Payment Officer

About the Role

Join a leading African financial institution with over a century of rich history, where you can contribute to shaping Africa's future. As a Payment Officer in the Commercial Operations' Transaction Processing team under the COO's function, you will play a vital role in ensuring the accurate and timely handling of foreign paper payments, as well as local and international electronic transactions.

Key Responsibilities

• Process foreign payments exceeding $2000 and manage advance income tax-related queries.
• Prepare and submit monthly reports on non-compliant clients to the finance department before deadlines.
• Authorize manual and SFI entries for all currencies on NOSTRO accounts and handle MT199/MT202/MT299 messaging.
• Investigate returned cross-border funds, communicate findings to branches and relationship managers within SLA timelines.
• Reconstruct funds returned through integrator, internet banking, branches, and inward returns.
• Serve as the primary contact for correspondent banking SWIFT message inquiries and investigations.
• Advise compliance teams on outstanding NOSTRO items due to sanctions delays and prepare detailed breakdowns for management actions.
• Monitor and resolve outstanding transactions affecting NOSTRO and suspense accounts, ensuring adherence to FTOs and SDV policies.
• Compile team returns, management information, and End of Day reports.
• Record and manage unpaid cheque details, verify and authorize accounting entries according to financial targets.
• Lead and mentor team members, fostering professional growth and succession planning.
• Uphold all activities in strict compliance with regulatory requirements, risk frameworks, and internal policies.

Required Skills and Competencies

• Strong analytical ability with attention to detail.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills for managing relationships at various levels.
• Proficient keyboard skills with accuracy and speed.
• Skills in interviewing, recruitment, project management, and training.
• Good negotiation, listening, questioning, planning, and organizational capabilities.
• Ability to work independently with resilience, flexibility, and a quality-focused mindset.
• Solid knowledge of bank bookkeeping, reconciliation, SWIFT messaging, and clearing rules.
• Experience working with bank systems such as Sybrin, Laser Archive, FOS, and E-box payment platforms.
• Comprehensive understanding of banking policies, procedures, compliance, and risk management.

Additional Qualifications and Experience

• A Bachelor’s degree or advanced diploma/certificate in banking, economics, business administration, or related fields is preferred.
• Minimum of one year of relevant work experience in banking or financial services.
• Awareness of cultural and regulatory differences across regions.
• Familiarity with correspondent banking practices, Nostro and Vostro account management.

Professional Attributes

• Strong data and digital literacy.
• Ability to manage multiple stakeholders effectively with influencing and negotiation skills.
• Results-oriented with good time management and the ability to perform under pressure.

Education Requirement

Further Education and Training Certificate in Business, Commerce, and Management Studies or equivalent is required.