Business Manager, Trade & Structured Finance Underwriting

UK Export Finance; City Of London; On-site; GBP 62,000; Full time

Job summary

A government financial institution in London is seeking a Business Manager to oversee applications for trade finance products. The successful candidate will analyze applications, guide stakeholders, and ensure compliance with regulations. A degree in Finance and strong analytical skills are required. The role offers a competitive salary of £61,250 with excellent benefits, including a pension scheme and training opportunities.

Benefits

Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme

Learning and development opportunities

Flexible working options

Qualifications

• Ability to understand financial statements.
• Experience writing credit papers with risk analysis.
• Management skills to coach junior team members.

Responsibilities

• Review applications for trade finance guarantees and insurance.
• Ensure compliance and manage case work.
• Develop knowledge of UKEF’s products for training others.

Skills

Analytical ability

Oral and written communication

Organizational skills

Negotiation skills

Technical knowledge of financing

Education

Degree in Finance or equivalent experience

Tools

MS Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word)

Job description

The Trade Finance Division (TFD) sits within the Business Group and is accountable for the delivery of UKEF's short‑term business products, including the Bond Support Scheme, Export Working Capital Scheme, General Export Facility, Export Insurance Policy and Bond Insurance Policy.

About the Role

This role is part of the Short‑Term Business Underwriting Team (STBU). As a Business Manager you will take on applications from banks, exporters and credit insurance brokers, guide them through the end‑to‑end process and liaise with both internal and external stakeholders. Your responsibilities include analysing trade finance and insurance applications, supporting the structuring and negotiation of facilities, drafting credit submissions and presenting recommendations to sanctioning managers and the UKEF Credit Committee.

Key Responsibilities

• Review and lead on enquiries and applications for trade finance guarantees and trade credit insurance.
• Ensure compliance, including the identification of key parties and ultimate beneficial owners for financial‑crime screening.
• Analyse applications and write credit submission papers, covering all relevant analysis for credit recommendations.
• Manage case work, ensuring all communications and documents are correctly processed and stored in UKEF systems.
• Communicate regularly with internal and external stakeholders, keeping them updated on case status.
• Continuously develop knowledge of UKEF’s products and policies, and provide training for other team members.
• Lead cases through risk approval and underwriting processes, working with other teams and external advisers as required.
• Participate in marketing activities, including giving presentations at meetings and developing relationships with key external stakeholders.
• Explain UKEF’s products and processes clearly.
• Contribute to policy development and process improvement.
• Support UKEF’s Financial Institution onboarding area as needed.
• Possibly take on line‑management responsibilities.

Behaviours Expected

• Managing a Quality Service
• Leadership
• Working Together

Technical Skills Assessed

• Case study / Presentation – a subject or topic agreed by UKEF.
• Technical questions – candidates must provide truthful, factually accurate examples from their own experience; plagiarism may lead to withdrawal of application.

Essential and Desirable Criteria

• Degree level in a relevant subject such as Finance, or equivalent experience.
• Ability to understand and interpret financial statements.
• Conceptual understanding of trade finance and insurance products.
• Experience of writing credit papers, including credit risk analysis.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, with presentation skills for senior stakeholders.
• Analytical ability to understand complex financial, legal and policy issues.
• Highly organised and methodical approach to managing workload.
• Ability to work accurately to tight deadlines.
• Experience of working in teams and reporting to multiple senior managers.
• Experience of negotiating terms and conditions in documentation.
• Working knowledge of the political, commercial, legal and risk environment UKEF operates in.
• Technical knowledge of international financing mechanisms and UKEF products.
• Management skills to coach and manage junior team members.
• Proficiency in MS Office, especially Excel, PowerPoint and Word.
• Commercial, banking or financial institution experience.
• Experience of managing a small team.

Assessment Process

Initial sift: application will be evaluated against 1) qualification, 2) experience and statement of suitability addressing essential and desirable criteria.

Interviews: a formal panel interview will assess behaviours across the three highlighted behaviours. A technical assessment will cover the case study / presentation and technical questions.

Security Requirements

• Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
• Must meet the security requirements before appointment (security check opens in a new window).
• See UKEF's vetting charter and baseline personnel security standard.

Nationality Requirements

• UK nationals.
• National of the Republic of Ireland.
• Commonwealth nationals who have the right to work in the UK.
• EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein nationals and settled or pre‑settled family members under the EU Settlement Scheme.
• Individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020.
• Turkish nationals and certain family members with the right to work in the Civil Service.

Working for the Civil Service

UKEF recruits by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles. The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities, runs a Disability Confident Scheme for eligible candidates, and offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme for civil servants at risk of redundancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attracting, retaining and investing in talent irrespective of background. For more information, see the Civil Service People Plan and Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.

Compensation and Benefits

• Salary: £61,250 per annum.
• UKEF contributes £17,744 towards membership of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme, with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
• Learning and development tailored to the role.
• Flexible working options.
• Culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
• Civil Service pension.