Director - Trade Finance Operations

GOW Recruitment; Sydney; On-site; AUD 260,000 - 340,000; Full time

Job summary

Gow Recruitment is seeking an experienced Trade Finance Operations leader to run a large, established function in a leading financial services organisation. You will oversee end-to-end performance, service delivery, risk and controls, workforce capability and transformation across a broad Trade Finance environment.

The role requires deep Trade Finance knowledge and a proven track record leading large, complex operations teams across onshore and offshore sites, with a focus on governance,

Qualifications

• Deep Trade Finance knowledge and experience in documentary trade and trade finance products.
• Experience leading large-scale operations with multiple management layers.
• Experience managing geographically distributed and/or offshore teams.
• Strong understanding of operational risk, controls, governance, and regulatory requirements.
• Proven track record delivering transformation, process simplification, and automation.

Responsibilities

• Lead a Trade Finance Operations function of approximately 100 people across onshore and offshore teams.
• Oversee operational delivery across documentary trade, trade finance lending, borrowing base, and structured trade products.
• Develop and lead a strong management team with clear accountability across the function.
• Drive operational performance, service standards, and positive customer outcomes.
• Maintain a strong risk and controls environment, including governance and regulatory obligations.
• Lead response to material operational incidents, control gaps, and complex issues.
• Partner with senior stakeholders across Institutional and Business Banking.
• Identify opportunities to simplify processes and improve operational efficiency.
• Lead transformation initiatives across automation and offshore service delivery.
• Build workforce capability and position the function for future growth.

Skills

Trade Finance Operations

Leadership of large teams

Offshore/onsite management

Operational risk & controls

Transformation & automation

Stakeholder influence

Job description

An opportunity has arisen for an experienced Trade Finance Operations leader to take responsibility for a large, established function within a leading financial services organisation.

Leading a large team across Australia and offshore, this role will have end-to-end accountability for operational performance, service delivery, risk and controls, workforce capability, and transformation across a broad Trade Finance environment. This is a senior leadership position suited to someone who combines deep Trade Finance knowledge with proven experience leading large, complex operations teams.
Your responsibilities will include:

• Lead a large Trade Finance Operations function of approximately 100 people across onshore and offshore teams
• Oversee operational delivery across documentary trade, trade finance lending, borrowing base, and structured trade products
• Develop and lead a strong management team, creating clear accountability across the function
• Drive operational performance, service standards, and positive customer outcomes
• Maintain a strong risk and controls environment, including governance, operational resilience, and regulatory obligations
• Lead the response to material operational incidents, control gaps, and complex issues
• Partner with senior stakeholders across Institutional and Business Banking
• Identify opportunities to simplify processes and improve operational efficiency
• Lead transformation initiatives across automation, operating-model improvement, and offshore service delivery
• Build workforce capability and ensure the function is positioned for future growth and change.

An opportunity has arisen for an experienced Trade Finance Operations leader to take responsibility for a large, established function within a leading financial services organisation.

Leading a large team across Australia and offshore, this role will have end-to-end accountability for operational performance, service delivery, risk and controls, workforce capability, and transformation across a broad Trade Finance environment. This is a senior leadership position suited to someone who combines deep Trade Finance knowledge with proven experience leading large, complex operations teams.
Your responsibilities will include:

• Lead a large Trade Finance Operations function of approximately 100 people across onshore and offshore teams
• Oversee operational delivery across documentary trade, trade finance lending, borrowing base, and structured trade products
• Develop and lead a strong management team, creating clear accountability across the function
• Drive operational performance, service standards, and positive customer outcomes
• Maintain a strong risk and controls environment, including governance, operational resilience, and regulatory obligations
• Lead the response to material operational incidents, control gaps, and complex issues
• Partner with senior stakeholders across Institutional and Business Banking
• Identify opportunities to simplify processes and improve operational efficiency
• Lead transformation initiatives across automation, operating-model improvement, and offshore service delivery
• Build workforce capability and ensure the function is positioned for future growth and change.

About you

• Deep experience within Trade Finance / Trade Services Operations
• Strong knowledge of documentary trade and trade finance products
• Experience leading a large-scale operations function, ideally through multiple layers of management
• Experience managing geographically distributed and/or offshore teams
• Strong understanding of operational risk, controls, governance, and regulatory requirements
• Demonstrated experience managing significant operational issues and driving remediation
• Experience delivering transformation, process simplification, and/or automation
• Strong commercial judgement and the ability to balance risk, customer, and operational outcomes
• The credibility to influence and advise senior executives
• A track record of developing high-performing leadership teams