Head of Trade Finance

To provide strategic leadership and direction to the Trade Finance Operations team, with a strong emphasis on originating, developing, and growing new trade finance business in alignment with our client’s overall strategy. The role is responsible for proactively sourcing and driving new business opportunities across all trade finance products—including letters of credit, guarantees, collections, forfaiting, and trade loans—positioning Trade Finance as a key revenue-generating pillar of the Bank.

• Proactively identify and pursue new trade finance business opportunities, including monitoring FI limits and engaging directly with counter parties or through the secondary market.
• Respond promptly and professionally to all external and internal enquiries relating to trade finance opportunities, demonstrating strong technical expertise and excellent customer service.
• Liaise effectively with customers on document discrepancies, technical queries, and transaction issues, including managing difficult customer interactions with professionalism and clarity.
• Manage smooth running of trade finance operations ensuring all transactions are handled in a timely and efficient manner with excellent customer service, in accordance with Bank policy and regulatory guidelines, and within customer credit limits
• Complete credit line reviews and applications on a timely basis to ensure credit lines are renewed prior to expiry for the smooth running of customer/counter party trade finance limits, as well as completing the customer/counter party due diligence checks for compliance, and present to Credit Risk and MLRO for assessment and approval
• Respond promptly and with care and attention to all e-mail enquiries in respect of trade finance business opportunities, enquiries from correspondents, or internal correspondence
• Monitor FI limits and where limits are available check with relevant counter parties for new trade loan business opportunities, both directly with FI counter party or via the secondary market
• Attend meetings with counter parties to develop relationships and increase scope for sourcing business opportunities, as well as attending internal meetings whether in respect of trade finance operations or general matters of the Bank
• Monitor changes in relevant regulation, whether government or governing body (e.g. International Chamber of Commerce, International Trade and Forfaiting Association) to ensure application of any new rules are applied within our operations
• Perform final check and authorise all transactions processed, signing documentation, including internal account posting vouchers, and releasing Swift payments and correspondence, ensuring all work is completed accurately and in accordance with Banks policies and relevant regulation
• Third check documents presented under letters of credit over £100K. Second check documents when covering absence of a team member
• Second signatory on all documentation advising or amending letters of credit, issuance or amendment of guarantees, or any other departmental documentation requiring signature.
• First signature on all trade finance documentation which requires approval by the CEO or nominated deputy, or a second authorised signature of the Bank
• Provide monthly management information on business volumes and income and write the monthly trade finance highlights report for EXCO, and when necessary for the Board of Directors
• Check all documentation in respect of trade loans or forfaiting transactions, and sign the approval form

• Minimum 7 years experience of working in the trade finance area of an international bank having covered all aspects of trade finance operations, including documentary credits, forfaiting, trade loans, working with risk participation agreements, and active involvement in business development
• Must have management/supervisory experience
• Ideally possess the CDCS/CITF/CSDG professional qualification/s
• Credit analysis skills for reviewing FI financial accounts and experience of preparing FI credit applications would be useful
• Thorough knowledge…