Main Purpose
As part of the Finance team, the Trade Finance Manager will support financial operations related to trading activities across all regions, ensuring that the company remains fully secured financially. The role works closely with the Group Treasury Department to identify, implement, and manage Trade Finance Facilities that effectively support and optimize trade flows.
The ideal candidate is comfortable operating in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment with large trading volumes. The Manager will interact extensively with both internal and external stakeholders, including banking partners and commercial traders, and will be responsible for developing strong working relationships to secure cost-effective and innovative financing solutions.
Key Responsibilities
- Monitor and prepare weekly mark-to-market reports on stock positions.
- Ensure timely processing of payments and manage daily cash positions with banks.
- Arrange risk coverage for sales, where necessary, via banks and/or insurers.
- Issue Letters of Credit (L/Cs) and Bank Guarantees for commodity purchases, including negotiation with banks to place transactions under borrowing bases, bilateral facilities, or repurchase agreements.
- Negotiate, document, and execute financing facility instruments.
- Prepare and dispatch invoices and original documents for payments under documentary L/Cs received from buyers.
- Identify, structure, and implement cost-effective banking solutions to support physical trading activities.
- Monitor and control risks associated with daily commodity purchases and sales.
- Manage new trades and flows in close coordination with commercial and operations teams.
- Secure bank lines and establish new banking relationships (entities, products) as required.
- Participate in training and mentoring junior team members.
- Assess physical transactions for risk and compatibility with relevant financing facilities.
- Report on credit, performance exposure, and risks related to finance management.
- Oversee all aspects of L/Cs and collections.
- Review and approve spot and term contracts, as well as tenders, for finance-related risks.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Minimum of 8 years experience in a trading company or financial institution, with a solid understanding of trade finance instruments and their risks.
- Strong attention to detail with the ability to synthesize information and view the broader picture.
- Clear and concise communication skills, with the ability to present to both internal stakeholders and senior finance management.
- Strong logical, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
- Proactive approach with the ability to build and maintain positive banking relationships, match deals with the right banking profiles, negotiate rates, and drive cost efficiencies.
- Experience handling complex transactions and engaging banks beyond standard procedures (e.g., metals, oil, or energy trades).
- Innovative mindset, capable of challenging and improving proposed financing structures.
- Ability to remain calm, responsive, and confident under pressure.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills to remain aligned with all stakeholders throughout the trade flow lifecycle.
Key Relationships
- Traders
- Operations
- Treasury
- Compliance
- Banks and counterparties
- Insurance providers
- Group finance departments and treasury
- Risk management team
