Senior Specialist, Global Payment Operations- Sydney

We are seeking a highly capable Senior Specialist, Global Payment Operations to support the execution of critical payment processing activities within a controlled, deadline-driven environment. This role is responsible for ensuring the accurate and timely processing of payment transactions across multiple channels, while maintaining a strong focus on risk management, operational control, regulatory compliance, and service delivery.

The successful candidate will play an important role in managing day-to-day payment activities, resolving operational exceptions, supporting escalations, and contributing to ongoing process improvement and automation initiatives. This role also provides guidance to junior team members and supports operational resilience across the broader payment function.

Key Responsibilities

• Execute and oversee daily payment processing activities across domestic and international payment channels.
• Monitor payment queues and workflow tools to ensure transactions are processed, investigated, and released within required timeframes.
• Manage priority, urgent, and high-value payments in line with cut-off times, market deadlines, and business requirements.
• Investigate and resolve payment exceptions, failed transactions, unmatched items, and operational breaks within agreed service standards.
• Perform operational control checks and approvals in accordance with internal procedures, delegated authorities, and compliance requirements.
• Escalate issues, incidents, and system disruptions in a timely manner, ensuring appropriate stakeholder engagement and resolution support.
• Work closely with internal teams, technology partners, correspondent banks, and external stakeholders to resolve processing issues and improve service outcomes.
• Support audit, risk, regulatory, and compliance activities by maintaining accurate records, providing evidence, and adhering to required procedures.
• Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency, reduce manual intervention, strengthen controls, and support automation initiatives.
• Contribute to change initiatives, system testing, implementation activities, and process redesign impacting the payments operating model.
• Provide day-to-day support and subject matter guidance to junior team members to promote consistency, control awareness, and service quality.
• Assist in preparing operational updates, issue summaries, management reporting, and service performance commentary as required.
• Support business continuity, contingency activities, and peak processing periods to ensure ongoing service stability.

What We’re Looking For

• Demonstrated experience in payment operations, cash operations, transaction processing, or a related banking operations environment.
• Strong understanding of end-to-end payment processing, including investigations, exception handling, and settlement deadlines.
• Experience working in a high-volume, time-sensitive environment with strong control and risk discipline.
• Sound knowledge of operational controls, escalation practices, and incident handling.
• Ability to assess issues, prioritize effectively, and make sound decisions under pressure.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to engage effectively across teams and functions.
• High attention to detail, with strong accuracy and accountability in transaction execution.
• A continuous improvement mindset, with the ability to identify process inefficiencies and support practical enhancements.

Preferred Experience

• Experience with SWIFT payments, global payment messaging, and correspondent banking workflows.
• Experience with local payment systems and Austraclear preferred.
• Familiarity with sanctions screening, and compliance-related payment controls.
• Exposure to automation, workflow optimization, or operational transformation initiatives.
• Experience working across regional or global support models, including coordination with offshore teams.

Qualifications

• 7 to 10 years’ experience in banking, financial services, or payment operations roles preferred. 
• Tertiary qualification in finance, commerce, business, or a related field is preferred.