Loan & Interest Calculation Officer (Trade Finance & LC Specialist) at JMG

Job Summary

• We are seeking a meticulous and analytically minded Finance Officer to manage the company's loan portfolio, ensure accurate interest calculation and accounting, and provide expert support in Trade Finance operations, with a primary focus on Letters of Credit (LCs). The ideal candidate will be responsible for tracking all financial liabilities, calculating costs, ensuring compliance with credit terms, and facilitating smooth international trade transactions.

Key Responsibilities

Loan Portfolio & Interest Calculation Management:

• Maintain a master register of all company loans, facilities, and credit lines (e.g., Term Loans, Working Capital Loans, Overdrafts).
• Accurately calculate monthly/quarterly interest expenses for all borrowings, applying the correct interest rates (fixed, floating, etc.), calculation methods (e.g., simple, compound), and day-count conventions.
• Prepare and post journal entries for interest accruals, loan drawdowns, repayments, and charges in the accounting system.
• Monitor loan repayment schedules and ensure timely payments of principal and interest to avoid defaults and penalties.
• Reconcile loan statements from banks and financial institutions with the company's internal records.
• Prepare detailed loan and interest reports for management, highlighting costs, outstanding balances, and debt service coverage.

Trade Finance & Letter of Credit (LC) Operations:

• LC Application & Opening: Prepare and review applications for new Letters of Credit (Sight & Usance), ensuring all terms and conditions are accurate and aligned with the underlying purchase contract.
• Documentation Handling: Liaise with banks, suppliers, and internal departments (logistics, procurement) to collect, scrutinize, and process all LC documents (Invoice, Bill of Lading/Airway Bill, Packing List, Certificate of Origin, Insurance Policy, etc.) to ensure strict compliance with LC terms.
• LC Amendment & Settlement: Coordinate requests for LC amendments and manage the settlement process upon presentation of compliant documents, including payment for Sight LCs or acceptance for Usance LCs.
• Cost Calculation: Calculate and account for all LC-related charges (opening commission, advising fees, negotiation charges, and bank interest for usance LCs).
• Record Keeping: Maintain an up-to-date and comprehensive tracker for all active, amended, and closed LCs.

General Financial Support:

• Assist in the preparation of data for debt covenant monitoring and reporting.
• Support the treasury function in managing cash flow and forecasting interest expenses.
• Collaborate with internal and external auditors during financial audits.
• Stay updated on central bank guidelines, interest rate trends, and international trade regulations (UCP 600).

Qualifications & Experience

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field.
• A professional certification (e.g., CA/ACCA/CMA Inter, or similar) will be a distinct advantage.

Experience:

• Minimum of 2-4 years of direct experience in a finance/accounting role, with a significant portion dedicated to:
• Loan administration and interest calculation.
• Handling Trade Finance products, especially Letters of Credit.
• Experience in a trading, manufacturing, or import-export company is highly desirable.

Technical Skills & Knowledge:

Essential:

• Expertise in MS Excel: Advanced proficiency (PivotTables, VLOOKUP, SUMIF, etc.) for creating and managing loan amortization schedules, interest calculators, and trackers.
• Accounting Knowledge: Strong understanding of accounting principles, specifically for loan liabilities, interest accruals, and financial instruments.
• Letter of Credit Expertise: In-depth, practical knowledge of LC procedures, UCP 600 rules, and key trade documents.
• Analytical Skills: Keen attention to detail and a high level of numerical accuracy.