Job Purpose
The Senior Officer, Payment Investigation is responsible for managing payment exceptions, reconciling Nostro and Inter-Branch accounts, and investigating discrepancies related to non-receipt or defaulted funds.
The role ensures that exceptions are handled according to established Business-as-Usual timelines, escalation matrices, reconciliation policies, and operational procedures. It also supports risk mitigation, timely reporting, accurate account monitoring, and effective service delivery to internal and external customers.
Key Responsibilities
- Reconcile Nostro, Inter-Branch, General Ledger, card, ATM, CDM, and other assigned accounts.
- Verify that ledger entries match bank statements and branch ledger entries.
- Investigate outstanding items, payment discrepancies, overdrafts, deal-rounding differences, and non-receipt of funds.
- Follow up with relevant branches, departments, business units, and correspondent banks until outstanding items are resolved.
- Escalate payment exceptions according to agreed BAU timelines, risk levels, and escalation matrices.
- Initiate and manage exception-related correspondence through the ITRACS Exception Management interface.
- Ensure outstanding items are accurately reflected in the reconciliation system.
- Monitor Nostro account service charges and escal…
- Prepare SWIFT messages for follow-up with correspondent banks.
- Support the monthly settlement of deal-rounding differences resulting from exchange-rate variations.
- Prepare accurate daily MIS reports, dashboards, exception reports, statistics, and traffic-light reports.
- Maintain daily tick lists and ensure all time-sensitive activities are completed within the required timelines.
- Escalate operational risks, irregularities, and incomplete tasks to the Senior Officer or Section Head.
- Ensure records and supporting documents are updated and filed daily.
- Respond promptly to inquiries from internal and external customers.
- Support workload distribution and provide coverage during employee leave or absence.
- Contribute suggestions to improve operational efficiency, service quality, risk controls, and reconciliation processes.
- Follow all departmental policies, procedures, operating standards, and internal control requirements.
- Demonstrate the organisation’s values and ethical standards at all times.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Business Economics, Commerce, Accounting, Finance, or a related discipline.
Experience and Technical Knowledge
- 3–5 years of relevant banking-sector experience.
- At least 3 years of experience in a similar role involving account reconciliation.
- Practical experience in Cards, Nostro, and internal account reconciliation.
- Knowledge of IntelliMatch or similar reconciliation systems.
- Knowledge of SWIFT standards, particularly MT940 and MT950 messages.
- Experience in exception management, payment investigation, operational risk, and MIS reporting.
Key Competencies
- Strong analytical and investigative skills.
- Good judgment and decision-making ability.
- High attention to detail and accuracy.
- Effective follow-up and escalation skills.
- Ability to manage time-sensitive and high-volume activities.
- Strong understanding of operational risk and control procedures.
- Good written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to work effectively with internal departments and correspondent banks.