Trade Finance Business Analyst, Energy Industry Consulting

The Company Cognizant (NASDAQ:CTSH) is a leading provider of information technology, consulting, and business process outsourcing services, dedicated to helping the world's leading companies build stronger businesses. Headquartered in Teaneck, New Jersey (U.S.), Cognizant has over 350,000 employees as of January 2024.

Cognizant Consulting at Cognizant, our consultants orchestrate the capabilities to truly change the game across strategy, design, technology and industry/functional knowledge to deliver insight at speed and solutions at scale. Our consulting services elevate the unique abilities and business aspirations of customers and employees and build relationships based on trust and value.

Energy Consulting Practice Energy & Utilities in The UK are going through a transformation journey with the focus on Field services, enhanced customer experience (through digital and data enablement), Connected technologies/IoT and green energy (electric vehicles, heat pumps etc.). Cognizant has engagements with multiple energy & utilities clients in Ireland where we are helping them being customer obsessed and lead the transformation initiatives to build new offerings, solutions and innovative business models aligned to the market trends and regulatory commitments.

Role Overview: We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Trade Finance Business Analyst with a strong background in energy trading and ideally hands-on experience using Komgo (a blockchain-powered trade finance platform). The ideal candidate will play a key role in optimizing and supporting the trade finance operations, ensuring efficient and transparent execution of financial transactions related to energy trading. This is an exciting opportunity to work in a dynamic, fast-paced environment, leveraging innovative solutions to enhance trade finance processes.

Key Responsibilities:

• Trade Finance Operations: Support the end-to-end trade finance process for energy commodities, including letters of credit (LC), trade confirmations, payment guarantees, and financing arrangements. Collaborate with internal teams (e.g., trading, risk, legal) and external parties (banks, counterparties) to ensure timely and accurate execution of transactions. Oversee the management of trade finance instruments, ensuring compliance with contractual obligations and regulatory requirements.
• Komgo Platform: Use Komgo to manage and digitize trade finance documents, ensuring seamless integration with other internal systems and stakeholders. Troubleshoot and resolve issues within the Komgo platform, ensuring smooth workflow and communication between parties. Assist in the implementation and continuous improvement of Komgo-based solutions to enhance trade finance efficiency and reduce risk.
• Data Management & Reporting: Analyse financial data and trade documents to identify trends, discrepancies, and opportunities for process improvement. Generate and present regular reports on trade finance performance, key metrics, and outstanding transactions to senior management. Develop dashboards and other analytical tools to streamline reporting processes.
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Liaise with internal teams (e.g., trading, operations, treasury) to align trade finance activities with the broader business objectives and trading strategies. Maintain strong relationships with external partners, including banks, insurance companies, and trade finance platforms like Komgo. Act as a subject matter expert (SME) for Komgo and provide training and guidance to internal teams as needed.
• Process Improvement: Continuously identify opportunities for automation and process improvements in trade finance workflows. Contribute to projects aimed at optimizing trade finance systems and leveraging technology to enhance overall efficiency and reduce operational costs.

Essential Skills:

• Education: Bachelor's degree in business, Information Technology, Computer Science, Finance, or a related field. A master's degree or MBA is preferred.
• Experience: Strong years of experience as an IT BA, with a focus on ETRM or trade finance areas.
• Leadership Skills: Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage multiple projects simultaneously. Excellent leadership, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.
• Communication Skills: Strong written and verbal communication skills. Ability to effectively communicate complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
• Analytical Skills: Excellent analytical and critical thinking skills, with the ability to analyze complex data and make informed decisions.