Our client is an established international commodities trading company with operations in Singapore and across regional and global markets.
As part of its continued growth, the company is seeking a Trade Finance Specialist / Manager to support its physical commodity trading activities. The role will be responsible for managing trade finance instruments, banking facilities, transaction documentation and financing arrangements throughout the trade lifecycle.
Responsibilities
- Process and monitor import and export Letters of Credit, Standby Letters of Credit, Documentary Collections, Bank Guarantees and trade loans.
- Review Letter of Credit terms and coordinate amendments to ensure alignment with commercial contracts and transaction requirements.
- Liaise with banks on trade finance facilities, including trust receipts, inventory financing, receivables financing and borrowing-base facilities.
- Coordinate with treasury on financing requirements, liquidity planning, funding costs and transaction settlements.
- Review shipping and trade documents, including Bills of Lading, commercial invoices, Certificates of Origin, insurance certificates and quality or quantity certificates.
- Ensure documentation complies with UCP 600, ISP98, Incoterms, contractual requirements and applicable company policies.
- Work closely with traders, operations, logistics, treasury, finance and legal teams to support transactions from contract execution through to cargo and payment settlement.
- Monitor shipment schedules, payment milestones, financing maturities, facility utilisation and available credit lines.
- Maintain relationships with local and international banks and support annual banking facility renewals.
- Identify and resolve documentary discrepancies in coordination with banks, suppliers, customers, shipping agents and inspection companies.
- Ensure compliance with sanctions, anti-money laundering, know-your-customer and international trade requirements.
- Reconcile trade finance transactions and monitor financing costs, interest expenses and bank charges.
- Support month-end closing, audits and the preparation of trade finance schedules and supporting documentation.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Banking, Business, Economics or a related discipline.
- Minimum three to five years of relevant trade finance experience within commodity trading, energy trading, international trade finance or banking operations.
- Hands-on experience managing import and export Letters of Credit and other trade finance instruments.
- Experience supporting the financing and settlement of physical commodity transactions.
- Good knowledge of international shipping documentation, UCP 600, Incoterms and documentary trade requirements.
- Experience working with banks, commodity trading counterparties and internal trading or operations teams.
- Strong analytical, numerical and problem-solving skills, with excellent attention to detail.
- Ability to manage multiple transactions and work effectively under tight deadlines in a fast-paced trading environment.
- Strong communication, stakeholder-management and commercial-awareness skills.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and experience with ERP or commodity trading systems such as SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics or CTRM platforms.
Professional qualifications such as CDCS, CSDG or CITF, as well as experience in structured trade finance, shipping logistics, treasury, cash management or commodity pricing, would be advantageous.
