EPP Clerk at First Busey in Champaign, IL

Job description

Position Summary The Electronic Payment Processing Clerk is responsible for supporting the daily processing, reconciliation, and administration of Automated Clearing House (ACH) transactions to ensure the accurate and timely movement of electronic payments. This role serves as a key operational resource within the ACH Department by generating and validating payment files, balancing transaction activity, researching exceptions, processing returns and adjustments, maintaining regulatory compliance, and supporting internal and external stakeholders. The position requires strong attention to detail, analytical skills, and the ability to work across multiple systems while ensuring the integrity of financial transactions and client deliverables. Duties & Responsibilities Generate, review, and distribute daily ACH processing reports for billers, clients, and internal stakeholders. Create and process ACH batch files through internal systems and payment processing applications. Validate ACH batch files, transaction details, and control totals to ensure accuracy prior to transmission. Perform quality control reviews of batch files and balancing activities completed by other ACH team members. Upload and transmit ACH files to banking partners in accordance with established processing schedules and procedures. Process Point of Purchase (POP), WEB, and other ACH transaction types, including the creation and validation of associated files and reports. Process ACH returns, chargebacks, re-originations, and related exception transactions in accordance with department procedures and regulatory requirements. Perform research and analysis on returned and exception items to determine root cause and appropriate resolution. Make transaction decisions and execute corrective actions based on research findings and established guidelines. Investigate ACH exceptions, processing errors, rejects, and out-of-balance conditions utilizing multiple internal systems and reporting tools. Monitor ACH processing queues and ensure daily production deadlines and service-level expectations are met. Process Federal Notices of Change (NOCs), update customer information, and ensure required account maintenance is completed accurately and timely. Maintain and update tracking logs, spreadsheets, databases, and operational reports related to ACH processing activities. Generate and distribute client-specific reports and notifications as required by service agreements. Perform specialized processing functions for designated billers and clients, including unique procedures and workflows. Reconcile daily ACH activity and verify balancing of transaction totals between processing systems, settlement reports, and bank records. Record settlement offsets and provide supporting documentation for accounting and reconciliation purposes. Partner with Accounting, Service Support, Research, Banking Operations, and other departments to resolve discrepancies and processing issues. Identify trends, recurring issues, and process improvement opportunities to enhance operational efficiency and reduce processing risk. Maintain compliance with company policies, NACHA operating rules, banking regulations, and internal controls. Participate in cross-training initiatives and provide backup support for other ACH and payment-processing functions as business needs require. Education & Experience Education and Experience College degree preferred; equivalent work experience in lieu of degree is acceptable. Minimum of two years of direct experience in banking operations, treasury management services, or enterprise payment processing (ACH, real-time payments such as Zelle® or FedNow®). Prior experience working with payment processing platforms, secure file transmissions, and payment risk management tools preferred. Skills and Required Knowledge Strong understanding of ACH payment processing rules and NACHA Operating Rules. Familiarity with real-time payment platforms (e.g., Zelle®, FedNow®) and correspond