Senior Officer, Trade Finance Operations (Emiratised Role)

Role Overview

Senior Officer, Trade Finance Operations at First Abu Dhabi Bank, based in Abu Dhabi. This is an Emiratised role.

Role Purpose

Process all Trade Finance products (Funded and Unfunded) in Trade Middle Office and ensure quality, timeliness, and cost-efficient, error-free delivery in compliance with high risk management standards and Bank and Regulator requirements.

Key Responsibilities

Transaction Processing & Execution

• Process Trade Finance transactions originated by WBG (CIB, CB, FI, IB and Islamic Banking) and Consumer Banking Group.
• Support the department in pre-processing transactions pertaining to Trade Finance products.
• Ensure all transactions processed comply fully with underlying customer or internal instructions.
• Minimize operational risks by verifying proper processing of all instructions.
• Execute departmental initiatives as advised.

Quality & Compliance

• Ensure adherence to agreed SLAs with timely transaction updates in the appropriate system.
• Own responsibility for review of related Standard Operating Procedures.
• Ensure adherence at all times to external and regulatory guidelines and domestic and international norms as applicable.
• Demonstrate compliance to the organization's values and ethics to support a value-driven culture within the bank.
• Follow all relevant departmental policies, processes, standard operating procedures and instructions to ensure work is carried out in a controlled and consistent manner.

Stakeholder Management & Support

• Interact with customers and internal stakeholders in query resolution, support and technical guidance.
• Maintain the highest level of internal and external customer satisfaction standards.
• Assist the Supervisor and Section Head in delivery and support functions.
• Support multi-desk and multi-function within the department.

Reconciliation & Operations

• Conduct daily and monthly proofing and reconciliation.
• Participate in Business Continuity planning.
• Handle correspondence of routine business nature.
• Ensure safe custody of records.
• Ensure nil breaches in housekeeping (reconciliations, tracers, DCFCL etc).

Continuous Improvement & Cost Reduction

• Contribute to the identification of opportunities for continuous improvement and sustainability of systems, processes and practices considering global standards, productivity improvement and cost reduction.
• Pursue opportunities for enhancing operational efficiencies, customer service and operational controls by identifying process improvements.
• Generate cost reduction ideas and follow up for implementation during the year.
• Prepare proposals for Process Improvements and support management in evaluating and implementing fruitful initiatives.

Reporting & Data Management

• Assist in the preparation of timely and accurate statements and reports to meet department requirements, policies and quality standards.
• Prepare statistical data for internal and external relationships.
• Prepare statistical data and performance MIS, including periodic self-assessments.

Risk Management & Escalation

• Escalate transactions of unusual or suspicious nature and matters requiring attention of higher authority.
• Ensure zero operational loss, nil near-miss or income leakage events, and target zero high-risk errors.
• Ensure nil unauthorized breaches in Policy, regulatory requirements and SOPs.

Subject Matter Expertise & Training

• Evolve as a subject matter expert and support the section in testing and training for relevant Product-related enhancements, technical assistance and service requests.
• Challenge any process or procedure, share ideas and initiatives across teams and units.

Qualifications & Experience

• High School or Diploma minimum.
• Minimum 2–3 years of experience in Trade Finance with hands-on experience in all Trade Finance products.
• Thorough understanding of ICC Rules, local laws and legal risks, trade documentations and shipping terms.
• Understanding of the Bank's standard operating procedures.

Skills & Competencies

• Hands-on experience with Core Banking Solutions.
• Good communication, presentation and analytical skills.
• Specialization in own area of work and working knowledge of all Trade products.
• Proficiency with MS Office and other analytical tools.
• Ability to live up to core values.

Additional Information

Performance Targets

• Zero operational loss; nil near-miss or income leakage events; target zero high-risk errors.
• Target zero complaints; minimum 98 percent adherence to TAT standards as agreed with business.
• Achieve more than 90% satisfaction score in the internal customer survey.
• Nil unauthorized breaches in Policy, regulatory requirements and SOPs.
• Satisfactory rating in all audits (INA, RMU, OCS, Self-Assessment).
• Nil critical findings in regulatory, external or internal audits.
• Number of Process Improvement proposals found fruitful by management and number of successful PIs implemented.
• Number of cross-functional desks supported during the year.