Trade Finance Officer

Cofco-International; Chêne-Bougeries; On-site; CHF 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

COFCO International, headquartered in Geneva, is seeking a seasoned Trade Finance Officer to act as the key interface between financial partners and COFCO teams, ensuring secure execution of trade finance instruments and working capital facilities. The role requires 10+ years of experience in trade finance, strong knowledge of international instruments, and fluency in English.

You will interact with traders, treasury, operations, and banks, and contribute to process improvements in a dynamic,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Banking, Economics, Business Administration or related discipline.
• 10+ years of proven experience in trade finance, banking, or international trade.
• Experience with commodity trading environments.
• Knowledge of international trade finance instruments and documentary credit practices.
• Familiarity with UCP 600, ISBP, URDG and ICC trade finance rules.
• Advanced Excel skills.
• Experience with digital solutions (Treasury Management Systems, In-House IT support).
• Strong analytical and reconciliation skills.
• Ability to operate effectively in a multicultural and dynamic environment.
• Fluency in English; additional languages are a plus.

Responsibilities

• Trade Finance Execution: Manage LCs, standby LCs, documentary collections, bank guarantees.
• Review contracts and financing requirements for banking compliance.
• Manage document checking and discrepancy resolution with banks, customers and suppliers.
• Ensure timely presentation of shipping and commercial documents.
• Contribute to process improvements and reporting automation.
• Identify risks and escalate exceptions promptly.
• Banking & Financial Institutions Relationship Management: Liaise daily with banking partners.
• Support utilization and monitoring of trade finance facilities and credit lines.
• Coordinate financing requests and ensure covenant compliance.
• Assist onboarding of new banking relationships and financing structures.
• Negotiate and optimize financing costs.
• Commodity Transaction Support: Structure financing solutions for physical commodity transactions.
• Monitor financing needs through the trade lifecycle.
• Assist with other arrangements relevant to teams.

Job description

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Trade Finance Officer

COFCO International is a global agri-business with a clear vision, strong values and a positive culture, focused on being a leader in the global grains, oilseeds and sugar supply chains. We provide the food the world needs in a responsible way. Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, we are ambitious, with the right structures and culture to meet the world's increasing and changing needs. With 12,000+ people in 35 countries, our global portfolio includes assets across the Americas, Europe, Africa, Middle East, and Asia-Pacific. We trade with over 50 nations, while providing farmers unique direct access to the growing Chinese market.

Job Purpose

The role acts as a key interface between Financial Partners and COFCO International teams: traders, finance, treasury, operations, legal as well as counterparties to ensure a secure and efficient execution of trade finance instruments and working capital facilities.

Responsibilities

Trade Finance Execution

• Manage Letters of Credit (LCs), standby LCs, documentary collections, bank guarantees and other Trade Finance instruments.
• Review trade contracts and financing requirements to ensure compliance with banking and internal policies.
• Manage document checking and discrepancy resolution with banks, customers and suppliers.
• Ensure timely presentation of shipping and commercial documents.
• Contribute to process improvements and reporting automation.
• Prompt identification and escalation of risks and exceptions.

Banking & Financial Institutions Relationship Management

• Liaise daily with banking partners regarding trade finance transactions.
• Support utilization and monitoring of trade finance facilities and credit lines.
• Coordinate financing requests and ensure compliance with facility conditions and covenants.
• Assist with onboarding of new banking relationships and financing structures.
• Financing costs negotiation and optimization.

Commodity Transaction Support

• Work closely with traders and operations teams to structure financing solutions for physical commodity transactions, while assessing financing and documentary risks.
• Monitor financing needs throughout the trade lifecycle from contract execution to final payment.
• Support and elaborate other arrangements relevant to the teams.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Banking, Economics, Business Administration or related discipline.
• Proven experience (10+ years) in trade finance, banking, or international trade.
• Experience with commodity trading environments.
• Knowledge of international trade finance instruments and documentary credit practices.
• Familiarity with UCP 600, ISBP, URDG and ICC trade finance rules.
• Advanced Excel skills.
• Experience with digital solutions (Treasury Management Systems, In-House IT support and new solutions to be found in the market).
• Strong analytical and reconciliation skills.
• Ability to operate effectively in a multicultural and dynamic environment.
• Fluency in English; additional languages are a plus.

COFCO International is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.