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Arrow Payments · Success Profile

Technical Systems
Manager Study Guide

Last updated 4/1/2026 · Mike Thompson
The Mission

Support the Arrow Payments team and clients by proactively addressing technology needs and ensuring a world-class customer experience. Collaborate with Leadership and Client Success to stay current on systems, implementations, security, PCI, switchovers, and steady-state support — depending on the engagement phase.

Client Types

Enterprise

High-Touch

Universities, Colleges, Healthcare Institutions across the U.S. High level of support. Both Support-Only and Support & Processing service types.

Legacy

Low-Touch

SMBs in healthcare, government, non-profit, e-commerce, manufacturing, tech, retail, and restaurants. Support & Processing only. Lower support intensity.

Core Values
❤️
Love
Care for clients, respect everyone, watch over ourselves. Lead with love in everything.
📈
Growth
Never stop evolving personally, professionally, and as an organization.
🤝
Collaboration
Create win-win-win situations internally, with partners, and with clients.
🎯
Authenticity
Payments shouldn't be complicated. Communicate clearly with purposeful honesty.
👂
Listening
Common ground solutions come from understanding all sides.
💰
Value
Deliver positive results across all financial situations we're responsible for.
Key Competencies
  • Customer Focus — Establish and maintain effective client relationships. Gain trust and respect.
  • Priority Setting — Identify what's mission-critical. Spend time on what matters most.
  • Listening — Active, attentive. Probing, clarifying, and confirmation questions.
  • Excellent Communication — Proactive status updates. Escalate without letting issues boil over.
  • Integrity & Trust — Follow through. Be direct, truthful, widely trusted.
  • Advanced Technical Systems Management — Translate business needs into technical requirements. Coordinate automation, maintain docs.
  • Alignment & Compliance — Embody Arrow Payments' culture, values, and mission in every interaction.
Three Phases of Work
Phase 1 New Client Onboarding

Client Setup

As Assigned
  • Salesforce account setup (contacts, cases, merged emails)
  • Participate in Internal Strategy Meetings

Discoveries

As Needed
  • Understand organizational structure of client institution
  • Review surveys & discovery notes
  • Organize technologies, solutions, vendors, and systems
  • Research TPSPs used across the institution
  • Identify improvement opportunities

Solution Design

As Assigned
  • Uncover & illustrate pain/complexity — focus on University & Department goals
  • Organize tech, solutions, vendors & system details
  • Develop solution recommendations, presentations & merchant guides
  • Demonstrate credibility & lead solution recommendations
Phase 2 Switchovers & Implementations

Strategy & Planning

Collaborate
  • Partner with Solutions Advisor to define strategy & implementation plan
  • Identify improvement opportunities & prioritize departmental approach
  • Determine timeline and action items

Switchover Execution

Execute
  • Meet with departments, recommend and order solutions
  • Board MIDs, configure VARs, Devices, Gateways & E-Commerce
  • Train users, test transactions, complete compliance
  • Drive urgency — detailed switchover timeline by MID/dept
  • Arrive prepared: review discovery and case history before every meeting
Phase 3 Steady-State Support

Ongoing Responsibilities

Daily
  • Status Meetings — Review, update, maintain knowledge, next steps, and case status
  • Vendor & Department Coordination — Conduct vendor reviews with Solutions Advisor
  • Deploy Solutions — Installations, training & efficiency optimization
  • Support Solutions — Address questions, issues, provide resolutions
  • PCI Compliance — Client & vendor PCI compliance, SAQ completion, coordinate vulnerability scanning
Response Time — Communication Sequence
TimeframeRequired Action
4 Business HoursConfirm receipt of incoming case
24 HoursAction response — who / where / when / how
3 DaysTake action on all cases (inactive on Day 4)
DailyEvery active case closes with documented forward progress + next actions, blockers, ownership
Technical Project Milestones
85%
Delivered on agreed date. Exceptions documented with updated ETA.
Post-Release Defect Target
<10%
Of releases requiring urgent rework within 7 days of deployment.
Decision Logging
90%
Decisions documented (what/why/owner/date) within 1 business day.
Client Satisfaction NPS
8+
Average NPS on quarterly feedback for assigned systems/process initiatives.
New Tech Requests Acknowledged
2 Days
With scope, priority, owner, dependencies, and target timeline.
Risk Escalation Window
1 Day
Material risks/blockers with recommendation. Immediate for urgent payment issues.
Culture & Cadence
  • Weekly Alignment: 1 portfolio/priority touchpoint with Solutions Advisor — documented priorities, risks, next actions
  • Time Tracking: Update DeskTime every week by EOD Friday
  • Culture: Share 2 appreciations per week
  • Salesforce: Every case has a Next Step. Daily review of tasks past due (closed loop)
  • Communication: Monitor Slack, email, and Salesforce daily. Respond to team inquiries daily.
Required Certifications — Year One
PCIP
Payment Card Industry Professional
Industry-standard credential demonstrating foundational PCI DSS knowledge. Required within your first year.
QIR
Qualified Integrator & Reseller
PCI SSC credential for professionals who install, configure, or support payment solutions. Required within your first year.
SAQ Types

SAQ-P2PE

Reduced Scope

For merchants using a validated Point-to-Point Encryption solution. Cardholder data is encrypted at the device, so merchant systems are largely out of PCI scope. Shortest questionnaire of the SAQ types.

SAQ-A

Card-Not-Present

For merchants who have fully outsourced all cardholder data functions to PCI-compliant third parties. Covers e-commerce and phone/mail order businesses. No electronic storage, processing, or transmission of CHD on merchant systems.

SAQ-B

Imprint / Standalone

For merchants using only imprint machines or standalone dial-out terminals. No electronic cardholder data storage.

SAQ-D

Full Scope

Catch-all for merchants who don't qualify for other SAQ types. Full 300+ question questionnaire. Highest compliance burden.

Daily Compliance Responsibilities
  • Ensure client PCI compliance & support SAQ completion
  • Review vendor AOCs (Attestation of Compliance)
  • Coordinate ASV vulnerability scans; track and remediate findings
  • Verify CHD (PANs, CVV/CVC, PINs) is never stored or transmitted via client workstations, networks, or email
  • Assist with payment incident response: card testing, outages, fraud, compliance-impacting events
  • Recommend and deploy P2PE to reduce PCI scope
  • Identify non-compliant practices and provide remediation recommendations
  • Convert MIDs to Arrow processing — high priority
Flashcards

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Payments Glossary

TSM Knowledge Test

50 questions covering role responsibilities, PCI compliance, KPIs, process phases, terminology, and Arrow Payments culture. Questions are randomized each attempt.

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Arrow Payments · Technical Systems Manager · Study Guide