Trade Finance Officer

As trade finance officer you are responsible for handling Letters of Credit, stand-by letters of credit and guarantees, risk management and risk mitigation. You are the bridge and focal point between financial operations team and our banks where you monitor and ensure a smooth execution of our deals.

The responsibilities are:

• Reviewing, managing, structuring and the processing of documentary credits, stand-by letters of credit, bank guarantees and collections
• Work closely together with the team to resolve issues, standardize processes, undertake initiative for process and system improvements to foster a culture of collaboration
• Document examination: reviewing trade documents for compliance with letters of credit and applicable rules and conditions
• Actively support financial ops and the team by sharing knowledge to enhance their skills and performance
• Liaise with financial ops, banks and internal stakeholders such as legal and credit, establish and maintain relations
• Handling of bilateral OTC - Over The Counter - margining activities
• Identify, flag, mitigate and monitor risks
• Prepare reports, process and analyse data, run annual audit files.
• Booking of costs related to trade finance instruments
• Stays updated on changes in trade finance regulations, best practices and industry guidelines, including UCP, URDG, ISP98 etc.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of Trade Finance experience in a trading company. Trade Finance experience in a bank (ideally in commodities) is also acceptable
• Strong hands-on expertise with documentary credits (Letters of Credit / LCs), standby letters of credit (SBLCs) and bank guarantees
• Solid knowledge of key trade finance rules/standards, including UCP 600, ISP 98, URDG 758, ISBP)
• Good operational understanding of commodity trading logistics and documentation such as contracts, general terms & conditions (GTCs), incoterms, vessel movements/shipping processes, etc
• Advanced Excel skills
• Working familiarity with SWIFT messages/systems
• Experience with energy and metal commodities is a plus
• Excellent English, written and spoken
• Stays informed on current events (markets/geopolitics/news impacting trade)

Personal Competences:

• Problem solver, out of the box-thinker
• Very good organizational skills
• Communication: strong interpersonal skills to build and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Working proactively and independently
• Able to work under pressure
• Excellent analytical skills, high attention to detail and risk assessment
• You enjoy collaborating with multiple stakeholders across various seniority levels within an international organization
• Self-awareness, driving personal development and proactively take action to achieve goals

Personal Characteristics      

• Capability to prioritise tasks, manage multiple and potentially conflicting priorities
• Peer Relationships and stakeholder management: Ability to build and maintain effective relationships
• Result Oriented: Strong orientation towards problems solving and results
• Diligent and hard working
• Readiness to work outside normal office hours when required
• Team player with a positive attitude, an open non-political style and a high level of personal integrity
• Ability to manage multiple projects, meet tight deadlines, and work effectively during high-pressure situations, such as market fluctuations or a hostile political environment.
• Balanced and Calm Under Pressure: The ability to manage stakeholders, competing priorities and remain calm when resolving issues.

Our Offer       

• A central role in the company’s trade finance operations, with new challenges every day
• An international company with offices in Singapore, London, Geneva, Houston and the possibility to work abroad
• A flat and approachable organization
• An excellent working atmosphere: Friday drinks and frequent team events and social gatherings
• A competitive compensation and benefits package (Bonus, Pension & Health Insurance)
• Bespoke inhouse training focused on developing skills and substantive knowledge with scope for external training where needed and appropriate.

Additional Information

• Vitol is an international company with offices across all continents 
• You will work in a flat and approachable organization
• We are a great place to work. We have an excellent working atmosphere and we offer a competitive compensation and benefits package