Senior/Trade Finance Officer

Job #:	112429
Title:	Senior/Trade Finance Officer
Job Stream:	Financial Sector
Location:	To Be Determined
Closing Date:	12/31/2011
Background / General description:
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) is a global investor and advisor committed to promoting projects in its developing member countries. IFC’s Global Trade Finance Program (GTFP) was established in 2005 to promote trade flows between emerging markets, increase developing countries’ share of global trade, and support “South-South” flows of goods and services. More recently the IFC has expanded its offerings in the short term finance space, beyond financing banks international trade, to include risk sharing with banks in their financing of clients’ domestic trade via a range of product structures. The Senior/Trade Finance Officer(s) will join the Global Short-Term Finance Department and build / develop the relationships with local Banks and Corporate/Commercial entities in the Sub-Sahara Africa (CAF) Region by maintaining regular communication with those clients in the management of recurrent transaction flows. The positions will be based in Accra, Ghana and Johannesburg, South Africa, but the successful candidates will be expected to travel widely in the region and collaborate with colleagues in the Financial Markets and Manufacturing & Agriculture Groups, providing product support for development of the new programs.
Duties and Accountabilities:
•Identify market opportunities for Short-Term Finance products and work closely with product leads in developing market appropriate product solutions. •Develop tri-partite relationships (IFC – Bank - Corporate) to facilitate delivery of local working capital solutions to clients in the Africa Region. •Identify potential clients (banks and corporate) and coordinate an engagement team (FI Relationship, Industry Relationship and Global Product support) through the process of further identifying/specifying client needs, developing a tailored solution, making the sale, facility structuring, credit assessment/approval, documentation and product delivery. •Establish relationships with GTFP prospect/partner banks and remain engaged with them to meet all their Trade and Short Term Finance needs •Respond within 24 hours to requests from local banks for trade finance support by checking, negotiating and approving transactions . Monitor trade lines and ensure that exposures booked are within bank credit limits and are consistent with all corporate guidelines •Track Trade & Short Term Finance program activity through the implementation of appropriate systems and prepare activity reports for management •Conduct operational reviews of potential partner banks covering aspects like trade business profile, operational controls / risks, systems, procedures, skill set of trade processing staff and prepare formal trade appraisal report with technical opinion for submission in investment approval meetings. •Establish and maintain contacts with banks active in the field of trade finance and stay abreast of market developments to proactively set pricing, manage risks taken in the portfolio and disseminate knowledge & experience to Financial Market team members in CAF region.
Selection Criteria:
•Minimum 5–8 years experience in trade finance / trade sales / trade products with a leading local or international commercial bank. •Excellent knowledge of commercial banking products & services, particularly in any of the following product areas: oWorking Capital Finance, Warehouse Receipts, and Supply Chain / Distributor Finance; oexperience in correspondent banking relationships and international trade products. •High level of structuring and credit skills. •Strong leadership, team work, organizational, negotiation, marketing and presentation skills. •Strong interpersonal skills, ability to interact effectively with clients and colleagues from various cultural backgrounds. •Ability to interact directly and independently with senior management of potential clients, financial and technical partners. •Highly motivated and capable of working under time pressure. •Fluency in English is essential. Fluency in French is desirable. •Willingness to travel extensively in the Africa region is required. Women are particularly encouraged to apply. Please note that selected candidates at grade GF will be hired on local appointments and those hired at grade GG (G2) will be hired on international appointments. Candidates are requested to indicate their preferred location and also note if the second location is unacceptable.
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