Head of Trade Finance

IPOE Consulting; Greater London; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading financial consulting firm in the UK seeks a Trade Finance Operations Manager to provide strategic direction to the Trade Finance team. Your role will involve driving new business opportunities across trade finance products while ensuring compliance with regulations. Ideal candidates should have at least 7 years of experience in trade finance, managerial skills, and relevant qualifications. This position does not offer sponsorship for working in the UK and requires the right to work in the country.

Qualifications

• Minimum 7 years experience in trade finance at an international bank.
• Management or supervisory experience is required.
• Credit analysis skills and ability to prepare FI credit applications.
• Thorough knowledge of ICC rules on letters of credit and guarantees.
• Thorough knowledge of ICC rules for LCs, guarantees, reimbursements, collections, standby LCs, and forfaiting.
• Confident interacting with beneficiaries and other banks on documentary credit matters.
• Experience managing credit limits and analysing bank financial reports.
• Knowledge of Risk Participation Agreements and Trade Loan Agreements.
• Knowledge of AML regulations and due diligence checks.
• Understanding of international payments, acceptances, discounting of bills, and trade loan documentation.

Responsibilities

• Identify and pursue new trade finance business opportunities.
• Manage smooth operations of trade finance, ensuring compliance and efficiency.
• Complete credit line reviews and applications in a timely manner.
• Monitor FI limits and engage with counterparties for trade loans.
• Complete credit line reviews and due diligence; present for risk approval.
• Respond to email enquiries relating to trade finance opportunities and correspondents.
• Monitor FI limits and pursue new opportunities with counterparties or via secondary market.
• Attend meetings with counterparties to build relationships and expand sourcing scope.
• Monitor regulatory changes and ensure compliant application in operations.
• Perform final check, sign documentation, release Swift payments, and maintain accuracy.
• Second and third checks on LC-related documents as required; signatories per policy.
• Provide monthly management information and highlights reports for EXCO/Board.

Skills

Trade finance operations

Business development

Management experience

Credit analysis

Technical expertise in documentary credits

International payments

Risk participation

Due diligence

Regulatory awareness

Education

CDCS/CITF/CSDG qualifications

Job description

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.

Main responsibilities will include;

• Proactively identify and pursue new trade finance business opportunities, including monitoring FI limits and engaging directly with counterparties 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/counterparty trade finance limits, as well as completing the customer/counterparty 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 counterparties for new trade loan business opportunities, both directly with FI counterparty or via the secondary market
• Attend meetings with counterparties 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

To be considered for this position, ideal candidates must have the following experience and skills;

• 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 and grounding in ICC rules governing letters of credit, guarantees, bank to bank reimbursements, documentary collections, standby letters of credit, and forfaiting
• Must be confident in dealing directly with beneficiaries and other banks in technical documentary credit matters and dealing with difficult customers and issues
• Awareness/experience of managing credit limits, and ability to analyse bank financial reports and prepare credit line applications
• Good understanding of Risk Participation Agreements and Trade Loan Agreements, with operational experience in conducting trade loans
• Good knowledge of AML regulation and experience in completing customer due diligence checks
• Thorough understanding of international payments, acceptances, discounting of bills, and trade loan documentation

Candidates must also have the right to work in the UK. I’m afraid sponsorship isn’t offered for this position.

Due to the high volume of CVs that we receive, only successful candidates will be contacted. Thank you for your time and patience.