ACH Specialist I - Charleston

The SouthState story is one of steady growth, deep community roots, and an unwavering commitment to helping our customers move forward. Since our beginnings in the 1930s to becoming a trusted financial partner across the South and beyond - we are known for combining personal relationships with forward-thinking solutions.

We are committed to helping our team members find their success while maintaining the integrity of our values: building trust, fostering lasting relationships and pursuing excellence. At SouthState, individual contributions are recognized, potential is cultivated and team members are inspired to achieve their greater purpose. Your future begins here!

SUMMARY/OBJECTIVES

Shift Schedule: Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm ET

It is the responsibility of the ACH SPECIALIST I to take ownership of all tasks and challenges that they encounter in the operation of their assigned position. The ACH Operations Specialist plays a critical role in the bank's payment operations by ensuring timely and accurate processing of both incoming and outgoing Automated Clearing House (ACH) transactions. The position requires adherence to all applicable rules and regulations, such as Nacha Rules, and demands independent decision-making due to the financial and reputational risks associated with errors. The specialist must embody the bank's core values of integrity, leadership, and accountability in interactions with customers and colleagues. Regular shifts are Monday to Friday with varying start times, and a late shift option is available.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Accurate and timely processing of ACH origination and receipt, supporting the processing of approximately 14 million transactions monthly, involving over 10,000 companies and $18 billion in activity.
• Utilize working knowledge of Nacha Rules, regulatory requirements, and compliance standards including Reg E, UCC4a, Reg CC, and OCC Payment Systems Handbook to limit risk and ensure accuracy.
• Serving as a primary knowledge resource for internal and external customers, providing exceptional customer service.
• Collaborating closely with internal teams and external customers to ensure effective communication, fraud prevention, and risk mitigation. Utilizes a ticketing system to manage internal and external customer requests.
• Managing daily duties and supporting ACH-related projects such as system conversions and initiatives.
• Coordinating with outside financial institutions to resolve transaction issues per Nacha rules.
• Monitoring reports for duplicates, limit exceptions, and errors, and resolving client origination file issues before cutoffs.
• Utilizing fraud-monitoring tools to research potential origination fraud
• Identifying higher-risk activities for enhanced monitoring.
• Onboarding new ACH Origination and ACH Positive Pay customers and managing daily exception processing.
• Resolving ACH returns promptly to ensure timely settlement and client notification.
• Reconciling ACH-related general ledger accounts with accounting.
• Managing Treasury Reclamations and Death Notices to meet limited liability requirements and recover funds.
• This function is deemed critical and may require associates to relocate to designated disaster recovery site with minimal notice.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

COMPETENCIES

• Strong analytical and reading comprehension skills.
• In-depth knowledge of Nacha rules.
• Ability to analyze multiple data sources and independently make decisions.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Suite, especially Excel, and experience navigating Windows environments with multiple applications.
• The capacity to work professionally under pressure.
• Ability to explain complex concepts clearly to employees and customers.
• Understanding of the Green Book and federal payment handling.
• The role demands adaptability to changing technology and systems.

Qualifications, Education, and Certification Requirements

• Education: Bachelor's degree in business, finance, or a related field, or equivalent work experience
• Experience: Minimum of four years of banking experience focusing on Depository, ACH, and/or Treasury bank products.
• Certifications/Specific Knowledge: Knowledge of ACH origination and receipt and Nacha Operating Rules is essential. Experience with Fiserv Premier core system and PEP+ is preferred.

TRAINING REQUIREMENTS/CLASSES

• Required annual compliance training; New Employee Orientation, Periodic webinars on ACH Rules and other relevant payment industry topics.

Shift Schedule: Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm ET

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Must be able to stand and/or sit for extended period of time. Must be able to effectively access and interpret information on computer screens, documents, and reports.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

This position is in an operations support center area with an individual work station/cubicle.

This position may be eligible for a hybrid schedule, with permission to work from home on certain days. In order to do so, employee must have a secure home office environment that is free from background noise and distractions. They must also have a reliable private internet connection that is not supplied by use of cellular data (hot spot). Cable or fiber connections are preferred. Requirements are subject to change, as new systems and technology is delivered. Travel may be required to come to meetings as needed.

Equal Opportunity Employer, including disabled/veterans.