Payments Deposit Operations - Associate

Be a key player in strengthening payment operations through disciplined execution, strong controls, and continuous improvement. You will help ensure high-quality outcomes across critical payment flows and client servicing activities. You’ll partner closely with internal stakeholders to resolve issues, reduce risk, and improve processes. This role offers hands-on leadership opportunities in a fast-paced, deadline-driven operating environment.

As a Payment Lifecycle Associate II in Payments Operations, you will lead day-to-day processing and control activities that support accurate, timely payment execution and effective client servicing. You will act as a hands-on senior operator and escalation point, helping the team manage exceptions, reduce operational risk, and meet regulatory and control expectations. You’ll work across functions to investigate issues, drive remediation, and support change initiatives that improve stability and client outcomes.

Job responsibilities

• Lead daily operational readiness activities, including start-of-day checks, exception management, cutoff oversight, and escalation when needed.
• Execute and oversee payment processing activities across domestic clearing and cross-border channels, monitoring queues and addressing non-straight-through-processing items.
• Investigate and resolve client and counterparty inquiries through appropriate channels, ensuring timely updates and documented closure.
• Perform and review deposit and account maintenance activities, including static data updates and completeness checks, in line with procedures and approvals.
• Coordinate with internal partners to complete end-to-end processing and resolve breaks and exceptions.
• Maintain a strong control environment by following procedures, retaining evidence, tracking issues, and escalating risks in a timely manner.
• Prepare and validate operational and regulatory reporting, including data collection and quality checks, with appropriate review.
• Contribute to change delivery initiatives, including new product onboarding, process optimization, automation opportunities, and testing support.
• Coach and support junior team members, providing guidance on processing questions and day-to-day escalations.

Required qualifications, capabilities and skills

• Deep knowledge of Japan clearing and payment systems (e.g., ZENGIN, FXYCS, SWIFT) and associated investigation and repair processes.
• Strong end-to-end understanding of payment operations and adjacent servicing areas (e.g., deposits/account maintenance, trade finance, loans) and how upstream/downstream activities are connected.
• Native-level Japanese and business-level English communication skills (written and verbal).
• Demonstrated ability to lead day-to-day execution, manage exceptions, and handle escalations in a controlled operating environment.
• Proven risk and control mindset, including consistent adherence to procedures, documentation standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Strong collaboration skills and ability to partner effectively with cross-functional stakeholders.
• Ability to manage time-sensitive cutoffs, shifting priorities, and evolving processes and technology.

Preferred qualifications, capabilities, and skills (max 7 bullets)

• Experience supporting process improvement, automation, and operational resiliency initiatives.
• Experience supporting testing activities for system or business changes (e.g., user acceptance testing).
• Experience in formal coaching or onboarding of team members.