Swift-Officer

SUMMARY OF ROLE:

The Officer – SWIFT Section is responsible for supporting the management and oversight of all SWIFT and remittance-related activities for both Conventional and Islamic Banking operations. The role ensures accurate, timely, and compliant processing, authorization, and monitoring of domestic and international payment transactions while maintaining high service standards for internal and external customers. The role supports the Manager – SWIFT Section in supervising daily operations, managing operational risks, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements, and driving process improvements to enhance efficiency and service quality. The role holder also acts as a key escalation point for complex transactions, supports staff development, and ensures adherence to internal controls, audit requirements, and operational procedures.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Responsibilities

SWIFT Operations & Payment Processing

•            Ensure all SWIFT, remittance, and payment instructions received from branches, business units, relationship managers, and other departments are processed within established turnaround times.

•            Authorize, release, and monitor outward and inward SWIFT transactions, ensuring accuracy of customer details, beneficiary information, value dates, exchange rates, and approvals.

•            Review and authorize transactions received through BPM, B2B, Internet Banking, Mobile Banking, and other payment channels.

•            Ensure all transactions are processed before respective cut-off times and in accordance with Bank policies and correspondent banking requirements.

•            Monitor payment queues and ensure all pending and high-risk transactions are reviewed and cleared promptly.

•            Ensure accurate processing and authorization of standing instructions, recurring payments, and exception transactions.

•            • Verify and process transactions requiring call-back verification and maintain appropriate records for audit purposes.

Transaction Control & Risk Management

•            Monitor transaction processing activities to ensure compliance with internal controls, operational risk requirements, AML/CFT regulations, sanctions screening requirements, and regulatory guidelines.

•            Review and investigate unusual, high-risk, or suspicious transactions and escalate issues where appropriate.

•            Ensure all SWIFT-related General Ledger and suspense accounts are reconciled daily and exceptions are resolved within agreed timelines.

•            Report operational incidents, payment failures, processing errors, and control breaches in accordance with Operational Risk Management procedures.

•            • Ensure compliance with all internal policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements issued by the Central Bank of Oman and other relevant authorities.

Customer Service & Stakeholder Management

•            Provide timely support and responses to branches, business units, customers, and correspondent banks regarding payment inquiries and transaction status.

•            Resolve operational issues and payment-related exceptions efficiently while maintaining excellent service standards.

•            Coordinate closely with Treasury, Finance, Compliance, Operations Risk, Legal, IT, Investigation, Corporate Banking, Retail Banking, and other stakeholders to facilitate smooth transaction processing.

•            • Build and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders to ensure operational excellence.

Audit, Compliance & Governance

•            Ensure full compliance with audit recommendations and regulatory requirements.

•            Assist in preparing responses to audit observations and support timely implementation of corrective actions.

•            Maintain complete and accurate records to support audit reviews and regulatory inspections.

•            Participate in User Acceptance Testing (UAT), system enhancements, and operational projects affecting payment services.

•            • Ensure adherence to payment processing procedures, SWIFT standards, AML/CFT regulations, sanctions requirements, and internal operational controls.

Process Improvement & Operational Excellence

•            Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency, reduce turnaround times, strengthen controls, and enhance customer experience.

•            Assist in developing and updating Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Service Level Agreements (SLAs), and operational manuals.

•            Support automation initiatives and process enhancement projects within the Payments Unit.

•            • Monitor operational performance metrics and recommend improvements to increase productivity and reduce operational risk.

Management Information & Reporting

•            Prepare and review operational reports, exception reports, reconciliation reports, and management information reports.

•            Ensure timely and accurate submission of all required MIS reports to management and relevant stakeholders.

•            Monitor key operational indicators and escalate emerging risks or issues.

Process Innovation, Automation & Digitalization

•            Drive continuous process improvement through innovative, automated, and digital solutions once required

Business Control & Governance

•            Ensure adherence to the bank's policies, regulatory requirements, and industry standards in all operational activities.

Self/People Development & Continuous Learning:

•            Continually update oneself through knowledge acquisition, on-the-job training, or project involvement; advocate and support others to do the same.

• Omani nationals only.
  
• Bachelor's Degree in Banking, Finance, Business Administration, Accounting, or a related discipline.
  
• Minimum 5 years of banking experience with substantial exposure to SWIFT operations, international payments, remittances, correspondent banking, and payment processing activities.