Inside Higher Ed · 6 days ago
Merchant Services Operations Analyst
Palo Alto, CA
Full-time
Hybrid
Mid Level
$117K/yr - $120K/yr
4+ years expStanford University seeks a Merchant Services Operations Analyst to support their Financial Management Services department. The role involves managing day-to-day financial, operational, and compliance activities related to the university's payment acceptance environment, ensuring effective service delivery across various university units.
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Responsibilities
Design and perform analyses of large, complex financial data sets, including transaction-level payment receipts data. Reconcile complex accounts, research discrepancies, and prepare month-end close materials for merchant revenue streams
Assemble data for operational and strategic decision-making; prepare high-level summaries, dashboards, and recommendations for MS leadership and university partners
Conduct ad hoc financial modeling, transaction mapping, and performance metrics reporting to support program forecasting and continuous improvement
Manage the daily and month-end operational processes for the Merchant Services program, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and adherence to internal controls
Serve as an operational lead for Stanford’s acquirer relationships, payment platforms, and third-party service partners
Oversee system administration and user access for MS-owned and vendor applications; create and maintain merchant accounts and user profiles
Facilitate operational support for CardinalPay, coordinating with campus departments, University IT, Financial Management Services, and vendors to ensure smooth onboarding and ongoing platform stability
Execute internal controls and compliance programs, including annual PCI DSS attestation for all university merchants
Track and manage PCI training requirements for staff across campus; create or update compliance documentation and reporting as needed
Support internal and external audit activities, ensuring readiness of documentation and clear communication with auditors and unit stakeholders
Participate in the analysis of existing payment, accounting, and operational processes; recommend and help implement improvements that increase scale, efficiency, and risk mitigation
Develop, maintain, and enhance operational documentation, standard operating procedures, merchant training materials, and knowledge resources
Contribute to Merchant Services strategy, helping the team evolve its service model as the university’s payment ecosystem continues to grow
Provide consultative support to campus departments on payment acceptance, technical requirements, financial operations, and policy considerations
Partner with vendors, IT teams, and internal clients to troubleshoot issues, assess new opportunities, and ensure a consistent, high-quality experience for all merchant units
Manage operational components of the loaner equipment program for mobile POS terminals, including inventory tracking and deployment
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree and four years of relevant experience in financial operations, payment processing, merchant services, accounting, or a related field - or a combination of education and experience
Advanced proficiency with Excel and Google Workspace; comfort working with large data sets and financial systems
Knowledge of GAAP and strong understanding of financial reconciliation processes
Demonstrated ability to quickly learn new systems and processes in a decentralized environment
Excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate complex operational or financial concepts for non-technical audiences across the university
Strong customer service orientation, problem-solving skills, and ability to anticipate downstream impacts
Demonstrated project management skills; ability to support or lead parts of multi-functional initiatives
Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment
Preferred
Experience in payment card operations, payment platforms, acquiring, fintech, or merchant account management
Knowledge of PCI DSS requirements and emerging digital payment technologies
Relevant certifications in finance, accounting, IT systems, or program management
Benefits
Career development programs
Tuition reimbursement
Family care resources
Superb retirement plans
Generous time-off
Health care benefits
Free commuter programs
Ridesharing incentives
Discounts
Company
Inside Higher Ed
Inside Higher Ed is the online source for news, opinion, and jobs related to higher education.
51-200 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageTotal Funding
unknown2022-01-10Acquired
2006-08-31Series Unknown
Leadership Team
Stephanie Shweiki
Director, Foundation Partnerships
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