Payment Operations Manager Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

The Vice President, Payment Operations is a leadership role responsible for the oversight, operational excellence, and continuous evolution of Carlyle's end‑to‑end procure‑to‑pay process. This leader brings deep expertise in complex financial operations and drives critical outcomes across a matrixed, global organization.

4 days a week.

• Serve as the policy and process owner for all Carlyle procure‑to‑pay activities, acting as the key governance stakeholder for the Appian payment modules and ensuring platform integrity and compliance with firm standards.
• Oversee and continuously monitor end‑to‑end payment operations processes, ensuring all requests across firm, fund, and deal transactions are handled accurately, prioritized appropriately, and resolved proactively.
• Lead engagement with key stakeholders through structured weekly and monthly cadences to anticipate deal activity, align on transaction priorities, and ensure critical payment dates are met without exception.
• Orchestrate cross‑functional coordination with Payment Operations, Technology, and external banking partners to manage downstream infrastructure requirements and enable seamless execution of complex, high‑value transactions.
• Own and administer the U.S. Corporate Credit Card program; provide oversight of T&E reimbursement processes, ensuring policy compliance and risk mitigation.
• Review and approve reconciliations prepared by the team for Accounts Payable and Sales & Use tax accounts; lead and own the Abandoned & Unclaimed Property compliance process.
• Serve as the primary point of contact on audits, lead coordinated responses to information requests and maintain comprehensive, audit‑ready SOX documentation for all Payment Operations processes.
• Develop and report on a robust metrics and KPI framework to measure SLA performance, policy adherence, and payment trends across Carlyle; enforce SLAs with rigor to ensure timely processing and exception management.

• Cultivate a culture of continuous improvement by regularly evaluating existing processes, identifying inefficiencies, and designing and implementing scalable solutions that keep pace with evolving business and stakeholder needs.
• Partner with Technology teams to conceptualize, design, and deploy automation initiatives and system enhancements that reduce manual effort, increase throughput, and elevate control environments.
• Apply a rapid‑learning approach to quickly understand complex system architectures, firm structures, and interdependencies, translating that knowledge into actionable process improvements and stakeholder recommendations.
• Lead or contribute to firm‑wide special projects and cross‑functional initiatives as required, bringing intellectual curiosity, structured thinking, and a bias for action.

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of payment operations professionals, establishing a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement in a high‑volume, deadline‑driven environment.
• Set clear performance expectations and provide ongoing coaching, training, and career development to unlock optimal team performance and retention.
• Drive the team through tight transaction deadlines by deploying effective prioritization frameworks, escalation protocols, and resource allocation strategies.
• Model and instill a proactive problem‑solving mindset, empowering team members to anticipate challenges and devise solutions independently.

• Bachelor’s degree required, preferred concentration in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related discipline.

• 10+ years of overall relevant accounting experience, with progressive experience in payment operations, accounts payable, finance operations, or a related function.
• At least 4–5 years in a people leadership role.
• Prior experience in private equity, asset management, or a comparably complex financial services environment strongly preferred.
• Prior experience working with banking partners for cash management and wire transactions.
• Prior experience with Treasury Management Systems and banking portals strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated success leading process transformation and technology‑enabled automation initiatives at scale.

• Problem Solving & Innovation – exceptional analytical and creative problem‑solving skills; proven ability to diagnose root causes, develop options, and implement durable solutions in ambiguous or novel situations.
• Strong instinct for innovation – consistently identifies opportunities to challenge the status quo, introduce new approaches, and push beyond incremental improvement.
• Agility & Intellectual Curiosity – quick learner with the ability to absorb and navigate complex organizational structures, financial processes, and technical systems, operating with incomplete information.
• Communication & Stakeholder Management – exceptional verbal and written communication skills, conveying complex operational and technical concepts to executive, business, and non‑technical audiences with clarity.
• Technical & Functional Expertise – deep knowledge of procure‑to‑pay operations, accounts payable, supplier management, and corporate payment programs within a large, complex institutional environment; strong command of SOX compliance requirements, audit management, and internal controls frameworks.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel required; strong working knowledge of Appian and Microsoft Suite preferred.

The compensation range for this role is specific to Washington, DC and takes into account a wide range of factors including but not limited to the skill sets required, prior experience and training, licenses and/or certifications. The anticipated base salary range for this role is $170,000 to $190,000.
In addition to the base salary, the hired professional will enjoy a comprehensive benefits package spanning retirement benefits, health insurance, life insurance and disability, paid time off, paid holidays, family planning benefits and various wellness programs. Additionally, the hired professional may also be eligible to participate in an annual discretionary incentive program, the award of which will be dependent on various factors, including, without limitation, individual and organizational performance.