Payment Operations – Team Lead (12m FTC)

Handelsbanken; Manchester; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Handelsbanken Manchester is seeking a Payment Operations Team Lead to support the Head of Payment & Card Operations and ensure superior service to UK branches while maintaining compliance with payment schemes.

You will lead a team of specialists, manage training and staffing to meet demand, and drive continuous improvement in payment processes and risk management within a trusted, locally governed bank environment.

Qualifications

• Previous banking and payment operations experience is essential.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; professional interaction across levels.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team delivering high-quality, cost-efficient service to UK branches.
• Develop and support team wellbeing and future roles within the department and bank.
• Manage training to ensure uninterrupted service during absences; mitigate single-person dependency.
• Monitor payment volumes and allocate staff resources to meet changing demand.
• Document and implement routines to ensure timely, accurate payments within intraday deadlines and regulatory requirements.
• Ensure processes comply with instructions and regulatory/payment scheme requirements.
• Drive efficiency and risk management through new methods, products, or technologies.
• Carry out payment operations tasks when required to support critical processes.
• Work to tight deadlines with high accuracy.
• Deliver payment projects with proper risk consideration and controls before implementation.
• Engage with stakeholders across branches, finance, risk, compliance and 3rd party providers.
• Promote adherence to the Bank's Risk Management framework and escalation of concerns.

Skills

Banking experience

Leadership

Communication

Organizational skills

Problem solving

Job description

Job Introduction

Handelsbanken is a relationship bank built on trust, long-term thinking and local decision-making. We provide bespoke banking and wealth management services to personal and corporate customers,

Job Introduction

Handelsbanken is a relationship bank built on trust, long-term thinking and local decision-making. We provide bespoke banking and wealth management services to personal and corporate customers,

Our decentralised model means decisions are made close to the customer, in our branches. Our central Functions teams play a vital role in supporting the branch network, providing the expertise, governance and infrastructure that enable branches to serve customers effectively and sustainably.

This approach had underpinned our success for decades. Handelsbanken is independently recognised as one of Europe’s safest commercial banks, holds the strongest credit rating among its peers and is consistently ranked highly for customer satisfaction and relationship banking.

Our culture is values-led, shaped by trust, respect, and long-term thinking. We empower our people to use their expertise, make confident decisions and build long-term careers. We look for people who share our long- term vision, want to grow and want to make a meaningful impact in their local community and with the Bank

We also recognise that flexibility can support people to perform at their best, and that it looks different for everyone. While arrangements will depend on the requirements of the role and the needs of the business, we are open to having a conversation around what flexibility could look like for you.

Check our Handelsbanken website for further information

The opportunity

This is an exciting development opportunity for a highly motivated individual to join an established Payment Operations team within the Manchester Office.

The role of the Payment Operations Team Lead reports directly into and supports the Head of Payment & Card Operations to ensure a high level of service is provided to all UK Branches, helping them to deliver an excellent service to our customers whilst ensuring compliance with payment scheme rules. The role will also be responsible for ensuring good control of processes to mitigate risks and also developing and supporting a number of Payment & Card Operations Officers.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead a team of individuals offering a range of different skills and abilities to deliver a high quality and cost efficient service to branches.


• Support the growth and development of a team of individuals, supporting their wellbeing and preparing them for future roles within the department and the Bank.


• Manage training requirements of the team to ensure uninterrupted service during absences, mitigating the risk of single person dependency


• Continuous monitoring of payment volumes and demand from branches to allocate staff resources accordingly, ensuring the day to day activities and work flow are adequately prioritised to suit shifting demand


• Establishing, documenting and implementing routines that ensure the incoming and outgoing payments flow efficiently, in a timely manner and within the established intraday deadlines / cut off times, industry / scheme rules and regulatory requirements


• Ensure that all processes are actioned in accordance with instructions and Payment Scheme/Regulatory requirements.


• Develop or support the introduction of new and improved methods of working, products, procedures or technologies; driving efficiencies and risk management.


• Undertake, when required, any of the Payment Operations processes to ensure critical tasks are undertaken


• Work to tight deadlines whilst maintaining a high level of accuracy


• Ensure all Payment Projects/initiatives/changes are delivered in a controlled manner with all risks considered and all relevant processes/ instructions in place before implementation.


• Engage with relevant stakeholders, including branch staff, finance, risk, compliance and 3 rd party providers as and when required to drive initiatives or resolve payment related issues


• Actively promote and ensure adherence to the Bank's Risk Management framework (including sub-frameworks) and relevant risk and compliance policies and procedures, ensuring timely and appropriate escalation of concerns to relevant senior stakeholders.


• Support and embed the Handelsbanken culture within the department

What We’re Looking For

• Previous banking and payment operations experience is essential.


• Leadership skills and experience of developing people is desirable but not essential


• An enthusiastic and dynamic self-starter


• Excellent verbal and written communication skills: able to interact and deal with queries in a professional manner.


• Ability to thrive in a busy environment and work to tight deadlines


• Excellent organisational skills and the ability to manage a number of tasks and display initiative


• Confident, professional and friendly telephone manner


• Able to maintain working relationships with a wide range of people and engage with stakeholders at all levels


• The ability to solve problems and deliver effective solutions

Why join Handelsbanken

We want everyone at Handelsbanken to feel supported, motivated, and able to do great work. That’s why, alongside brilliant colleagues, meaningful work and training and development opportunities, we provide a variety of benefits designed with your wellbeing in mind.

In addition, there is a flexible benefits package with the key highlights detailed below.

The Bank is deeply committed to embedding good equality and diversity practice into all of our activities. This is so that we are an inclusive, welcoming and inspiring place to work that encourages everyone to apply, regardless of socio-economic background, age, disability, pregnancy and/or parental status, race (including colour, nationality, and ethnic or national origin), veteran status, marital and civil partnership status, religion or belief, sex, gender reassignment or sexual orientation.