Unit Head - Trade Finance Operations

About the role

The Unit Head – Trade Finance Operations leads the daily execution of the bank’s trade finance activities, ensuring high‑quality service while complying with internal policies, regulatory standards, and international trade finance conventions. The role also drives strategic enhancements to the service model, processes, and systems.

Key responsibilities

• Oversee processing of Import/Export Letters of Credit, Collections, Guarantees, Bill Discounting and Loans Against Trust Receipts, maintaining TAT and SLA targets.
• Supervise transaction processors, allocate work based on volume and complexity, and ensure proper documentation and approvals.
• Conduct regulatory and compliance checks, including sanctions screening, before transaction authorisation.
• Manage SWIFT message handling for inbound and outbound payments and ensure timely reconciliation.
• Maintain internal controls, perform risk assessments for all trade finance products, and monitor Nostro reconciliations with Finance.
• Validate financial entries, commission calculations and interest charges according to the bank’s tariff structure.
• Continuously review and update SOPs, identify process gaps and implement improvements.

Required profile

• Proven leadership experience in trade finance operations.
• Demonstrated ability to drive strategic change initiatives.
• Strong knowledge of regulatory and compliance requirements in trade finance.
• Experience supervising teams and managing high‑volume transaction flows.

Required skills

• SWIFT messaging and payment processing.
• Trade finance transaction processing (LCs, Collections, Guarantees, Bill Discounting, LTRs).
• Regulatory compliance screening and sanctions checks.
• Risk assessment and internal control implementation.
• Reconciliation of trade transactions with general ledger and Nostro accounts.

What we offer

• Opportunity to shape the bank’s trade finance service model.
• Leadership role with strategic impact.
• Collaborative environment with cross‑functional teams.