Senior Payment Operations Specialist

Job Title:

Senior Payment Operations Specialist

Location:

OH - Columbus

What you'll do:

As a Senior Payment Operations Specialist you'll support the enterprise payment processing by executing and monitoring higher-risk and higher complexity payment activities transactions across multiple payment rails to ensure accuracy, timeliness, and adherence to bank controls and policies. In this role you'll be responsible for accurately processing payment transactions, resolving advanced exceptions, and meeting established deadlines while maintaining operational and regulatory compliance. The role partners closely with internal teams such as branches, Treasury Management, Client Support, Risk, Compliance, and Operations leadership to research escalated issues, provide subject‑matter support, and ensure appropriate resolution of payment‑related inquiries. This position serves as an experienced individual contributor within Payment Operations, distinguished by deeper payment expertise, sound judgment within policy, and the ability to support and guide less‑experienced team members.

Scheduled hours: 8:30 - 5 pst

• Responsible for supporting the Payment Operations team in processing, verifying, and reviewing payment transactions across multiple payment rails, including higher‑risk or non‑standard activity, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and adherence to established policies, procedures, and approval limits.
• Perform advanced payment research, resolve complex exceptions or returns, and make informed decisions within defined authority levels. Identify issues requiring escalation and provide clear documentation, analysis, and recommendations to leadership as appropriate.
• Provide advanced operational support to internal customers, respond to escalated inquiries, and act as a resource to teammates by sharing expertise, mentoring less‑experienced staff, and supporting training or knowledge transfer activities.
• Apply regulatory, compliance, fraud, and risk controls to payment processing activities, identify trends or recurring issues, and contribute to continuous improvement efforts, procedure updates, or projects impacting Payment Operations.

What you'll need:

• 3+ years of related experience in Financial Services, Payment Operations, Financial Services, Payment Operations or similar field.
• High school diploma required; Some college or technical training preferred.
• Entry level to intermediate knowledge of general banking operations, including deposit operations, loan administration, treasury management and/or other commercial banking products and services.
• Entry level to intermediate knowledge of applicable regulatory and legal compliance obligations, rules and regulations, industry standards and practices.
• Entry level to intermediate knowledge of electronic payment transactions and basic exception handling, transaction research, and customer account support activities within defined procedures.
• Ability to apply risk, fraud, and compliance controls to payment processing activities. 
• Thrive in operational environments with strict deadlines, demonstrating attention to detail, accuracy, and adherence to documented controls, policies, and risk mitigation practices.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment under time‑sensitive conditions, and supporting continuous improvement, training, or knowledge‑sharing efforts within an operations environment.
• Intermediate speaking and writing communication skills.

Compensation: Hourly range for new hires is generally $26.40 - $32.61 for Henderson, NV. Salary amount is determined by specific job location. In addition, the role may be eligible for annual bonus/incentives earned.

Benefits you’ll love:
We offer all the important things you'd want — like competitive salaries, an ownership stake in the company, medical and dental insurance, time off, a great 401k matching program, tuition assistance program, an employee volunteer program, and a wellness program. In addition, you’ll have the opportunity to bolster your business knowledge, learning the ins and outs of how successful companies operate and manage their finances, giving you invaluable hands-on experience to help grow your career!

About the company:

Western Alliance Bank, Member FDIC, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Western Alliance Bancorporation. Serving clients nationwide, Western Alliance Bank includes six legacy bank brands — Alliance Association Bank, Alliance Bank of Arizona, Bank of Nevada, Bridge Bank, First Independent Bank and Torrey Pines Bank — that remain part of the company’s heritage, as well as AmeriHome Mortgage, a Western Alliance Bank Company.

Western Alliance Bancorporation is committed to equal employment and will consider all qu