Operations Support Specialist

Job Type
Full-time
Description
About the ELCA
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 3 million members in more than 8,700 worshipping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region (Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands). With a vision to live in a world experiencing the difference God's grace and love in Christ makes for all people and creation, the ELCA strives to be a welcoming, thriving, and connected church that introduces people to Jesus so they can discover community, justice, and love.
The Lutheran Center (national office) is located in Chicago, Illinois. A staff of 400, under the leadership of the Presiding Bishop, serve as administrators, advisors, conveners, partners, and resource people for the ELCA and its ministries. Staff lead the work of national, domestic, and global ministries and programs including Lutheran Disaster Response, ELCA World Hunger, Service & Justice, Christian Community and Leadership, and Innovation. We are also home to five of our separately incorporated ministries: The Mission Investment Fund of the ELCA, Women of the ELCA, Lutheran Men in Mission, the ELCA Foundation and the ELCA Federal Credit Union.
About the Mission Investment Fund
The Mission Investment Fund (MIF), a financial ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, supports the establishment and growth of ELCA congregations, synods, and affiliated ministries by providing loans for capital projects for congregations and ministries. To fund these loans, MIF offers a variety of investments to ELCA members, congregations, and ministries.
The ELCA Federal Credit Union (FCU), a financial ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, offers financial products and services to ELCA members, pastors, congregations, synods, affiliated ministries, and their employees. The portfolio of products includes low-cost loans, deposit accounts, credit cards, and other financial products, services, and solutions within a not-for-profit, cooperative structure.
Values - MIF's values are rooted in Christian faith, Lutheran traditions, and our identity as a ministry of the ELCA:
* Integrity *Customer Focus *Inclusion and Diversity * Faithful Stewardship *Courage and Openness to Change
About the Position
The Operations Specialist is responsible for overseeing all daily processing operations, ensuring that departmental requirements are met by effectively coordinating the electronic workflow in and out of the department. Reporting to the Servicing Manager, this role includes providing comprehensive support to both internal and external customers regarding electronic transactions and inquiries, ensuring timely and accurate execution of tasks, and maintaining smooth operations.
This is a full-time, regular, exempt (salaried), Chicago-based hybrid position. This position has responsibilities that will require being in the office on a weekly basis. This could mean 2-3 days most weeks and possibly more days when meetings and other events are happening that this position supports.
Candidates for this position must reside within the fifty United States or the District of Columbia and be authorized to work lawfully in the United States. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire.
Responsibilities

1. Manages batch and file processing operations, ensuring timely and accurate execution of daily tasks.
2. Handles return item processing, including the identification, documentation, and resolution of returned transactions
3. Processes wire transfers, verifying details for accuracy and compliance with regulatory requirements.
4. Oversees end-of-day balancing and processing, ensuring all transactions are accurately recorded and any discrepancies are resolved promptly.
5. Performs back-office functions such as returning deposited items and debit card support.
6. Reconciles accounts for exception items, identifying and correcting discrepancies to maintain accurate financial records.
7. Processes ACH transactions, ensuring compliance and timely posting to customer accounts.
8. Researches and resolves complex account issues, utilizing investigative skills to address customer inquiries and resolve discrepancies.
9. Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

1. 5+ years of back-office experience in a depository institution
2. Expertise in deposit operations and knowledge in compliance banking regulations
3. Proficient in MS Office - Word, Excel, Windows, Outlook and Internet, with the ability to adapt quickly to new technology
4. Highly detailed with excellent organizational and problem-solving skills
5. Knowledge of Office of foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and customer identification program (CIP) rules
6. Strong customer service skills and the ability to work interdepartmentally with all areas
7. Knowledge of accounting basics helpful

Required or preferred education, certifications, or licenses:
Bachelor's degree preferred
Physical Effort: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear, use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone. This position requires sitting for long periods of time. Employee will occasionally need to lift boxes or materials up to 15 pounds. Reasonable accommodations can be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Travel Frequency: N/A
Benefits: MIF offers a competitive benefits package for eligible employees, including employer paid health premiums for employees, health and dependent care FSA's, a health savings account (HSA) with an employer contribution, life insurance, and a substantial employer contribution to 403b retirement plan (no match required). We also offer a generous paid time-off policy including 11 paid holidays. All benefits commence on your start date.
Salary Description
$44,000 - $61,600 annually