled seamlessly with minimum supervision and to reduce escalations & dependencies.
Risk and Controls Objectives
Ensure that all activities and duties are carried out in full compliance with regulatory requirements, Absa Operational Risk Framework and internal Absa Policies and Standards.
Manage risk and control effectively by applying applicable risk frameworks and embedding a positive risk culture.
Ability to maintain composure during stressful situations to enable clear thinking and effective decision-making.
Understanding of own role in the end-to-end processes in which you play a part, including applicable risks and controls.
Adhere to Absa's policies and procedures applicable to own role, demonstrating sound judgement and responsible risk management.
Report all risk events / incidents / issues using the defined process for your business area and help to understand why these happened and how to prevent them in future.
Proactively look for ways to improve the control environment by considering what could go wrong in the processes you operate and how errors could be prevented.
Continuous and proactive engagement with regulatory bodies, unions where applicable.
Ensure all mandatory training is completed before deadlines.
Technical skills / Competencies
Strong leadership and team management skills.
Excellent organizational and time management abilities.
Proficiency in accounting software and Microsoft Office Suite (especially Excel).
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Capable of facilitating/running workshops related to TACH and SWIFT.
Highly skilled in influencing and stakeholder management to ensure the successful delivery of Business targets under Payment.
Confident and able to influence Senior leaders.
Ability to demonstrate the following Competencies:
Personal Impact – Performance Climate.
Relationship/Partnership approach.
Team building/Team Player.
Drive for Results.
Multi-skilled operationally.
Interpersonal relationship.
Problem Solving.
Quick thinker.
Computer Literate.
Knowledge, Expertise and Experience
Expert knowledge on Payment Techniques both TISS/TIPS/TACH/EAPS/SADC RTGS etc.
Able to adopt and/or coach the use of a variety of methods to keep Payment processes up to date within acceptable standards.
Ensure smooth implementation of work packages pertinent to the Outward/Inward transfers.
Understanding of Bank's systems that support payment processing.
Understanding of message types and their usage.
Understand new introduced payments systems operate as we move to a digital-led organization.
Understand Bank strategy.
General knowledge of the bank processes like Foreign Exchange, trade and other products.
Flexibility when required to work longer hours to cater for the demands of the job especially during peak periods.
Absa Values
Trust
Resourceful
Stewardship
Inclusive
Courage
Education
Higher Diplomas: Business, Commerce and Management Studies (Required)

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