Our client, an international bank based in Malta, is looking for a Senior Payments Controls Officer to join their team.

The Senior Payments Controls Officer will report directly to the Senior Payments Manager and will be part of the Payments Team, which is responsible for the bank’s day-to-day payments operations.

Candidate Profile

The role is suited to a highly organised and detail-oriented professional who will support and strengthen the governance, efficiency, and resilience of our client’s payments operations. The Senior Payments Controls Officer acts as a key partner to the Senior Payments Manager, providing oversight of daily operational processes, monitoring control effectiveness, and driving continuous improvement initiatives.

The successful candidate will identify operational risks, implement and maintain robust control measures, and ensure ongoing compliance with regulatory and internal standards. The role requires strong analytical capabilities, sound judgement, a proactive approach to issue resolution, and the ability to operate with a high degree of autonomy and accountability.

Main Areas of Responsibility

• Develop, implement, and maintain payments operational control procedures to ensure compliance with internal policies, procedures, and applicable regulatory requirements.

• Monitor day-to-day payments operations through daily controls and ad-hoc spot checks to identify inefficiencies, errors, and potential operational risks.

• Liaise daily with the Payments Processing Team to support the efficient execution of operational tasks, with particular focus on daily pay-in and pay-out activities and related accounting postings.

• Support the line manager in managing daily funding requirements and coordinating treasury movements related to payments activities.

• Oversee settlement and fee reconciliations with all relevant third-party payment service providers.

• Design and implement process improvements to streamline and automate reconciliation activities, with a focus on reducing errors and processing time.

• Communicate effectively with internal stakeholders to resolve reconciliation-related queries and operational issues in a timely manner.

• Analyse operational data and performance metrics to monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and assess payments operational and portfolio performance.

• Perform daily monitoring of third-party provider (TPP) uptime, abandonment rates, and decline rates, escalating issues where necessary.

• Execute and report post-release regression testing to ensure system stability and control effectiveness following system changes or deployments.

• Monitor and report on chargeback activity and fraud-related trends, supporting risk mitigation initiatives.

• Collaborate with internal departments on projects and initiatives and support the resolution of payments operational issues as required.

• Assist management in conducting periodic audits and operational reviews to assess control effectiveness and identify opportunities for improvement.

• Develop, maintain, and update documentation relating to operational procedures, controls, and risk assessments.

• Support the training and ongoing guidance of staff to ensure consistent adherence to operational policies, procedures, and controls.

• Prepare management information, reports, and presentations for senior management, highlighting operational performance, risks, and improvement recommendations.

• Participate in relevant training and professional development activities to maintain and enhance technical and regulatory knowledge.

Skills and Experience

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Banking, Finance, Business, or a related field.

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in a similar role.

• Exceptional communication and organisational skills.

• Ability to manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.

• Strong time management skills.

• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision as well as collaboratively within a team.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.

• High attention to detail and accuracy when handling sensitive information.