Trade Finance Operations

Company Description

Crown Agents Bank is a vastly growing and regulated UK bank that connects emerging and frontier markets to the rest of the world, using FX and payments technology. We are transforming the way payments and FX move through emerging markets, reducing friction so that more money gets to those who need it. Emerging markets payments are usually challenging, expensive, unreliable and opaque. Our solutions help fix these pain points. Ultimately, we connect traditionally hard-to-reach regions to global financial infrastructure, giving access to the best prices and the fastest, most reliable settlement.

FX and cross-border payments are often complex and expensive, especially when operating in emerging markets. Crown Agents Bank (CAB) wraps its deep and trusted relationships and strength of network around innovative digital capabilities, and cross-border transaction banking solutions to enable fintech, corporates, governments, development organisations and banks to move money to, from, and across often hard-to-reach markets.

Job Description

​​​​​An integral part of Trade Finance Operations team to perform and overview day to day processing of trade finance transactions and adhere to organisations and departments policies and procedures. An experienced level staff who take on additional responsibility for the day-to-day running of the team.

Manage the entire lifecycle of Trade Finance products, including:

• Letter of Credit (L/C) advising and amendments
• Document examination
• Processing reimbursement claims and payments
• Handling internal and external inquiries
• Managing guarantees and Standby Letters of Credit (SBLCs)
• Reviewing L/C and guarantee drafts
• Assessing and processing risk participation and facility documents
• Facilitating trade loans, refinancing, and discounting
• Demonstrate workable knowledge of forfaiting
• Clear understanding of operational risks and identify steps to mitigate such risks
• Provide prompt and efficient responses to internal and external queries in a timely manner
• Take a proactive role in optimizing team workflow, ensuring comprehensive audit trails and meticulous record-keeping
• Maintain current Management Information (MI) and ensure all reports are regularly updated
• Strong understanding of trade-based money laundering and the ability to recognize red flags in trade transactions.

Qualifications

• A Graduate/Post graduate degree holder. CDCS/CSDG qualification is preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years all round experience in Trade Finance Operations
• Sound Trade finance knowledge and understanding of applicable ICC rules:

  UCP600 - Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits

  URDG 758- Uniform Rules for Demand Guarantees (URDG 758)

  URR 725- Bank-to-Bank Reimbursements under Documentary Credits

  ISBP 745- International Standard Banking Practice

  ISP98- International Standby Practices

  URF 800 Uniform Rules for Forfaiting

• Capable of confidently fulfilling key role responsibilities to meet service level agreements (SLAs).
• Strong self-starter who works collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders

Additional Information

• Hybrid working
• Contributory personal pension plan: - Minimum: Employee 2% and Employer 7%. Employer matches contributions in 1% increments to a maximum of: Employee 5% and Employer 10%
• Life Assurance – 4 times annual salary
• Group Income Protection
• Private Medical Insurance – this may include cover for partner and or children at company cost. Cover includes Optical, Dental and Audiology
• Discretionary Bonus
• Competitive Annual Leave
• 2 Volunteering Days
• Benefit Hut