Trade Finance Operations Lead, Vice President

OCBC; Singapore; On-site; SGD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading bank is seeking a dynamic Trade Finance Operations Lead, Vice President to lead and transform their operations. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in Trade Finance, a passion for operational excellence, and a proven track record in driving transformational initiatives. This role offers a competitive salary and flexible benefits in a fast-paced environment.

Benefits

Competitive base salary

Holistic, flexible benefits

Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• 15+ years of hands-on experience in Trade Finance Operations.
• Experience leading transformational initiatives in the banking or financial services sector.
• Strong understanding of regulatory frameworks and compliance.

Responsibilities

• Lead and transform Trade Finance Operations to align with strategic goals.
• Implement innovative solutions to improve operational efficiency.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to co-create digital trade solutions.

Skills

Trade Finance Operations expertise

Stakeholder management

Risk management understanding

Transformational initiatives leadership

Operational excellence mindset

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Business, Finance

Job description

Trade Finance Operations Lead, Vice President

OCBC is conducting a confidential executive search for a dynamic and forward‑thinking leadership role to lead and transform our Trade Finance Operations department. This strategic leadership position is pivotal in shaping the future of our trade finance capabilities, ensuring operational excellence, regulatory compliance, and innovation in an evolving financial landscape.

Location: Singapore
Reporting To: Managing Director, Regional Head of Trade Finance Operations
Industry: Banking / Financial Services
Function: Operations – Trade Finance
Type: Full‑Time, Leadership Role

Key Responsibilities

• Champion a transformational agenda for Trade Finance Operations, aligning operational capabilities with the bank’s strategic direction and future growth.
• Lead the reimagining of trade finance processes, leveraging automation, digital platforms, and data analytics to drive efficiency, scalability, and customer‑centricity.
• Identify and implement innovative solutions to streamline workflows, reduce manual touchpoints, and enhance turnaround times across trade products.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, encouraging experimentation, agility, and cross‑functional collaboration to solve complex operational challenges.
• Oversee the full spectrum of trade finance operations including Letters of Credit, Documentary Collections, Bank Guarantees, and Supply Chain Finance.
• Ensure robust controls and governance to maintain high levels of accuracy, timeliness, and compliance in transaction processing.
• Drive performance metrics and KPIs to monitor operational health, proactively address bottlenecks, and deliver consistent service excellence.
• Maintain a strong risk management framework, ensuring adherence to internal policies and external regulatory requirements (e.g., MAS, ICC, AML/CFT).
• Lead the department’s readiness for regulatory audits and inspections, ensuring transparency, traceability, and responsiveness.
• Anticipate emerging risks and regulatory changes, and proactively adapt operational strategies to mitigate impact.
• Act as a key liaison between Trade Finance Operations and stakeholders, including Business Units, Compliance, Risk, Technology, and external partners.
• Influence senior leadership and cross‑functional teams by providing strategic insights and operational intelligence to support decision‑making.
• Collaborate with product and technology teams to co‑create digitally enabled trade solutions that enhance client experience and operational agility.
• Lead, mentor, and inspire a diverse team of trade finance professionals, cultivating a high‑performance and resilient workforce.
• Drive talent development and succession planning, ensuring the team is future‑ready and equipped with the skills needed for transformation.
• Promote a culture of accountability, adaptability, and innovation, empowering teams to take ownership and deliver impactful results.

Key Requirements

• Proven experience in Trade Finance Operations, with deep domain expertise across products and processes.
• Demonstrated success in leading transformational initiatives and driving operational change.
• Strong understanding of risk management, regulatory frameworks, and compliance in trade finance.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence and collaborate across functions.
• Resilient, results‑driven, and able to perform under pressure in a fast‑paced environment.
• Strategic thinker with a hands‑on approach and a passion for operational excellence.
• Prior leadership experience in a banking or financial services environment is essential.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Business, Finance, or related field.
• Professional certifications in Trade Finance or Risk Management are advantageous.
• Experience with digital transformation, automation, process optimization and emerging technologies in trade finance operations.
• Minimally 15 years’ hands‑on experience in relevant experience.

What We Offer

Competitive base salary. A suite of holistic, flexible benefits to suit every lifestyle. Community initiatives. Industry‑leading learning and professional development opportunities. Your wellbeing, growth and aspirations are every bit as cared for as the needs of our customers.