Head of Payments Technology & Transformation

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

Job summary

M&T Bank Corporation in Buffalo, NY seeks a Head of Payments Technology to define and deliver the next generation of the Bank’s payments ecosystem. You will lead the strategy, architecture, engineering, modernization, and operation of core payment platforms to move money quickly, securely, and reliably.

The role combines deep payments expertise with a vision for scalable AI-enabled engineering, cloud adoption, and strong risk management, guiding large, diverse teams across functions and

Qualifications

• Minimum of 15 years of higher education and/or work experience with at least 4 years in engineering/architecture and 11 years in large technology leadership.
• Experience leading enterprise technology strategy, engineering organizations, and major transformation programs.
• 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 platforms in regulated environments.
• Experience with cloud, APIs, distributed systems, platform engineering, and event-driven architecture.
• Strong knowledge of cybersecurity, resilience, recovery planning, and regulatory requirements.
• Experience applying Gen AI and AI-enabled technologies to enterprise challenges.
• Ability to manage multiple programs, budgets, and priorities.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Experience presenting to executives and senior stakeholders.
• Record of building collaborative, high-performing teams.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute an enterprise payments technology strategy aligned with client needs and business priorities.
• Modernize platforms supporting Wire, ACH, SWIFT, RTP, FedNow, and emerging capabilities.
• Drive cloud adoption, API-driven and event-driven architectures, and platform engineering initiatives.
• Build an AI-enabled engineering organization with DevSecOps, automation, observability, and continuous delivery.
• Ensure availability, resiliency, security, regulatory compliance, and production readiness of payment platforms.
• Lead a large, multidisciplinary technology organization and develop leaders across teams.
• Foster strategic partnerships with technology providers, networks, fintechs, and industry groups.

Skills

Payments strategy

Enterprise architecture

Cloud transformation

AI-enabled engineering

Leadership & people management

Security & compliance

Stakeholder communication

Program management

Education

Master’s degree

Tools

Azure cloud technologies

ISO 20022

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.

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.

Location Buffalo, New York, United States of America

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.

Great companies have an enduring sense of purpose. At M&T, our purpose is a simple one: make a difference in people’s lives and uplift the communities we serve. M&T Bank Corporation is a financial holding company headquartered in Buffalo, New York. M&T’s affiliates offer advice, guidance, expertise and solutions across the entire financial spectrum, combining M&T Bank’s traditional banking services with the wealth management and institutional capabilities offered by Wilmington Trust. M&T Bank has a network of over 1,000 branches and 2,200 ATMs that span 12 states from Maine to Virginia and Washington, D.C. For more than 165 years, M&T has strived to take an active role in our communities and build long‑lasting relationships with our customers. We are a bank for communities—combining the capabilities of a large bank with the care of a locally focused institution. As an employer of choice, we are proud to offer competitive benefits ranging from medical and retirement to forty hours of paid volunteer time, each year. Our core values - integrity, ownership, collaboration, curiosity, and candor - drive the work we do. We seek to further build upon our record of success by bringing in top talent and fresh skill sets while continuing to support the growth and development of all our team members. View M&T’s Human Capital Report to learn more.

M&T Bank is unwavering when it comes to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, age, disability, citizenship, pregnancy, veteran status, military status, marital status, sexual orientation, genetic information or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state or local laws.

M&T Bank Corporation has policies and procedures in place to promote a drug free workplace.