Vice President-Trade Operations (FEMA)

SMBC Group; New Delhi; On-site; INR 2,500,000 - 4,000,000; Full time

Job summary

SMBC Group seeks a Senior Trade Operations Compliance Lead in India to oversee FEMA compliance on new deals and cross-border activities. You will drive the reduction of outstanding EDPMS/IDPMS entries, support SWIFT releases, and lead regulatory and automation projects with cross-functional collaboration.

The role emphasizes governance, risk and control, process improvement, and translating regulatory requirements into actionable controls and documentation.

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of FEMA regulatory framework for trade finance in India.
• Experience in export/import transaction monitoring and EDPMS/IDPMS closure processes.
• Practical knowledge of SWIFT messages and release-change impacts for cross-border trades.
• Experience in Trade Operations, regulatory implementation, and governance of processes and controls.
• Ability to translate regulatory requirements into clear requirements and controls.
• Experience with business requirements, UAT, implementation readiness, issue management and stabilization for tech/automation projects.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Graduate degree in Finance, Commerce, Economics, Business or related discipline; relevant banking/compliance qualification desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead FEMA and regulatory compliance review for new trade and cross-border deals with Product and Sales teams.
• Drive reduction of outstanding EDPMS and IDPMS entries through aging analysis and project ownership.
• Support SWIFT release implementation for cross-border transactions including testing and rollout.
• Lead regulatory change projects for Trade Operations including mapping requirements to processes and controls.
• Drive automation and process-improvement initiatives across Trade Operations.
• Strengthen risk and control environment with reviews, MI, and timely escalation of issues.

Skills

FEMA compliance

Regulatory change

Stakeholder management

SWIFT knowledge

Process governance

Risk management

Analytical skills

Written communication

Education

Finance degree

Commerce degree

Economics degree

Compliance qualification

Tools

SWIFT

EDPMS

IDPMS

Job description

SMBC Group is a top-tier global financial group. Headquartered in Tokyo and with a 400-year history, SMBC Group offers a diverse range of financial services, including banking, leasing, securities, credit cards, and consumer finance. The Group has more than 150 offices and 86,000 employees worldwide in nearly 40 countries. Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. (SMFG) is the holding company of SMBC Group, one of the three largest banking groups in Japan. SMFG's shares trade on the Tokyo and Nagoya stock exchanges, and its ADRs trade on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: SMFG).

OUR VALUES

Integrity || Customer First || Proactive & Innovative || Speed & Quality || Team "SMBC Group"

EMEA: https://www.smbcgroup.com/emea/

APAC: https://www.smbc.co.jp/asia/

SECTION: PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

Lead key governance, regulatory compliance and transformation priorities for Trade Operations, with accountability for FEMA compliance on new deals, reduction of outstanding EDPMS/IDPMS entries, support for SWIFT releases relating to cross-border transactions, and delivery of regulatory and automation projects.

SECTION: JOB RESPONSIBILTIES:

Primary Responsibilities

These are the key work activities to achieve the position objective. Limit this section to essential responsibilities.

• Lead FEMA and regulatory compliance review for new trade and cross-border deals by partnering with Product and Sales teams, identifying operational and regulatory requirements, and ensuring that agreed controls and documentation are embedded before implementation.
• Drive reduction of outstanding EDPMS and IDPMS entries through ageing analysis, prioritised action plans, ownership tracking, escalation and close coordination with business teams and clients for document collection and closure.
• Support SWIFT release implementation for cross-border transactions by assessing operational impact, defining business requirements, coordinating testing and readiness, and supporting controlled production rollout and post-release stabilization.
• Lead regulatory change projects for Trade Operations, translating requirements into process, control and system changes; coordinating stakeholders; tracking dependencies and risks; and ensuring timely, audit-ready implementation.
• Drive automation and process-improvement initiatives across Trade Operations by identifying opportunities, defining target processes and control requirements, supporting solution design and testing, and monitoring realized outcomes.
• Strengthen the Trade Operations risk and control environment through periodic reviews, management information, issue remediation, procedure updates, staff guidance and timely escalation of material exceptions or delays.

Secondary Responsibilities

• Provide subject-matter input for policies, procedures, audits, regulatory reviews and management updates relating to Trade Operations.
• Represent Trade Operations in cross-functional working groups and support training / knowledge-sharing on regulatory, SWIFT and operational change topics.
• Support resolution of complex transaction or client escalations where regulatory interpretation, operational coordination or system change is required.

SECTION: KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS:

• Strong working knowledge of FEMA and the regulatory framework applicable to trade finance and cross-border transactions in India.
• Sound understanding of export / import transaction monitoring and closure processes, including EDPMS and IDPMS.
• Practical knowledge of SWIFT messages and release-change impacts relevant to cross-border trade transactions.
• Demonstrated experience in Trade Operations, regulatory implementation, process governance and operational risk / control management.
• Ability to assess new products or deal structures, identify operational and regulatory implications, and convert them into clear requirements and controls.
• Experience in business requirements, UAT, implementation readiness, issue management and stabilization for technology or automation projects.
• Strong stakeholder management, client coordination, analytical, problem-solving, written communication and escalation skills.
• Graduate degree in Finance, Commerce, Economics, Business or a related discipline. Relevant banking, trade finance or compliance qualification is desirable