The Georgia Department of Banking and Finance is the state agency that regulates and examines Georgia state-chartered banks, state-chartered credit unions, and state-chartered trust companies. The Department also has responsibility for the supervision, regulation, and examination of bank holding companies and Merchant Acquirer Limited Purpose Banks (MALPBs) chartered in Georgia.  In addition, the Department has regulatory and licensing authority over mortgage brokers, mortgage lenders, mortgage processors, mortgage loan originators, check cashers, sellers/issuers of payment instruments, money transmitters, consumer installment lenders, and international banking organizations, conducting business in Georgia.

Position Title:  Merchant Acquirer Limited Purpose Bank (MALPB) Examination Specialist 

Pay Grade:  Q

Salary Range:  $115,000 to $125,000

Job Summary:

Under limited supervision, the MALPB Examination Specialist is responsible for direct supervision of one or more MALPB entities chartered by the Department.  The MALPB Examination Specialist acts as a Central Point of Contact to assigned MALPB(s), oversees a portfolio of MALPB(s), performs financial analysis, monitors ongoing trends, processes requests by MALPB entities, and provides recommendations on interpretations of laws, rules, and regulations regarding MALPBs.  The MALPB Examination Specialist provides ongoing on- and off-site administrative oversight and supervision of MALPB(s), participates in the establishment of Department goals and policy development, develops and implements ongoing examination programs, assigns ratings and directs regulatory outcomes, and participates in the chartering process of MALPBs.  The MALPB Examination Specialist also serves as a point of administrative contact to answer inquiries, obtain information, and provide guidance in various regulatory matters to examiners, industry representatives, MALPB-related staff and consultants, attorneys, certified public accountants, financial consultants, trade associations, and internal stakeholders.  The MALPB Examination Specialist serves as a technical expert resource and will serve in an indirect supervisor capacity for examination teams as well as conducting on-the-job training in specialized knowledge. 

This position will also act as a Department representative to external parties including MALPBs, Federal agencies, and industry representatives.  The MALPB Examination Specialist will participate in overseeing chartering initiatives and regulatory/compliance obligations related to merchant acquiring and card network transactions.  As a MALPB Examination Specialist, the role will encompass MALPB risk management supported by individual knowledge and experience in merchant acquiring, merchant acquiring best practices and industry guidance, knowledge of regulatory requirements, card network rules, and industry standards. 

Essential Job Functions:

·      Leads supervision of Georgia state-chartered MALPB(s) as central point of contact and/or overseeing a MALPB portfolio.

·      Serves as Department liaison to MALPB staff, regulators, consultants, vendors, and industry representatives.

·      Provides oversight, guidance, and assistance in the solution of supervisory concerns.  Serve as internal subject matter expert for merchant acquiring.

·      Reviews compliance with and interpretation of Laws, Rules, Regulations, and Industry Standards.  Maintains ongoing offsite monitoring and regulatory structure program for MALPB entities.

·      Conducts internal training and participates in training programs.

Other Duties:  Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive list of activities, duties or responsibilities that is required of the employee for this job.  Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Minimum Qualifications:

Must be a Georgia resident or will become a Georgia resident upon hiring.  Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university AND five years of experience in direct payments industry audit or regulatory-related oversight role or closely related area is preferred.  A background in merchant acquiring and card network relationships is preferred.  A strong understanding of merchant acquiring risk management frameworks and operational best practices is preferred.  The role requires practical and strategic understanding of the payments industry and demonstrated experience assessing risks associated with merchant acquiring and relevant card network industry regulations and compliance requirements.

Important Notes:

The Department of Banking and Finance offers flexible work hours in a hybrid in-office/remote work environment.

Candidates interested in employment must:

·      Successfully pass a background check including criminal history check, employment reference checks, credit evaluation and professional license checks, where applicable.

·      Provide an unofficial copy of college transcript.

·      Be legally authorized to work in the United States.

·      Posses and maintains a valid driver’s license.