Associate - Trade Finance Operations - Agency Middle Office

Natixis Corporate & Investment Banking is a leading global financial institution that provides advisory, investment banking, financing, corporate banking and capital markets services to corporations, financial institutions, financial sponsors and sovereign and supranational organizations worldwide.

Our teams of experts in close to 30 countries advise clients on their strategic development, helping them to grow and transform their businesses, and maximize their positive impact. Natixis CIB is committed to aligning its financing portfolio with a carbon neutrality path by 2050 while helping its clients reduce the environmental impact of their business.

As part of Groupe BPCE, the second largest banking group in France through the Banque Populaire and Caisse d'Epargne retail networks, Natixis CIB benefits from the Group's financial strength and solid financial ratings (Standard & Poor's: A+, Moody's: A1, Fitch Ratings: A+, R&I: A+).

Job Description Summary

Trade Finance middle office role of monitoring and controlling transactional collaterals, performing mark-to-market valuations and daily co-ordination & communication with front office and clients on approval of transactions, stocks position, limit excesses, cash earmarking etc.

Main Responsibilities:

Transaction check

• Vet all applications for trade finance transactions submitted by the Global Trade clients.
• Match clients' applications against Credit Approval to ensure compliance and limit adherence.
• Create transaction monitoring spreadsheet for each client and perform daily update of monitoring.
• Prepare transaction approval to Business Line for sign-off and, if there are deviations from the Credit Approval, to list down such deviations to relevant parties for approval.
• Monitor client and bank limits and country cap exposure.

Monitoring

• Monitor and control transactional collaterals such as cash and stock to ensure adequacy of collateral coverage in accordance with the conditions stated in Credit Approval.
• Monitor the submission of export LCs and check on the status of export leg whenever there is an extension or rollover of loan.
• Perform mark-to-market valuations as per requirements stated in the Credit Approval for transactions with price risk due to price mismatched, unsold or in storage.
• Prompt monitoring and reporting of:
• Any collateral shortfalls from LTV breaches and follow-up with Front Office on the necessary actions taken.
• Any limit or sub-limit excesses for appropriate Front Office's action.
• Past Due exposures (i.e. amounts overdue for payments) and follow-up with Front Office for remedy and approvals.
• Review & Follow-up on Rectification Dates and Conditions for Technical Waivers.

Other job functions

• Drive process improvement and system automation by generating new ideas. To participate in system UAT and suggest enhancement opportunities.
• Daily co-ordination and communication with Front Office and clients on approval for trade finance transactions, stocks position, release of stocks, warrants, warehouse receipts and/or other shipping documents, follow up on shipment details and submission of transactional collaterals etc.
• Daily co-ordination and communication with Trade Finance Back Office and other operations teams on transactions approval, limits excesses, cash earmarking, cash pledge deposits, take in good funds and transactional collateral releases etc.
• Perform quarterly collateral valuation and input of collaterals into Loan IQ.
• Ensure that AML checks, vessel search and KYC verification, where applicable, are duly performed on transactions before authorizing back office to proceed with the transaction.
• Extract and download commodity prices from price reference sources daily.
• Support in projects and any other job duties as and when assigned by the Team Head and Head, Trade Finance.

Required Skills:

• Sound knowledge on Trade Finance products and processes, with working experience in Middle or Back Office.
• Good communication skills.
• Good team work.