Manager - Trade Finance

About the Role:

• Driving growth of the Bank's Trade Finance business across the Coast Region through the acquisition of new trade finance customers, expansion of existing client relationships, and delivery of innovative trade solutions.
• Supporting the execution of the Bank's Corporate and Investment Banking strategy by identifying trade-related business opportunities, deepening existing customer relationships, and maximizing trade finance revenue and fee income.
• Providing specialist trade finance expertise to customers and internal stakeholders, including structuring transactions, supporting credit applications, and ensuring effective execution of trade finance products and services including Letters of Credit (LCs), Bank Guarantees (BGs), Documentary Collections, Supply Chain Finance, Structured Trade Finance, Trade Loans, and other trade-related solutions in line with the Bank's policies and international trade finance standards.
• Ensuring sound risk management, compliance, and operational excellence in trade finance transactions while positioning the Bank as the preferred trade finance partner within the region.

Key responsibilities

• Serve as the regional Trade Finance specialist, providing technical expertise on trade finance products and solutions.
• Identify, develop, and convert trade finance opportunities across existing and prospective customer relationships.
• Partner with the Head of CIB in customer engagements to understand trade flows and structure suitable trade finance solutions.
• Drive growth in trade finance income through increased utilization of Letters of Credit, Bank Guarantees, Documentary Collections, Trade Loans, Supply Chain Finance, and other trade-related products.
• Support customer acquisition and wallet share growth by delivering tailored trade finance solutions.
• Structure trade finance transactions and support the preparation of trade-related credit proposals in line with the Bank's credit policies.
• Coordinate with Trade Operations, Credit, Treasury, Compliance, Legal, and other support teams to ensure seamless execution of trade finance transactions.
• Ensure timely issuance and processing of trade finance instruments and facilities.
• Provide advisory support to customers on trade finance products, international trade practices, and documentary requirements.
• Support preparation of quality trade finance proposals and facilitate approvals through effective stakeholder engagement.
• Monitor approved trade finance facilities to ensure compliance with approved terms, conditions, and utilization levels.
• Ensure compliance with the Bank's policies, regulatory requirements, AML/CFT guidelines, sanctions regulations, and applicable ICC Trade Finance Rules.

Key Performance Measures:

• Achievement of Trade Finance income and portfolio growth targets.
• Growth in Letters of Credit, Bank Guarantees, Trade Loans, Supply Chain Finance, and other trade finance products.
• Acquisition of new trade finance customers and increased penetration within existing relationships.
• Growth in non-funded income and fees generated from trade finance transactions.
• Quality and turnaround time of trade finance proposals and transaction execution.
• Portfolio quality, including minimal incidences of overdue obligations, operational losses, or regulatory breaches.
• Compliance with regulatory requirements, internal policies, international trade finance standards, and service level agreements.
• Customer satisfaction and retention levels within the Trade Finance portfolio, achieved through timely resolution of customer queries and transaction-related issues.

Personal Competencies:

• Strong expertise in Trade Finance, with a solid understanding of ICC rules and international trade practices.
• Proven ability to drive business growth and build lasting client relationships.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen, with the ability to structure value-adding solutions and manage risk.
• Sound knowledge of foreign exchange, commodity markets, and trade-related risks.
• Strategic thinker with strong analytical and decision-making capabilities.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Collaborative leader with high levels of integrity, professionalism, and accountability.
• Results-driven and adaptable, with the ability to thrive in a dynamic business environment.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to clearly present ideas and build rapport with customers and colleagues.

Skills & Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Finance, Banking, Economics, Business Administration, Commerce, or a related field.
• Professional Trade Finance qualification such as Certified Documentary Credit Specialist (CDCS), Certificate in International Trade and Finance (CITF), or Certified Specialist in Demand Guarantees (CSDG) will be an added advantage.
• Minimum 5 years' relevant banking experience, with exposure to Trade Finance, Corporate Banking, Treasury, Credit, or International Banking.
• Demonstrated success in driving business growth, deepening customer relationships, and delivering commercial results
• Strong understanding of trade finance products, international trade, and transaction banking solutions.
• Proven ability to identify opportunities, develop customer-centric solutions, and contribute to portfolio growth
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build effective relationships across customers, partners, and internal teams.
• Commercially astute, analytical, and capable of making sound business decisions in a dynamic environment.
• Strong leadership potential, initiative, and a track record of delivering results through collaboration and influence