Our client, an International Bank with a stellar reputation, are looking for a Head of Trade Finance. This position will be for 6-9 months and will be cover for someone on maternity leave.

The responsibilities for the position are as follows:

TRADE FINANCE

• Activity and performance of Trade Finance Department, encompassing LCs (export / import, back to back, transferable, standby) collections, guarantees, bill discounting, trade secondary participations, commodity deals and associated financing, and Funds Transfers for Correspondent Banks and customers of the Bank.

• Input and agreement to revenue targets for TF Department, with responsibility to deliver. Report progress to BPR meetings.

• Ensure that TF products, systems, procedures, controls and checks, reporting methodologies are up to date and appropriate to the business needs of the bank.

• Ensure timely identification of point of service failures and implementation of corrective measures

• Regular review and improvement of existing operational process flows to meet market demand and regulatory guidelines.

• Act as expert point of reference and provide specialist TF advice externally to corporate and bank customers and internally to Banks personnel

• Provide direction to staff and will be responsible for ensuring appropriate resourcing, development, training and appraisal to improve processing skills and to develop staff

• Evaluation of transactional dynamics to identify and mitigate risks, in support of business development opportunities.

• Ambassador for the bank through being a member of BCA, AFB and ICC, attending appropriate conferences and events associated with Trade Finance.

• Assessing the training and development needs of the department and proposing training where appropriate.

FUNDS TRANSFER

• Ensure the expeditious processing of transactions accurately and in line with set service standards, policies, procedures and regulatory requirements

• Clearing of outstanding reconciliation items and dealing with enquiries.

• Maintain complete, accurate and reliable records of transactions and a clear audit trail to ensure compliance with all bank's operational policies and procedures

• Strict compliance with controls, capacity management and performance optimisation

• Ensure awareness and alertness to money laundering risks and adherence to set anti-money laundering procedures

• Strong liaison with the Compliance department, ensuring implementation of compliance policies and procedures and proactively alerting compliance issues

• Ensure timely identification of point of service failures and the implementation of corrective measures

• Liaise with other business units to ensure efficient service delivery.

• Ensure prompt reconciliation and proofing of all ledger accounts and efficient resolution of long-standing reconciliation items.

• Adopting a zero tolerance for processing errors and ensuring that all errors are identified and addressed same day.

• Assessing the training and development needs of the department and proposing training where appropriate.