IT Payments Strategic Leader

The IT Payments Strategies Leader serves as the senior technical authority for enterprise payment platforms, providing architectural leadership, advanced system expertise, and hands-on guidance across payment technologies. This role is responsible for the design, stability, scalability, and strategic evolution of payment systems to ensure secure, compliant, and reliable payment processing. The position partners closely with IT leadership, operations, Treasury, Risk, and vendors to align payment technology delivery with business strategy and future growth initiatives., Serve as the technical lead and subject-matter expert for enterprise payment platforms, including Cari Network (Stablecoin/Tokenized deposits), ACH, wires, real-time payments (RTP/FedNow), and related payment gateways.

Provide architectural direction, technical design standards, and oversight for payment system enhancements, integrations, and modernization initiatives.

Ensure reliability, performance, and resiliency of payment processing environments through proactive monitoring, troubleshooting, and root-cause analysis.

Act as the highest-level escalation point for complex payment system incidents, outages, and processing exceptions.

Lead technical evaluation and implementation support for new payment capabilities, including ISO 20022 adoption and emerging payment technologies.

Partner with vendors and core providers to assist with integrations, upgrades, patches, and platform changes for payment systems.

Ensure payment technologies comply with NACHA rules, FFIEC guidance, audit requirements, and internal IT governance standards.

Provide technical mentorship and guidance to payments analysts and administrators, establishing best practices, standards, and operational runbooks., Remote or hybrid: For remote or hybrid positions, a secure and distraction-free setting is required, with a reliable internet connection (cable or fiber preferred, mobile hotspots not acceptable). Hybrid positions will report to a physical Company location, as directed by the manager, and that setting will be a typical office environment.

Do you have experience in Vendor relationship building?, Do you have a Bachelor’s degree?, B achelor’s degree required in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related discipline.

Advanced degree preferred.

Minimum Experience

8-12+ years of experience in payment systems, core banking platforms, or financial services technology environments.

Licenses & Certifications

AAP (Accredited ACH Professional) and/or NCP (National Check Professional) preferred.

Relevant technology or security certifications are a plus.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

Position may require regular before/after normal business hours, or regular out-of-town travel.

Deep knowledge of ACH, wire, and real-time payment processing architectures

Strong understanding of payment settlement, exception handling, and operational risk

Ability to design and evaluate complex system integrations and data flows.

Proven ability to lead technical initiatives without direct people management responsibility.

Strong analytical, problem-solving, and incident-management skills.

Ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly to business and executive audiences

Physical Demands and Work Environment

Physical Demands

Ability to communicate in person, on the phone, and through electronic channels

Ability to use a computer on a frequent basis, including typing and sustained attention to a monitor

Ability to sit, walk, and/or stand for extended periods of time

Ability to bend and reach

3.33.3 out of 5 stars Winter Haven, FL Hybrid work $133,533 - $213,307 a year - Full-time, In accordance with Colorado law: Colorado pay for this position is anticipated to be between $133,533.00 - $213,307.00 , actual offers to be determined based on applicant’s skills, experience and education.

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!