International Payment Operations Manager

Sunwest Bank; Miami (FL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Sunwest Bank in Miami seeks an International Payment Operations Manager to lead the international and cross-border payment operations, ensuring accurate, compliant processing while driving modernization. The role partners with Compliance, Legal, Risk, and IT to strengthen controls and scale payment capabilities.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years in payments with leadership experience, fluency in English and Spanish, and a track record in end-to-end platforms connecting to Fed, SWIFT, and FX

Qualifications

• 5+ years of banking or financial services experience in payment operations, treasury operations, wire transfers, ACH, international payments, or correspondent banking.
• 3+ years of leadership or supervisory experience in payment operations or a related financial operations environment.
• Fluency in English and Spanish, with strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong knowledge of international payment operations, including SWIFT message flows and investigations, Fedwire, ACH and International ACH, foreign exchange settlement, correspondent banking, and cross-border payment networks.
• Working knowledge of sanctions screening, OFAC, BSA/AML, FinCEN, travel rule obligations, payment compliance controls, fraud prevention, operational risk, and business resiliency.
• Experience with end-to-end payment platforms that connect to the Federal Reserve, SWIFT, and foreign exchange providers.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the International Payment Operations team to deliver timely, accurate, and compliant payment processing while maintaining strong service and quality standards.
• Oversee end-to-end operations for SWIFT, Fedwire, International ACH, foreign exchange settlements, correspondent banking, and related investigations, repairs, recalls, amendments, and reconciliations.
• Strengthen controls that mitigate fraud, sanctions, compliance, settlement, and operational risk, and partner with Compliance, Legal, BSA, Risk Management, Information Security, and Internal Audit on testing and examinations.
• Drive the operational implementation of international payment technology from requirements and solution design through testing, deployment, readiness, and post-launch stabilization.
• Support the growth and operational excellence of the Bank’s Foreign Correspondent Banking offering and evaluate readiness for new products, payment channels, technologies, and strategic partnerships.
• Build productive relationships with correspondent banks, financial institutions, payment networks, and service providers while overseeing due diligence, service reviews, and operational assessments.
• Improve scalability, automation, accuracy, and client experience through performance metrics, key risk indicators, management reporting, trend analysis, and payment modernization initiatives, including ISO 20022.

Skills

Fluent English

Fluent Spanish

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Excel

Ocean Systems

FedLink

Job description

Job Title: International Payment Operations Manager

Department: Operations

Reports to: Digital Banking and Payment Operations Manager

About the Role

The International Payment Operations Manager leads the Bank’s international and cross-border payment operations, ensuring transactions are executed accurately, efficiently, and in compliance with applicable requirements. As the Bank’s subject matter expert, this role strengthens operational controls, develops the team, and partners across the organization to expand and modernize payment products and services.

Schedule: Monday – Friday, Work hours may vary based on operational needs and may include early mornings or extended hours as required.

Work Location: Onsite

Travel: Occasional (up to 10%)

What You’ll Do

• Lead and develop the International Payment Operations team to deliver timely, accurate, and compliant payment processing while maintaining strong service and quality standards.
• Oversee end-to-end operations for SWIFT, Fedwire, International ACH, foreign exchange settlements, correspondent banking, and related investigations, repairs, recalls, amendments, and reconciliations.
• Strengthen controls that mitigate fraud, sanctions, compliance, settlement, and operational risk, and partner with Compliance, Legal, BSA, Risk Management, Information Security, and Internal Audit on testing and examinations.
• Drive the operational implementation of international payment technology from requirements and solution design through testing, deployment, readiness, and post-launch stabilization.
• Support the growth and operational excellence of the Bank’s Foreign Correspondent Banking offering and evaluate readiness for new products, payment channels, technologies, and strategic partnerships.
• Build productive relationships with correspondent banks, financial institutions, payment networks, and service providers while overseeing due diligence, service reviews, and operational assessments.
• Improve scalability, automation, accuracy, and client experience through performance metrics, key risk indicators, management reporting, trend analysis, and payment modernization initiatives, including ISO 20022.

What We’re Looking For

(Required)

• At least 5 years of banking or financial services experience in payment operations, treasury operations, wire transfers, ACH, international payments, or correspondent banking.
• At least 3 years of leadership or supervisory experience in payment operations or a related financial operations environment.
• Fluency in English and Spanish, with strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong knowledge of international payment operations, including SWIFT message flows and investigations, Fedwire, ACH and International ACH, foreign exchange settlement, correspondent banking, and cross-border payment networks.
• Working knowledge of sanctions screening, OFAC, BSA/AML, FinCEN, travel rule obligations, payment compliance controls, fraud prevention, operational risk, and business resiliency.
• Experience with end-to-end payment platforms that connect to the Federal Reserve, SWIFT, and foreign exchange providers.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Excel, reporting, analytics, and workflow management tools.

(Nice to Have)

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Accounting, Economics, Information Systems, or a related field.
• Knowledge of ISO 20022, ISO 15022, ISO 8583, and SWIFT MT/MX messaging.
• Experience with payment platforms such as Ocean Systems or FedLink and with payment modernization or automation initiatives.

Why You’ll Love Working Here

• Team Culture
• Benefits or Perks

Posting Location(s)

• Miami Florida

Physical Demands

In general, the following physical demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to allow differently abled individuals to perform the essential functions of the job.

(Check the box that applies by double clicking on the box.)

Sedentary: Limited activity, no lifting, limited walking

Moderate: Mostly standing, walking, bending, frequent lifting

Light: Office work, some lifting, bending, stooping or kneeling, walking

The Fine Print

This job description reflects the general nature of the role and may change as business needs evolve. We are an equal opportunity employer. Sunwest Bank works with staff members and customers without regard to race, ancestry, national origin, sex, marital status, age, religion, medical condition, handicap, disability or veteran status and to assist the Bank in maintaining its Affirmative Action Program.

Compliance with Bank Secrecy Act laws and regulations is considered an extremely serious matter, and it is intended that Sunwest Bank, through the purposeful efforts of its employees and officers, are expected to make every resolute attempt to conform to its Bank Secrecy Act Program and Procedures. Failure to comply will be reflected in their performance review as well as in any bonus compensation programs in which they may participate.

Attend and complete all required classroom, computer-based, web-based and seminar training. It is the individual responsibility of every employee to maintain a current awareness and understanding of and to fully comply with Sunwest Bank’s “Code of Ethics and Conduct.” Each employee is also expected to maintain an awareness of the laws, regulations, internal policies and procedures that are appropriate for his/her position.

Note: The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level and work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job. All job descriptions can be amended without notice as warranted by business necessity.

Federal Deposit Insurance Act This position is subject to Section 19 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act. As such, an employment offer for this position is contingent on Sunwest Bank’s review of criminal conviction history, including pretrial diversions or program entries.