Head of Payments Technology

M&T Bank; Buffalo (NY); On-site; USD 201,000 - 335,000; Full time

Job summary

M&T Bank in Buffalo, NY seeks a Head of Payments Technology to define and deliver the next generation of the bank's payments ecosystem, leading strategy, architecture, engineering, modernization, and operations to move money quickly, securely, and reliably.

This role combines deep payments expertise with strategic vision, engineering credibility, and the ability to lead large, diverse teams through transformative programs, cloud adoption, and AI-enabled initiatives.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of higher education and/or work experience, including 4+ years in engineering/architecture and 11+ years in technology management/leadership
• Significant experience leading enterprise technology strategy, engineering organizations, and major transformation programs
• Deep understanding of the payments ecosystem (Wire, ACH, ISO 20022, RTP, FedNow) and regulatory requirements
• Experience with cloud transformation, APIs, distributed systems, platform engineering, and AI-enabled technologies

Responsibilities

• Define and execute an enterprise payments technology strategy aligned with client needs, business priorities, and risk expectations
• Modernize mission-critical platforms across Wire, ACH, SWIFT, RTP, and emerging payments capabilities
• Build and nurture an AI-enabled engineering organization with DevSecOps, observability, and automated delivery
• Ensure platforms meet availability, resiliency, security, and regulatory requirements
• Inspire and develop large, multidisciplinary teams and foster collaboration across tech, product, operations, and risk
• Develop strategic partnerships with technology providers, payment networks, fintechs, and industry groups

Skills

Leadership experience

Payments domain knowledge

Strategy & architecture

Cloud transformation

AI-enabled engineering

Regulatory compliance

Education

Master's degree in a related field

Tools

Azure cloud technologies

Job description

Shape the Future of Payments at M&T Bank!

Payments connect people and businesses to the opportunities that matter most. They are also among the most rapidly evolving, and mission-critical capabilities in financial services.

M&T Bank is seeking a Head of Payments Technology to define and deliver the next generation of the Bank’s payments ecosystem. Reporting to the Divisional Chief Information Officer for Wealth, Institutional Services, Core Banking, Operations Technology, and Payments, this executive will lead the strategy, architecture, engineering, modernization, and operation of the technology that enables money to move quickly, securely and reliably.

This is a rare opportunity to lead a portfolio at the center of M&T’s transformation. You will modernize critical payment platforms, advance real-time and emerging payment capabilities, build an AI-enabled engineering organization, and help shape how M&T serves clients, businesses, and communities for years to come.

The successful candidate will combine deep payments expertise with strategic vision, engineering credibility, operational discipline, and an ability to inspire large, diverse teams.

Primary Responsibilities

Define the Future of M&T’s Payments Ecosystem

• Develop and execute an enterprise payments technology strategy aligned with client needs, business priorities, risk expectations, and long-term growth.
• Connect technology investments to measurable improvements in client experience, business growth, operating efficiency, and risk reduction.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior business and technology leaders on payments strategy, technology investments, transformation priorities, risks, and trade-offs.
• Build strong partnerships across Payments, Product, Operations, Risk, Compliance, Architecture, and Technology.

Modernize Mission-Critical Platforms

• Lead the transformation of platforms supporting Wire, ACH, SWIFT, RTP, FedNow, Digital Assets, and emerging payment capabilities.
• Drive major initiatives such as Wire transformation, Payments Hub implementation, cloud adoption, and application portfolio simplification.
• Advance cloud-enabled, API-driven, event-driven, and platform-based architectures.
• Balance the speed of transformation with the operational discipline required to protect clients and maintain uninterrupted payment services.

Build an AI-Enabled Engineering Organization

• Create a culture of engineering excellence grounded in ownership, innovation, craftsmanship, and continuous improvement.
• Advance AI-enabled software engineering, DevSecOps, automation, observability, modern testing, and continuous delivery.
• Establish modern engineering practices that increase delivery speed without compromising quality or control.
• Create an environment where teams can experiment responsibly, learn rapidly, and scale proven ideas.

Deliver Resilience, Security, and Trust

• Ensure payment platforms meet demanding expectations for availability, resiliency, scalability, cybersecurity, recovery, and regulatory compliance.
• Embed risk and control requirements into architecture, engineering, delivery, and production operations.
• Strengthen operational resilience and production readiness.
• Make reliability and operational excellence defining characteristics of the payments technology organization.

Inspire and Develop Exceptional Teams

• Lead a large, multidisciplinary technology organization
• Attract, develop, and retain outstanding engineers, managers, and transformation leaders.
• Foster a culture where colleagues feel a strong sense of belonging, purpose, accountability, and opportunity.
• Model collaborative leadership and create an organization capable of sustaining long-term transformation.

Build Strategic Partnerships

• Develop relationships with technology providers, payment networks, fintech firms, industry organizations, and professional services partners.
• Monitor industry developments, evolving standards, regulatory expectations, and emerging technologies.
• Position M&T to respond thoughtfully and competitively to changes across the Payments ecosystem.
• Represent the Bank as a credible and forward-looking payments technology leader.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities

50 to 100

Education and Experience Required

• A combined minimum of 15 years’ higher education and/or work experience, including a minimum of 4 years’ engineering and architecture experience and 11 years' large technology management / program leadership experience including people management
• Significant experience leading enterprise technology strategy, engineering organizations, and major transformation programs.
• Demonstrated ability to lead large organizations across multiple teams, locations, and time zones.
• Deep understanding of the payments ecosystem, including Wire, ACH, SWIFT, ISO 20022, RTP, FedNow, and emerging capabilities.
• Proven success modernizing mission-critical technology platforms in complex, highly regulated environments.
• Experience with cloud transformation, APIs, distributed systems, platform engineering, and event-driven architecture.
• Strong understanding of cybersecurity, operational resilience, recovery planning, technology risk, internal controls, and regulatory requirements.
• Experience leading significant system enhancements, conversions, modernization programs, and complex production environments.
• Strong knowledge of Gen AI, AI-enabled technologies, and emerging technology trends, with demonstrated experience applying these capabilities to enterprise business challenges.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex programs, financial commitments, delivery streams, and organizational priorities.
• Exceptional analytical, problem-solving, decision-making, and communication skills.
• Experience presenting to executive leadership, management committees, business partners, and senior stakeholders.
• A record of building collaborative, accountable, and high-performing teams.

Education and Experience Preferred

• Master's degree
• Minimum of 14 years' technology management or large program leadership experience
• Experience with Azure cloud technologies
• Strong vendor, payment network, fintech, and strategic technology partnership experience.

Why Join M&T

At M&T, technology leadership is about more than implementing systems. It is about earning trust, strengthening communities, enabling clients, and building capabilities that stand the test of time.

In this role, you will lead a portfolio that is fundamental to client confidence, economic activity, operational resilience, and the Bank’s future growth. You will have the opportunity to modernize foundational platforms, introduce new payment capabilities, advance responsible AI adoption, and develop leaders.

You will work at the intersection of technology, product, operations, risk, and business strategy. You will influence decisions at the highest levels of the organization while remaining closely connected to the teams turning strategy into dependable outcomes.

If you are inspired by the opportunity to transform complex systems, build exceptional teams, and shape the future of how money moves, we invite you to bring your vision and leadership to M&T Bank.

#LI-JB3

M&T Bank is committed to fair, competitive, and market-informed pay for our employees. The pay range for this position is $201,200.00 - $335,300.00 Annual (USD). The successful candidate’s particular combination of knowledge, skills, and experience will inform their specific compensation.

Location

Buffalo, New York, United States of America

M&T Bank Corporation is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer, including disabilities and veterans.