AVP Payment Operations

Lead the day-to-day execution of global payment operations while executing the strategic transformation of payment operations, processes, and operating models across Global Funds Transfer (GFT) & Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) to improve efficiency, scalability, compliance, risk management, and members experience.  Ensure that operational performance and resilience are tightly aligned with the desired members and internal stakeholders’ experience. Ensure that payment services operate reliably, new capabilities are implemented effectively, and strategic change programs deliver measurable value across the organization.  Serve as a strategic leading change agent, modernizing payment operations to support growth, innovation, and evolving payment capabilities.

This position is hybrid.

NYC Salary range: $163,010 - $208,950 annually; compensation is commensurate to geographic location.

• Regardless of seniority or role, uphold UNFCU’s mission, core values, and guiding principles by providing an exceptional service experience to colleagues and members alike through consistent demonstration of our service excellence behaviors.
• Provide leadership and oversight of daily domestic and international payment operations, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and service reliability across all payment channels.
• Lead and develop GFT & EFT payment operations management (director, managers, supervisors) and teams, promoting a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and service excellence.
• Ensure effective monitoring, controls, and risk management frameworks are embedded within payment operations to support regulatory compliance, internal policy adherence, and timely identification and mitigation of operational and compliance risks.
• Establish, monitor, and improve operational KPIs, SLAs, and service standards in alignment with payments experience objectives.
• Ensure operational readiness and resiliency, including volume surges, incident response, and business continuity planning.
• Lead and oversee Payment Operations with strong governance, controls, and monitoring to ensure high operational standards, regulatory compliance, sound risk management, and successful audit outcomes.
• Support preparation for internal audits, internal reviews, quality control, and NCUA regulatory examinations.
• Serve as a senior change leader, guiding teams through risk management requirements, technology adoption and process transformation.
• Participate in oversight of vendors (banks, networks and fintech) and manage operational relationships with partners to drive payments efficiency, reduce exceptions handling, enhance service quality, resilience, and continuous improvement, ensuring compliance with UNFCU third-party risk management requirements.
• Lead and support the execution of operational optimization through payments platform enhancements, workflow redesign, reduce manual intervention, increase straight through processing, enhance transparency and improve end-to-end payment processes.
• Support VP Payments Experience with the adoption and integration of fintech and emerging payments technologies, including real-time payment platforms, API-based connectivity, cross-border fintech solutions, and AI-enabled capabilities to modernize payment operations, improve scalability, and enhance the end-to-end payments experience.
• Direct and support payment modernization initiatives, including ISO 20022 migration opportunities, evaluation of FedLine Advantage to FedLine Direct including preparation for extended Federal Reserve operating hours, expansion of real-time payments for U.S. domestic and cross-border use cases, and exploration of AI/ML capabilities in partnership with UNFCU Technology to enable more automation and digitization of payment operations.
• Collaborate with Technology/Product, Finance, Risk, Compliance, and external vendors to deliver integrated payment solutions.
• Support RFP processes, vendor selection and contract negotiations.
• Manage the payment operations budget, staffing models, and resource planning.
• Track and report operational performance and transformation outcomes to leadership.
• Manage the selection, coaching, evaluation and development of departmental management. Complete performance evaluations and counsel staff as necessary.
• Uphold UNFCU’s mission and core values by promoting teamwork to drive achievement of corporate and departmental goals and objectives.
• Participate in UNFCU training programs.
• Perform additional responsibilities as assigned
• Uphold UNFCU’s compliance with the Bank Secrecy Act and anti-money laundering policies and procedures, including:

• • Maintain awareness of and report suspicious activity
  • Complete all relevant BSA reports promptly and accurately (e.g. CTRs, SARs)
  • Complete annual BSA/AML/OFAC training

• Bachelor’s degree in business or related field
• 10+ years of experience in payment operations within major banks, credit unions, fintech
• Proven experience leading payment operations teams and complex, multi-rail payment environments
• Demonstrated success leading payments transformation, modernization, or change management
• Strong understanding of domestic and international payment rails (ACH, Fedwire, RTP, FedNow, Zelle, SWIFT, SEPA, global real time payments, cross-border and fintech payments technology)
• Executive-level communication and stakeholder management skills

• Project management experience and/or certification preferred
• Understanding of foreign exchange markets, risk management, global payment regulations
• Microsoft Office Excel and Power Point proficiency
• Strong analytical skills with proven ability to translate data into meaningful information and actions
• Strong critical thinking skills with innovation mindset

UNFCU is a global not-for-profit financial institution that serves the UN community. We are committed to providing peace of mind to our members and colleagues and strive to achieve service excellence in all that we do. The best part of UNFCU is the people. Those that choose to work with us often find personal fulfillment, professional growth and a purposeful culture. 

UNFCU is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. UNFCU prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type. All applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic