Trade Finance Officer

Position in the Organization

The Trade Finance Officer is based in the Dubai office and reports to the Senior Credit, Trade Finance and Treasury Officer.

The role works closely with the Trading, Operations, Finance, Treasury, Legal and Compliance teams, as well as with BxT Trading's relationship banks and other external financial institutions.

Job Purpose

The Trade Finance Officer is responsible for coordinating and administering trade finance activities supporting BxT Trading's commodity-trading transactions.

The role ensures the timely and accurate issuance, receipt, review, amendment and settlement of trade finance instruments. The jobholder works closely with internal stakeholders, counterparties and banks to ensure that all instruments and supporting documents comply with contractual requirements, banking standards and the company's internal procedures.

The position also contributes to the efficient management of transactional funding, banking costs, cash collection and working-capital requirements.

Key Responsibilities

1. Letters of Credit

• Manage the end-to-end processing of import and export letters of credit.
• Coordinate the issuance, advising, confirmation, amendment, utilization and settlement of letters of credit.
• Review draft letters of credit and amendments to ensure alignment with the underlying commercial contracts and agreed payment terms.
• Ensure that letters of credit are issued within the required contractual and operational timelines.
• Monitor the validity, utilization and expiry dates of outstanding letters of credit.
• Maintain proper records of all issued, received, amended, utilized and expired instruments.
• Liaise with banks and internal stakeholders to resolve operational issues, inconsistencies or delays affecting letters of credit.

2. Documentary Trade Finance

• Coordinate the preparation, review and presentation of documents required under documentary letters of credit and other trade finance instruments.
• Verify documents against the applicable instrument terms and identify potential discrepancies before presentation.
• Work closely with the Operations team to obtain complete and accurate shipping and transactional documentation.
• Follow up with banks regarding document examination, acceptance, discrepancies and payment status.
• Coordinate the resolution of documentary discrepancies with the relevant internal teams, counterparties and banks.
• Monitor the collection of funds relating to transactions secured through documentary instruments.

3. Bank Guarantees and Other Trade Finance Instruments

• Coordinate the issuance, review, amendment, extension, reduction and release of bank guarantees.
• Support the administration of standby letters of credit, documentary collections and other banking instruments required for trading activities.
• Review the wording of guarantees and other instruments in coordination with the relevant internal stakeholders.
• Maintain a register of outstanding trade finance instruments, including their amounts, utilization, validity and expiry dates.
• Ensure the timely cancellation or release of instruments once the underlying contractual obligations have been completed.

4. Banking Coordination

• Act as a key operational contact for banks on trade finance matters.
• Liaise with relationship banks regarding instrument issuance, document presentation, confirmation, discounting, settlement and other trade finance services.
• Follow up on pending transactions and escalate delays or unresolved banking matters when necessary.
• Review banking charges and commissions relating to trade finance transactions.
• Support discussions with banks to obtain efficient and commercially appropriate trade finance services and pricing.
• Assist with the establishment and maintenance of trade finance facilities and related banking documentation.

5. Working-Capital Support

• Support the optimization of working capital through appropriate trade finance solutions.
• Coordinate, where applicable, the discounting of receivables under letters of credit or other approved arrangements with banks.
• Monitor expected receipts and payments arising from trade finance transactions.
• Work with Finance and Treasury to provide visibility over upcoming trade-related cash flows.
• Support the timely collection of trade receivables and settlement of transaction-related obligations.
• Identify operational opportunities to improve transaction funding and reduce unnecessary banking costs.

6. Transaction Monitoring and Controls

• Monitor trade finance transactions from initiation through final settlement.
• Ensure that instruments and supporting documents are consistent with approved contracts and transaction terms.
• Maintain accurate and complete records for each transaction.
• Ensure that all activities are performed in accordance with BxT Trading's internal policies, delegated authorities and applicable control requirements.
• Promptly identify and escalate discrepancies, delays, documentation gaps, unusual terms or potential financial exposure.
• Support internal and external audits by providing trade finance records, supporting documents and explanations when required.

7. Compliance and Due Diligence Support

• Ensure that trade finance documentation is handled in accordance with applicable internal compliance requirements.
• Coordinate with Compliance and Legal teams when transactions, counterparties, banks, jurisdictions or documents require additional review.
• Support the collection and maintenance of banking documents relating to the company's trade finance activities.
• Escalate sanctions, regulatory, documentary or contractual concerns identified during transaction processing.
• Maintain appropriate confidentiality and document-control standards.

8. Reporting

• Prepare regular reports on outstanding letters of credit, guarantees, collections and other trade finance instruments.
• Monitor and report approaching expiries, pending amendments, unresolved discrepancies, outstanding payments and banking issues.
• Maintain trackers and dashboards that provide visibility over the status of trade finance transactions.
• Provide management with timely information on transaction progress, banking costs and operational matters requiring attention.
• Contribute to cash-flow, working-capital and month-end reporting as required.

9. Process Improvement

• Contribute to the development and improvement of BxT Trading's trade finance procedures and controls.
• Identify opportunities to simplify workflows, reduce processing times and improve data accuracy.
• Support the standardization of templates, trackers, document-checking practices and reporting formats.
• Participate in the implementation or enhancement of trade finance systems and digital workflows.
• Maintain current knowledge of relevant banking practices and developments affecting commodity trade finance.

10. Credit Risk & Financial Assessment

• Review balance sheets, income statements, and cash flows to determine counterparty's creditworthiness.
• Apply internal credit risk policy and seek internal approvals in case of excess credit exposure.
• Track aged debt report and monitor payment delays, if any.

11. Treasury

• Assist in monitoring daily cash positions, run cash flow forecasts, and manage disbursements, and accounts
• Oversee daily cash positioning activities including managing daily liquidity, cash position reconciliation and bank reporting.

Key Objectives

• Ensure the timely and accurate execution of BxT Trading's trade finance transactions.
• Ensure that trade finance instruments are consistent with the underlying commercial agreements.
• Minimize documentary discrepancies, avoidable delays and unnecessary banking charges.
• Maintain reliable oversight of outstanding instruments, upcoming expiries and transaction settlements.
• Support efficient cash collection, transaction funding and working-capital management.
• Maintain effective relationships with banks and internal stakeholders.
• Ensure compliance with internal procedures, controls and applicable regulatory requirements.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Banking, Accounting, Business Administration, International Trade or a related discipline.
• At least five years of relevant experience in trade finance, preferably gained within an international bank, commodity-trading company, energy company or similar international trading environment.
• Practical experience in managing import and export letters of credit, bank guarantees, documentary collections and related trade finance instruments.
• Experience reviewing commercial and shipping documents presented under documentary instruments.
• Familiarity with commodity-trading transactions and international trade practices is an advantage.
• Knowledge of applicable international trade finance rules and banking practices, including UCP 600, URC 522 and ISP98, is desirable.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel, Word and PowerPoint.
• Experience using banking platforms, ERP systems or trade finance systems is an advantage.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of Arabic or French would be an advantage.

Required Competencies

• Strong understanding of documentary trade finance processes.
• High level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Strong analytical and document-review skills.
• Ability to manage several transactions and deadlines simultaneously.
• Effective communication and stakeholder-management skills.
• Strong organizational and follow-up capabilities.
• Ability to identify discrepancies, assess their operational impact and coordinate an appropriate resolution.
• Commercial awareness and understanding of the relationship between contracts, operations, banking instruments and settlement.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a multicultural and fast-paced trading environment.
• Sound judgment and the ability to escalate material issues promptly.
• High standards of integrity, confidentiality and professional conduct.
• Proactive and solution-oriented approach.

Key Working Relationships

Internal stakeholders

• Trading
• Operations
• Finance and Accounting
• Treasury
• Legal
• Compliance
• Management

External stakeholders

• Relationship banks and financial institutions
• Trade finance departments
• Counterparties
• Service providers and advisers, where applicable