Director of Payment Processing

Are you a strategic powerhouse who can orchestrate millions in payment flow with precision, compliance, and zero room for error?We're looking for a Director of Payment Processing to lead the engine behind every transaction—owning strategy, scaling operations, and ensuring every dollar moves seamlessly, securely, and in full regulatory alignment.About Us:At Alleviate Financial Solutions , we're transforming lives every day by offering innovative debt relief solutions. As one of the fastest-growing companies in the industry, we are on a mission to help individuals and families regain financial freedom and build a brighter future.Our vision? To become the next-generation financial services company that guides people from debt to WEALTH .Here's what you'll enjoy:Opportunities for career growth and advancement.A supportive, mission-driven team passionate about making a difference.Company perks like swag, catered lunches, teambuilding activities, and quarterly events.State-of-the-art amenities, including designer living rooms, wellness spaces, cafes, and a fitness center.A culture of recognition, appreciation, and celebration.Our 30,000 sq. ft. headquarters in Irvine, CA is more than just an office—it's a second home where collaboration, growth, and innovation thrive.COMPENSATION:$125,000 - $145,000 annually (based on experience)WHAT MAKES US THE BEST?Energetic, supportive, and collaborative working environmentContinuous employee development, coaching, and trainingWork-life balanceWHAT YOU'LL DO:GENERAL SUMMARY:The Director of Payment Processing owns the strategy, performance, and scalability of all payment operations, including collections, refunds, and client fund management. This role ensures accurate, efficient, and compliant money movement while maintaining strong financial controls, reconciliation, and risk management frameworks aligned with CFPB, FTC Telemarketing Sales Rule, and NACHA requirements. The Director leads vendor and banking relationships, payment systems, and automation initiatives, while driving KPI performance across cost, risk, and customer outcomes. This position partners cross-functionally to align payment operations with the full client lifecycle and is accountable for team leadership, budget management, and delivering scalable, high-integrity operations that support growth. Leadership and StrategyOwn the overall strategy, performance, and scalability of the Payment Processing functionDevelop and execute a 12–24 month roadmap aligned with company growth, margin, and risk objectivesEstablish and own departmental KPIs tied to revenue impact, cost efficiency, client success, and risk mitigationProvide regular executive-level reporting on performance, risks, and key initiativesPayment Operations and ExecutionOversee daily operations of payment processing, collections, overpayments, and member refundsEnsure accurate, timely, and compliant execution of all payment activities across the client lifecycleOversee resolution of complex payment issues and escalated client concernsEnsure SLA adherence across all payment-related workflowsTrust Accounts and Fund ManagementOversee management of client trust accounts and ensure proper handling of client fundsEnsure compliant disbursement of funds to creditors and appropriate fee collection timingMaintain strong controls around movement of funds and payee accuracyManage relationships with sponsor banks and trust account providersReconciliation and Financial ControlsOwn end-to-end reconciliation processes across processors, banks, internal systems, and client ledgersEstablish and enforce strong internal controls, including segregation of duties and audit trailsOversee exception handling, discrepancy resolution, and break management processesPartner with Finance on cash flow forecasting and reporting accuracyCompliance and Regulatory OversightEnsure compliance with all applicable regulations including CFPB, FTC Telemarketing Sales Rule, NACHA rules, and state-level requirementsMaintain audit readiness for internal, external, and regulatory auditsOversee complaint handling workflows and regulatory response processesEnsure proper data governance, retention, and auditability standardsRisk Management and Fraud PreventionOwn fraud prevention strategy, including monitoring, detection, and mitigation controlsManage ACH return rates, chargebacks, and unauthorized transaction thresholdsImplement identity verification and risk-based controls aligned with compliance requirementsDevelop reporting and alerting for emerging risk trendsPayment Ecosystem and Vendor ManagementOwn relationships with payment processors, gateways, and third-party vendorsNegotiate contracts, optimize pricing, and manage vendor performanceEnsure redundancy and failover capabilities across payment channelsEvaluate and implement new payment methods and technologiesSystems, Automation, and InfrastructureOwn the payment systems architecture, integrations, and scalability strategyDesign and implement automation to reduce manual effort and improve accuracyPartner with Product and Engineering on payment-related system enhancementsEnsure data integrity across all payment platforms and systemsProcess Improvement and Operational ExcellenceDevelop, maintain, and continuously improve policies, procedures, and operational standardsIdentify and implement process improvements that enhance efficiency and customer experienceDrive standardization across workflows and cross-functional processesCustomer ExperienceImprove payment success rates and reduce friction across the customer journeyDevelop strategies for failed payment recovery and client communicationPartner with Customer Experience teams to improve satisfaction and retention outcomesCross-Functional CollaborationPartner with Client Success, Negotiations, Sales, Legal, Compliance, Finance, and other teams to align on processes and expectationsEnsure consistency between sales promises, payment execution, and settlement timingSupport company-wide initiatives that impact payment processing and client outcomesAnalytics and ReportingOversee development of reporting and dashboards for operational and executive useAnalyze trends in payment performance, returns, refunds, and costsUse data to drive decision-making and continuous improvementPeople Management and DevelopmentLead, develop, and scale the Payment Processing team, including supervisors and individual contributorsOversee hiring, onboarding, training, and ongoing development programsEstablish clear performance expectations and accountability structuresConduct performance evaluations, coaching, and disciplinary actions as neededEstablish team schedules and ensure appropriate staffing levelsMonitor attendance, punctuality, overtime, and timekeeping accuracyManage PTO requests and ensure compliance with company policies and labor requirementsAudit and Quality AssurancePerform periodic audits to ensure accuracy of client data, payment records, and system integrityValidate enrollment plans, settlement arrangements, creditor data, and compensation structuresImplement corrective actions based on audit findings and track resolutionBusiness Continuity and Risk PlanningDevelop and maintain disaster recovery and business continuity plans for payment operationsEnsure backup payment methods and contingency processes are in placeLead incident response efforts related to payment disruptions or failuresBudget and Cost ManagementOwn departmental budget, including headcount and operational expensesMonitor and optimize payment processing costs and vendor feesEvaluate ROI on tools, systems, and automation investmentsWHAT YOU'LL NEED:Knowledge and ExperienceBachelor's degree in business administration, finance, or a related field; MBA is highly preferred but not required.10+ years of experience in payment processing leadership.Skills and AbilitiesProven track record of improving SLAs, employee retention, and client satisfaction.Strong leadership and people management skills, with experience in developing high-performing teams.Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.Ability to think strategically and execute tactically, with a focus on results.Proficiency in payment processing technologies and platforms.Job Type: Full-time, ExemptSchedule: 8-hour shift, Monday to FridayLocation: Irvine, CA; Hybrid or Remote based on experienceWe understand potential comes in many forms. Even if you don't check every box, we still encourage you to apply; as we consider all qualified candidates, and any person who is driven to help others.Alleviate Financial Solutions provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.This position must pass a post-offer pre-employment criminal background check.Powered by JazzHR