Head of Trade Finance Central Operations

Location: New Cairo, Egypt

About the Role:

We are seeking an experienced and dynamic leader to head our Trade Finance Central Operations department in New Cairo. This pivotal role will be responsible for overseeing and optimizing all aspects of our trade finance operations, ensuring efficiency, compliance, and exceptional service delivery. The successful candidate will drive strategic initiatives, manage a high-performing team, and contribute significantly to the bank's growth in the international trade sector.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Leadership: Develop and implement the strategic vision for trade finance operations, aligning with the bank's overall business objectives and market trends.
• Operational Excellence: Oversee all day-to-day trade finance operations, including Letters of Credit (LCs), Documentary Collections, Guarantees, and other trade products, ensuring smooth processing, accuracy, and adherence to service level agreements (SLAs).
• Risk Management & Compliance: Establish and maintain robust risk control frameworks, ensuring full compliance with international trade regulations (e.g., UCP, URC, Incoterms), Central Bank of Egypt policies, anti-money laundering (AML), and sanctions guidelines.
• Process Optimization: Continuously identify opportunities to streamline processes, enhance efficiency, and leverage technology to improve operational workflows and customer experience.
• Team Leadership & Development: Lead, mentor, and develop a skilled team of trade finance professionals, fostering a culture of high performance, collaboration, and continuous learning.
• Stakeholder Management: Collaborate effectively with internal departments (e.g., Corporate Banking, Risk, Legal, IT) and external parties (e.g., correspondent banks, clients) to ensure seamless trade finance execution.
• Market Intelligence: Stay abreast of industry best practices, regulatory changes, and technological advancements in trade finance to ensure the bank remains competitive and innovative.
• Reporting & Analysis: Provide insightful reports and analysis on operational performance, key metrics, and risk exposures to senior management.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Banking, or a related field.
• Minimum of 10-15 years of progressive experience in trade finance operations within a reputable bank, with at least 5 years in a leadership or managerial role.
• Deep expertise in international trade finance products, rules (UCP600, URC522), and practices (Incoterms 2020).
• Thorough understanding of local and international banking regulations, particularly those from the Central Bank of Egypt.
• Proven track record of optimizing operational processes and implementing effective risk management strategies.
• Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills with the ability to manage and motivate a diverse team.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Fluent in both English and Arabic (written and spoken).
• Relevant professional certifications in trade finance (e.g., CDCS) are highly desirable.