Trade Finance Operations Officer - Pontoon : Job Details

Trade Finance Operations Officer

Until 31/03/25 (Extension Likely)

London Harbour Exchange

Hybrid Working

Pontoon is an employment consultancy. We put expertise, energy, and enthusiasm into improving everyone's chance of being part of the workplace. We respect and appreciate people of all ethnicities, generations, religious beliefs, sexual orientations, gender identities and more. We do this by showcasing their talents, skills, and unique experience in an inclusive environment that helps them thrive.

We are happy to be recruiting for one of our high-profile Banking clients. They are currently looking for a Trade Finance Operations Officer to join them for an initial contract running until the end of March 2025. However, there is good likelihood for extension.

Role Overview:

Trade Finance is the financing of international trade flows. It exists to mitigate or reduce the risks involved in an international trade transaction for both the exporter - who requires payment for their goods or services and the importer who wants to make sure they are paying for the correct quality and quantity of goods.

Such risks would include,

Payment Risk - will the exporter be paid / will the importer receive their goods.

Country risk - this would include FX risk, political and sovereign risks.

Corporate Risk - the performance risk associated with the exporter and/or importer.

Summary:

The products used to mitigate such risks would be,

Letters of Credit, Supply Chain Finance - Receivables Finance, Structured Trade and Commodity Finance,

Guarantees and Standby Letters of Credit.

To safely operate and administer such products a holistic understanding of international trade is a pre-requisite this will include aspects of maritime law, international commercial terms, legal framework for the operation of trade products, internationally agreed rulebooks.

Identification of financial crime in trade products and the commercial trade flows that they finance is a key aspect of the role that has grown significantly across recent years.

It is therefore critical that each staff member has a keen understanding of sanctions regimes and how that may affect both the financing product and commercial trade that is being financed with an appreciation of the concept of beneficial interest.

Staff must have a deep understanding of shipping terms and international trade flows in order to be able to identify possible trade-based money laundering as a first line of defence.

Accountabilities & Responsibilities:

• To perform all operational aspects of trade finance products in an accurate, efficient and timely manner
• Close liason with marketing teams as well as internal and external customers providing technical assistance relating to trade products - this may include customer visits.
• Close liason with CPD to ensure that all aspects of financial crime in trade products and any red flags escalated as appropriate.
• Performance of all operational aspects of trade finance products in an accurate, efficient and timely manner .
• Main internal relationships outside of OAD would be - GTFD, CBD1, CBD2, CPD, CD, PDIS, PD Legal
• Main external relationships would be - customer relationships, logistical companies and financial institutions
• Application of appropriate workflows and procedures across EMEA to provide guidance to performance of operational responsibility for trade products.
• Assist to maintain appropriate business contingency plans to restore operations in an efficient and controlled manner.
• Assist to collate business volumes.
• Engage in OAD Kaizen initiative contributing toward continuous improvement.

Knowledge, Skills, Experience & Qualifications:

• Technical knowledge and understanding of traditional trade finance products such as:
• Documentary Letters of Credit
• Stand-by Letters of Credit and Guarantees
• Documentary Collections
• Discounted Receivables - bills of exchange, promissory notes, invoices
• Able to identify operational risk and follow mitigation plans.
• Understanding of key legal implications of trade products and respective legal cases that provide precedent to trade products.
• Understanding of financial crime risk pertaining to trade finance and how to follow mitigation plans.
• Understanding of accounting principles for trade finance products.
• Understanding of shipping terms
• Understanding of the commercial terms pertaining to international trade flows

Location:

This is a hybrid working role, with a requirement to work from the clients London office 2-3 days a week. You will be required to be in office 3-4 days a week for the first couple of weeks whilst training commences.

Working hours:

Standard working hours with some flex where required.

If you feel that this is a role that would suit you then please apply today.

If you do not hear from us within 48 hours of your application, please assume that you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.

Pontoon Solutions are an equal opportunities company