ICBA PAYMENTS - SPECIALIST, RISK OPERATIONS

ICBA; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work environment

Monthly work from home stipends

Flexible work hours

Tuition reimbursement

Fitness discounts

Work-life balance tools

Job summary

ICBA Payments seeks a Specialist, Risk Operations to support contract administration, vendor governance, and data accuracy across payments programs for community banks nationwide. You will maintain records, respond to complex requests, and improve reporting and processes.

The role operates in a hybrid work environment with opportunities in Washington, DC or Atlanta; salary range $55,000–$75,000 and competitive benefits are offered.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of relevant experience or bachelor’s degree in related field.
• 3–5+ years in vendor management, contract administration, or risk management strongly preferred.
• Prior experience supporting Financial Services, card debit and/or credit program strongly preferred.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to parse and analyze large sets of vendor data, spot trends, and find discrepancies.
• Exceptional stakeholder management and negotiation skills, capable of bridging the gap between technical teams and external vendors.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and update customer databases to ensure accuracy of contract, product and agreement records; proactively resolve discrepancies.
• Partner with Legal and internal teams to clarify and respond to non-standard or complex contract requests.
• Ensure end‑to‑end process documentation is maintained, including inputs, outputs, and responsible parties.
• Process and complete monthly contract enrollment and network sponsorship billing reports for vendor partners (FIS, Fiserv, Visa, Mastercard).
• Maintain document repository for Operations, agreements and other needed records.
• Coordinate with internal teams, card networks, processors, and issuing partners to ensure timely communication of contract and agreement status changes.
• Handle and respond to day‑to‑day customer and vendor correspondence related to payments, contracts, and agreements.
• Independently identify and recommend enhancements to reporting and operational processes to improve accuracy, efficiency, and customer satisfaction.
• Serve as backup support for Operations processes including licensing, billing, invoicing, and reporting.
• Support business owners vendor onboarding and offboarding processes and associated including due diligence and master data maintenance.
• Assist business owners in managing vendor relationships.
• Support vendor risk management processes and systems.
• Maintain and monitor CRM records, including FLPP customer profiles and data.
• Assist with audits performed by Payments or vendor partners and ensure discrepancies are resolved.
• Support leadership in assessing, identifying, and supporting mitigation of risks associated with third‑party vendors, financial and operational processes.
• Assist leadership with development of processes and reporting to define, measure, and monitor risks across financial and operational domains associated with our programs.
• Partner cross functionally to ensure consistent application of risk policies.
• Research, analyze, and report on trends related to bank attrition.

Skills

Vendor management

Contract administration

Risk management

Data analysis

Excel proficiency

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Tools

VMS

Procurement software

Microsoft Excel

Job description

ICBA Payments is seeking a Specialist, Risk Operations to help transform a steady 40-year business supporting the nation’s community banks to the future of payments. The Specialist, Risk Operations is responsible for managing the operations lifecycle of bank customer and vendor contracts/agreements, maintaining accurate operational and risk‑related records, and supporting vendor governance activities. This role ensures that contract/agreement documentation, system data, and reporting are complete, accurate, and aligned with standards. The Specialist partners cross‑functionally to support contract and product administration, vendor oversight, and operational reporting. The position also identifies opportunities to enhance data accuracy, operational efficiency, and customer and vendor experience.

This position is open to candidates in the Washington, DC and Atlanta areas.

What You’ll Do

• Maintain and update customer databases to ensure accuracy of contract, product and agreement records; proactively resolve discrepancies.
• Partner with Legal and internal teams to clarify and respond to non-standard or complex contract requests.
• Ensure end‑to‑end process documentation is maintained, including inputs, outputs, and responsible parties.
• Process and complete monthly contract enrollment and network sponsorship billing reports for vendor partners (FIS, Fiserv, Visa, Mastercard).
• Maintain document repository for Operations, agreements and other needed records.
• Coordinate with internal teams, card networks, processors, and issuing partners to ensure timely communication of contract and agreement status changes.
• Handle and respond to day‑to‑day customer and vendor correspondence related to payments, contracts, and agreements.
• Independently identify and recommend enhancements to reporting and operational processes to improve accuracy, efficiency, and customer satisfaction.
• Serve as backup support for Operations processes including licensing, billing, invoicing, and reporting.
• Support business owners vendor onboarding and offboarding processes and associated including due diligence and master data maintenance.
• Assist business owners in managing vendor relationships.
• Support vendor risk management processes and systems.
• Maintain and monitor CRM records, including FLPP customer profiles and data.
• Assist with audits performed by Payments or vendor partners and ensure discrepancies are resolved.
• Support leadership in assessing, identifying, and supporting mitigation of risks associated with third‑party vendors, financial and operational processes.
• Assist leadership with development of processes and reporting to define, measure, and monitor risks across financial and operational domains associated with our programs.
• Partner cross functionally to ensure consistent application of risk policies.
• Research, analyze, and report on trends related to bank attrition.

What You Bring

• 5+ years of relevant experience or bachelor’s degree in related field required.
• 3 – 5+ years in vendor management, contract administration, or risk management strongly preferred.
• Prior experience supporting Financial Services, card debit and/or credit program strongly preferred.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to parse and analyze large sets of vendor data, spot trends, and find discrepancies.
• Exceptional stakeholder management and negotiation skills, capable of bridging the gap between technical teams and external vendors.
• Experience with vendor management systems (VMS), procurement software, and advanced Microsoft Office Suite (especially Excel).
• Strong organizational and time management skills with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy.
• Strong customer service orientation.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

We recognize that candidates may not meet every qualification listed. If your background and experience are close to what we’re seeking, we encourage you to apply.

Benefits Of Working At ICBA

• Generous and competitive benefits package
• 401(k) savings plan offering 100% employer match of up to 6% of annual earnings.
• Hybrid work environment, monthly work from home stipends, and flexible work hours
• Fitness discounts, telemedicine, on-demand therapy, and work‑life balance tools
• Tuition reimbursement and allowances for professional development
• Frequent company social events
• Friendly and inclusive workplace culture

The target annual salary range for this role is currently $55,000 to $75,000 based on a regular, full‑time schedule. The amount of compensation offered will be determined by several factors, including but not limited to experience, qualifications, location, market data and internal equity.

ICBA is an equal opportunity employer committed to hiring a diverse workforce and sustaining an inclusive culture. ICBA does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, sex, color, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, mental or physical disability, genetic information, veteran status, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.

The Independent Community Bankers Of America (ICBA)’s Guiding Mission Is To Create And Promote Environments Where Community Banks Flourish. We Are

• Dedicated advocates providing community bankers, policymakers and the public with authoritative insights and resources to support and strengthen community banking.
• Knowledgeable, applying their expertise to offer personalized service that addresses the distinct challenges and opportunities facing community banks.
• Community‑centered, driving meaningful change that strengthens community banks and the communities they serve. We turn commitment into action and deliver real results.

ICBA’s workplace culture is built on our core values:

• Caring -We support and prioritize your well‑being and professional growth.
• Connected - We foster strong relationships that create meaningful impact.
• Collaboration – We are team‑oriented and results driven where diverse perspectives are valued, and innovative ideas are encouraged to achieve our common goals.

Join ICBA and further your career while making a lasting impact!