Job Overview
The Head of Trade Finance & Loan Operations will lead and oversee the Branch's end-to-end Trade Finance and Loan Operations function. The role is responsible for ensuring accurate and timely transaction processing, maintaining strong operational controls, ensuring compliance with applicable banking and international trade rules, and driving continuous improvements in operational efficiency.
The successful candidate will provide technical and operational leadership to the team, particularly in documentary credits, collections, guarantees and loan administration, while acting as a key transaction reviewer and approver.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and oversee the daily operations of the Trade Finance and Loan Operations function.
- Review, check and approve trade finance and loan transactions in accordance with delegated authority, internal policies and regulatory requirements.
- Perform and/or oversee the examination of documents presented under Documentary Credits, ensuring compliance with applicable international trade rules.
- Manage operational activities covering Letters of Credit, Documentary Collections, Bank Guarantees, Standby Letters of Credit and other trade finance transactions.
- Oversee loan operations activities including loan drawdowns, disbursements, rollovers, repayments, interest/fee processing and loan servicing.
- Ensure transactions are processed accurately and within established KPIs, turnaround times and Service Level Agreements (SLAs).
- Oversee daily reconciliations, outstanding items, exceptions and operational management reporting.
- Maintain strong maker-checker, transaction approval, risk management and internal control frameworks.
- Liaise with Relationship Managers, Credit, Risk, Compliance, Finance, Treasury and other internal stakeholders on operational and transaction-related matters.
- Coordinate with external counterparties and other banks where required.
- Review and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ensure alignment with operational, regulatory and internal control requirements.
- Identify operational gaps and implement process improvements, workflow enhancements and stronger controls.
- Participate in system enhancements, UAT, operational projects, business initiatives and Business Continuity Planning (BCP) exercises.
- Support internal/external audits and regulatory reviews relating to Trade Finance and Loan Operations.
- Lead, coach and develop team members, strengthening their technical knowledge and ensuring consistent operational standards.
Job Requirements
- Bachelor's Degree in Banking, Finance, Business Administration or a related discipline.
- Minimum 10 years of relevant banking experience in Trade Finance and/or Loan Operations.
- At least 5 years of supervisory, team leadership or managerial experience within banking operations.
- Strong hands-on experience in Trade Finance Operations, including Letters of Credit, Documentary Collections, Guarantees and Standby Letters of Credit.
- Strong experience in Documentary Credit document checking/examination and handling discrepancies.
- Good practical knowledge of international trade rules and practices, including UCP 600, ISBP, URC, URDG and ISP.
- Experience in Loan Operations/Loan Administration, including drawdowns, repayments, rollovers and servicing, would be highly preferred.
- Previous experience acting as a checker, authorizer or transaction approver within Trade Finance/Loan Operations.
- Strong understanding of operational risk, internal controls, reconciliations, audit requirements and banking regulatory standards.
- Experience reviewing SOPs and driving operational/process improvements.
- Proven ability to manage, coach and develop an operations team.
- Strong analytical skills with excellent accuracy and attention to detail.
- Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills in English and Mandarin to support communication with relevant stakeholders, including Head Office.
Ideal Candidate Profile
The ideal candidate is an experienced Trade Finance Operations leader from a commercial, corporate or wholesale banking environment with strong technical knowledge of documentary trade products and practical experience reviewing and approving transactions.
Candidates with a combination of Trade Finance Operations + Loan Operations + Documentary Credit Checking + Transaction Approval + Team Leadership + Operational Risk& Controls will be particularly well suited for the position.
This position is primarily an operations and control leadership role rather than a Trade Finance Sales, Relationship Management or Business Development position.
Interested for this leadership role
We'd love to hear from you!
Apply today by sending your resume to [Confidential Information] or clickapply now!
..We regret to inform that only shortlisted candidates wouldbe notified ..
Talentvis Singapore Pte Ltd | EA License No: 04C3537
EA Personnel Name: Reggie Tiongson | EA Personnel No:R1324767
