Trade Finance Officer (12 month FTC)

FirstBank UK is a globally recognised, successful bank who provide world-class services to various institutions and individuals. Offering a comprehensive range of retail and corporate financial services/products, this thriving business boasts over 10 million active customers in over 700 business locations. Due to business requirements, we are now looking to acquire the services of an experienced Trade Finance Officer.

Please note this is a 12 month FTC maternity cover

• Please note that this is a hybrid role with 3 days in the office and 2 days working from home

Key Responsibilities:

In this role, you will be part of the team supporting the Assistant Manager and Deputy Head, Trade Finance, to plan and deliver our business strategy in line with our long-term goals. You will also be involved in overseeing implementing and business activities, engagement agendas and executive reporting.

The role is within the Trade Finance Department and may be interchangeably responsible for processing, initiation, document checking or the settlement stage of trade finance operations products. The role will be processing Letters of Credit (Back-to-Back, transferrable etc.); IRUs; amendments; assignment of proceeds; LC settlements; discounts; acceptances; documents on approval; collections; IRU claims; Guarantees; SBLC; loan tickets; file maintenance. Processing all transactions are in accordance with the bank's Trade Finance, i-flex, and SWIFT procedures; relevant ICC; (UCP 600) (ISBP) (URC) (URR)(ISP) (URDG) INCOTERMS; the bank's UK Governance Manual and Compliance.

Primary Responsibilities of Role:

Initiation

• Review instructions received to ensure they are valid, workable, and meet ICC and FirstBank UK guidelines and procedures.
• Conducting Trade Finance Compliance (Financial Crime) and due diligence checks, and reference made to Red Flags, in accordance with procedures.
• Processing transactions timely and accurately and within agreed SLAs
• Liaising with Issuing banks, beneficiaries, correspondents, business development, treasury, credit, compliance financial crime on transactions.

Trade Finance Financial Crime Compliance

• Identify and investigate potential red flags taking into consideration Compliance requirements/AML/Sanctions and escalating/obtaining approvals where required.
• Screening- Conduct Due Diligence and Enhanced Due Diligence on transactions to verify the legitimacy and identify potential risks as per TF Compliance procedures.

Settlements/Payments/Documents

• Register Documents received under all products.
• Scanning of documents presented and save to electronic file.
• Conduct Compliance financial crime and due diligence checks on parties and Vessel.
• 1st or 2nd Check documents as required against LC terms.

Operational Risks

• Complete quality control and assurance on selected sample on a monthly basis
• Complete operational risk events
• Participate in RCA-Root Cause Analysis

Key Skills/Experience:

• Proven experience in Banking in the Trade Finance area.
• Good knowledge of all Trade Finance products and ability to process independently – Import and export LCs, back-to-back LCs, transferable LCs, discounts, IRUs, assignment of proceeds, collections, avalized bills, guarantees, SBLCs, collections, open accounts, LC settlements, and Documents Checking
• Good knowledge of all ICC Rules. Uniform Rules for collection (URC 522), latest versions of UCP 600 and ISBP for the examination of documents, Uniform Rules for bank-to-bank reimbursement URR 725, URDG and ISP and structuring of a guarantee/SBLC.
• Working knowledge of Trade Finance Compliance
• Computer literacy – minimum the beginner level in MS Excel (formulas, VLOOKUP, and pivot tables), MS Power Point (able to create a presentation document), MS Word and MS teams.
• Excellent working knowledge of SWIFT

In return we offer a fantastic benefits package including:

• Up to 10% employer pension contribution
• Life Assurance Cover
• Income protection
• Private Medical Insurance plan (upon successful completion of probation period)
• Contribution to glasses/contacts and eye testing
• Gym subsidy (up to £50 per month)
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee Assistance Program
• Interest Free season ticket loan for travel
• Birthday Leave
• 25 days annual leave, rising to 28 after 3 years and 30 after 8 years’ service
• Give As You Earn (GAYE)

First Bank is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity.

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