Afreximbank: Manager, Trade Finance (FIs & Sovereigns – AWAF) at CA Global

Responsibilities

• The position holder will primarily manage own portfolio of FI and Sovereign clients in the Anglophone West Africa region and assist the Senior Manager Trade Finance, FIs & Sovereigns in the structuring and execution of trade finance transactions as required. The job holder will also work closely with the AFTRAF team and ensure alignment and coordination when setting limits for FIs in order to satisfy the needs of both portfolios.
• Prepare the marketing plan for Financial Institutions & Sovereigns derived from the Bank’s Strategic Plan.
• Implement various strategies for entering various trade finance markets in Africa.
• Coordinate with trade finance, trade services and client coverage teams, together with other business units to acquire new trade clients by matching Afreximbank credit appetite with a healthy credit risk level.
• Assess the transactions, which are eligible under the Bank’s Policies, (i) design the suitable structured transactions for banks, corporates and Sovereigns for and (ii) identification of risks related to these transactions, with mitigations factors.
• Structuring transactions, developing and negotiating term sheets to be shared with the Deal Team before sending to the customer for execution.
• Lead pitches for new business alongside Client Relations and respond to RFPs from FIs as applicable.
• Acquire new clients and maximize utilization of approved limits in line with Afreximbank’s business strategy, achieve revenue targets and trade asset targets and push for trade utilization on target amounts.
• Participate in the preparation of annual business development plans, covering all aspects of international trade finance.
• Developing, marketing and managing Afreximbank’s programmes and facilities as applicable to job holder’s portfolio.
• Design schemes and roadshows for establishing market presence with emphasis on broadening the geographic scope of the Bank’s activities.
• Manage own trade finance portfolio, from the process of origination, credit approval and contracting to ensure that the process is finalised within optimal time.
• Review / Prepare the Pre-Assessment Memo (PAM) of transactions and in liaison with CLRE present to the Pre-Assessment Committee (PAC) for approval.
• Address issues raised by the PAC’s members on the proposed transaction before any submission to the Credit Assessment (CRAS) Department for consideration Committee (CRECO).
• Supporting the credit department with information to facilitate the credit process and the legal department in the facilitation of transaction documentation.
• In line with the above, liaise with the Banking Operations department to ensure that once approval is obtained, disbursement is done within the required timelines and that the portfolio is managed according to the terms of the agreement and to the client’s satisfaction, until expiry of the same.
• Develop relationships with major financial institutions operating in the trade finance market in Africa, including international banks, African financial institutions (trade finance intermediaries) and corporates.
• Be a centre of product expertise and point of contact within the bank.
• Any other duties as may be assigned by line manager and Senior Management.

Requirements: Qualification and Skill

• First and Postgraduate degrees in Business Administration, Banking or Finance from a recognized University.
• A professional qualification in Banking or International Trade Finance will be an added advantage.
• Sound experience of at least 8 years with a leading organisation and familiarity with the major trade finance products to be offered to clients especially syndication, co-financing, club deals, correspondent banking products including letters of credit, factoring, forfaiting, structured trade finance, carbon financing, corporate finance risk participations, project-related financing and considerable knowledge of how these work.
• Ability to communicate and function in a culturally diverse and change oriented setting and therefore knowledge of the workings of the main segments of the trade finance market and the participants in major regions of Africa.
• Must understand international trade and trade finance rules, including International Chamber of Commerce Rules of international trade (UCP, URDG, etc.).
• Ability to meet senior officials of banks, corporates and governments and win their confidence that the specialist’s products will meet the needs of these parties.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English. Knowledge of the Bank’s other working languages is an added advantage (French, Arabic and Portuguese).
• Proven experience in marketing trade and project finance products. The candidate must demonstrate experience and knowledge of designing and selling structured trade and commodity finance products.
• Willingness to travel extensively and to work long hours where required in order to achieve the Bank’s objectives; and
• Demonstrated leadership capabilities, including ability to organize and manage human resources to attain goals.

Contractual Information

• Permanent.
• Willing and able to relocate to Abuja for the opportunity.