Payments Change & Transformation Senior Associate

We’re looking for a hands-on payments operations and/or regulatory reporting expert who wants to shape how the function runs—not manage workstreams from the sidelines. This role is built for someone who has owned reporting processes, resolved breaks, handled regulatory queries, and knows the real operational pressures first-hand. As a Payments Change & Transformation Senior Associate within the Payments and Regulatory Reporting team, you will leverage deep operational experience to deliver complex change across report automation, platform enhancements and migrations, and the introduction of AI/ML-enabled capabilities. You will work closely with Operations, Technology, and Compliance to modernize processes end-to-end, strengthen controls and data quality, and ensure change is implemented smoothly with minimal disruption to business-as-usual delivery. Job responsibilities Serve as an SME for payments operations and regulatory reporting, grounding change in day-to-day operational reality. Identify reporting/process pain points, inefficiencies, and risks; translate them into clear change priorities. Bridge Operations, Technology, and Compliance to ensure solutions are practical, fit-for-purpose, and controllable. Assess regulatory change impacts on reporting processes, controls, and end-to-end data flows. Lead delivery of transformation workstreams: report automation, platform rollouts, migrations, and re-engineering. Drive adoption of intelligent automation (including AI/ML) in partnership with Technology and Data Science. Own the delivery lifecycle: requirements, impact assessment, UAT coordination, cutover planning, and stabilization. Deliver change with minimal BAU disruption, protecting data quality, controls, and regulatory compliance. Build strong stakeholder relationships across Ops, Tech, Compliance, Finance, and senior leadership. Establish governance, status reporting, and escalation paths; communicate updates clearly to senior forums. Engage vendors/platform providers as needed to ensure delivery against timelines and quality standards. Required qualifications, capabilities, and skills Experience in Operations within a top-tier investment bank, global bank, or major financial institution. Hands-on experience in payments operations and/or regulatory reporting operations. Strong understanding of end-to-end payments processing lifecycles. Experience with clearing and settlement processes. Experience with reconciliation and exception management (break investigation/resolution). Solid knowledge of regulatory reporting obligations and frameworks relevant to financial institutions. Familiarity with reporting areas such as transaction reporting, prudential reporting, and AML/KYC reporting. Working knowledge of payments systems and messaging standards (e.g., SWIFT, ISO 20022) and related market infrastructure. Understanding of data flows, controls, and dependencies that support regulatory report production. Proven track record in operational change/transformation and process improvement initiatives. Strong delivery and execution skills: managing multiple workstreams and priorities; experience with Agile/Waterfall/hybrid methods, governance, and translating operational issues into clear requirements and solutions. Preferred qualifications, capabilities, and skills Exposure to, or strong interest in, AI/ML, intelligent automation, and/or RegTech applications within operations. Familiarity with regulatory reporting platforms (e.g., AxiomSL, OneSumX, Regnology) and/or payments platforms. Experience with data/automation tools and technologies (e.g., UiPath, Alteryx, Python, SQL) and/or cloud technologies. Working understanding of platform architecture concepts, including API integrations and data pipeline design. Project delivery certifications (e.g., PMP, PRINCE2, Agile/SAFe) are beneficial but not required; domain/operational expertise is prioritized.