Trade Analyst, Letter of Credit Negotiation/Payment

Supports to provide operational support and efficiency for Letter of Credit process as regards LC Letter of Credit Payments function bank wide for Corporate, Commercial & Retail banking Group with tactical and operational support to the Relationship managers to ensure quality service to the customers in order to drive Trade volume & revenue growth.

• Provide operational support to the Letter of Credit Negotiation, Payment & Import Trade Facility (ITF) team, strategic advice and support to the Transaction Banking teams as well as Corporate, Commercial & Retail Bank coverage Relationship managers’ bank wide in order to meet and exceed trade product revenue, volume targets and market ambitions.

• Responsible for handling complex Trade payment operational structures.

• Working with Transaction banking, CBG & Commercial Banking teams, design value adding and customer centric operational payment strategy and finance products solutions and structures by proactively gaining client insight through consultative customer engagements in the key sectors of industry within our bank and trade target market.

• Implement trade operational strategies and initiatives to capture different structured payment opportunities, grow active trade customer base and revenues.

• Develop the Operational dynamics of local/supply chain finance as well as international trade flows and corridors with a view to constantly attract key market opportunities, assess market changes and trends, growth ambitions and proactively identify competitive threats

• Implement process that will ensure strict adherence/compliance to internal policies & procedures, local exchange control rulings and international standard/best practices in the processing of Letters of Credit payments.

• Implement policies and processes that guarantees that all Letters of Credit payments are executed accurately and expeditiously within agreed SLA’s.

• Process transactions on Trade Innovations & within operating limit

• Develop & Maintain a robust record of Matured obligations that will help Treasury and Transaction Banking better manage liquidity projections.

• Develop a strategy that Guarantee the quality of bid schedules to mitigate duplication or excess bids
• Timely responses to enquiries
• Effective Communication with clients, branch managers, senior management as well as correspondent banks on all issues affecting Letter of credit Payments.
• Drive prompt resolution of enquiries and queries received from foreign banks and customers.
• Implement & Drive effective cost control strategy
• Responsible for payments on all Letters of credit documents received.
• Responsible for the movement of all FX allocations and matured FX Forward to cover matured/maturing obligations within regulatory timelines.
• Responsible for the utilization of all allocated FX within acceptable time limits.
• Direct responsibility for implementing policies and procedures of the vanilla and specialized trade service products (local, international and regional trade) as well as Letter of credit payments.
• Maintain highest standards of operation and service delivery in order to avoid operational and reputational losses.
• To provide a high level of operational efficiency and customer intimacy required for best customer experience and minimize operational losses as well as ensure good external relationships.

Job Knowledge
• In-depth knowledge of the various systems used within the Foreign Operations environment
• Knowledge of corporate banking and the interface between frontline service, sales and support functions
• Knowledge of banking transaction processes relevant to products and services offered to customers
• Practical knowledge of how to input, access and utilize information to analyze forecast trends
• Working knowledge of capacity management principles and processes
• Knowledge of cost management principles and practices
• Knowledge of the applicable legislations
• Must demonstrate a thorough understanding of Trade Finance, Processes, Product and Risk Management
• Good exposure to trade operation and Financial Institutions
• Sound knowledge of Structured Trade and Commodity Finance
• Understanding of regulatory and compliance requirements.
• Process / project management experience will be an added advantage
• Must demonstrate a thorough understanding of Trade Finance, Processes, Product and Risk Management
• Good exposure to trade operation and Financial Institutions
• Sound knowledge of Structured Trade and Commodity Finance