Business Manager - Trade Finance

The Trade Finance Division (TFD) sits within the Business Group and is accountable for the delivery of UKEF’s short-term business products: Bond Support Scheme, Export Working Capital Scheme, General Export Facility, Export Insurance Policy, and Bond Insurance Policy.

About the role

This role sits within the Short-Term Business Team. The role is to be part of a growing team of underwriters that takes prime responsibility for the analysis of applications received from Banks, Exporters, and Credit Insurance Brokers where UKEF’s guarantee of loans, bonds, and working capital facilities, and trade credit insurance cover are required. These applications will cover a range of Trade Finance and Insurance requirements. The role will also include working with the Onboarding team.

The role also plays an important part in liaising with Applicants, Banks, Brokers and Export Finance Managers and, from time to time, meeting with clients. The role will also assist with the structuring and negotiation of facilities and drafting and presenting analyses and recommendations for approval with sanctioning managers and the UKEF Credit Committee.

The role will cover more broadly across all areas of STB as the business needs with a focus on underwriting.

Main Activities

• Review enquiries and applications received from exporters, brokers and banks for trade finance guarantees and/or trade credit insurance products. Determine viability and liaise with relevant parties for any absent information.
• Regular interaction with key stakeholders, banks, NBFIs and brokers strengthening existing relationships and developing new ones to support UKEF’s strategic objectives.
• Write papers that propose the onboarding of key lender partners, including non-bank financial institutions (NBFIS) and challenger banks – as well as traditional PRA regulated banks.
• Analyse underwriting applications for General Export Facility, Export Working Capital, Bond Support Scheme guarantees and Export Credit Insurance, undertake relevant analysis for credit-recommendations, and have accountability for taking cases through the entire underwriting, risk approval, compliance, legal and documentation processes.
• Write papers for UKEF’s credit committee, for Executive Committee and for other audiences where required – making the case to support a deal on terms determined appropriate.
• Compliance - including the identification of key entities and ultimate beneficial owners in transactions for due diligence screening.
• Manage case work, ensuring all relevant communications and documents are correctly processed and stored in the relevant UKEF systems and databases.
• Communication – keeping both internal and external stakeholders updated and appraised on case work, this will include collaboration across UKEF and other Government departments. Close collaboration will be required with external stakeholders as part of the case management process.
• Learning and Development – continuously develop knowledge of UKEF’s products and policies and internal/external factors that impact UKEF’s operating environment.
• Have lead responsibility for taking cases through the risk approval and underwriting processes working with other teams in the Department and external advisers, seeking advice from colleagues and external advisers as required.
• Participate in marketing activities as required, including giving presentations at meetings and events.
• Explain clearly UKEF’s products and processes.
• Contribute to policy development and process improvement.

This list is not exhaustive, and you may be required to carry out additional duties according to business needs.

Essential

Qualifications

• Degree Level in a relevant subject such as Finance, or equivalent demonstrable related professional experience (A)

Knowledge

• A deep understanding of trade finance and credit insurance structures and how they work. (A,P,I)
• A deep understanding of financial statements and an ability to understand and interpret them (A,P,I)
• A working level understanding of the political, commercial, legal and risk environment that UKEF operates in and, the wider Whitehall and overseas Civil Service (A,P,I)
• A working level technical knowledge of international financing mechanisms (e.g. international loan agreements) and UKEF products (A,P,I)

Skills / Ability

• Lead negotiator skills, effective communication skills (oral and written) sufficient to be credible with a wide range of senior stakeholders (A, I)
• Numeracy skills and sound analytical ability to effectively review a range of issues (A,P,I)
• Ability to understand and authoritatively advise on complex, financial, legal and policy issues (A,P,I)
• Proficient problem-solving skills and ability to think creatively when difficult or unusual problems are presented (A,P,I)
• Effective judgement skills (P, I)
• Excellent written communication skills i.e. the ability to create good first drafts of documents and presentations for senior managers (A,I,P)
• Ability to work without close supervision, exercise autonomy sensibly and to ensure that deadlines are met (A, I)
• Ability to work effectively within, and manage, cross-departmental teams (A, I)
• Ability to represent UKEF effectively externally at all levels – including internationally at ‘experts’ meetings (A,I)
• Management skills to lead, coach and manage team members at SEO, HEO & EO level. Ability to clearly explain financing, industry, or departmental issues (A, I)

Experience

• Experience of negotiating terms and conditions in finance documentation (A, I)
• Commercial process management: managing transactions from receipt to delivery (A, I)
• Experience of managing commercial teams (credit/legal) teams to deliver outcomes (A, I)
• Explaining and/or advocating complex transactions, cases, proposals or propositions to senior internal stakeholders and/or external customers (A,P,I)

Other requirements

• Travel may be required within the UK

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions
• Managing a Quality Service
• Working Together

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Technical - A 10-minute presentation followed by a Q&A based on a topic determined by UKEF and will need to be prepared in advance, the details of this will be provided to the relevant candidates in advance
• Technical Questions relevant to the role

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Job contact :

• Name : UKEF Recruitment Team
• Email : recruitment2@ukexportfinance.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : Recruitment2@ukexportfinance.gov.uk

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