Trade Finance Vice President in London

Here at SMBC Group, we want to help you find the next step in your career so read on to discover if this opportunity is the one for you. We like to recognise potential in our people, so we welcome your application even when your experience doesn’t perfectly align with the job description. Whilst we’ll always strive to be better, we’re proud of our inclusive culture, and encourage our applicants and colleagues to be their authentic, unique selves.

United by a sense of purpose towards our customers - to be a trusted partner for the long-term - and our universal banking platform in EMEA, SMBC Group has an international growth agenda and award-winning products, meaning we provide exciting opportunities to work on a diverse range of projects and initiatives. We deliver a full suite of corporate finance products and solutions to our customers as well as investment banking and advisory services, and a range of innovative solutions in global capital markets. Read on to find out how you could enhance your skills and gain valuable experience, by joining us to support our clients transition to a sustainable future.

The role sits within the EMEA Trade & Working Capital Solutions team, reporting into a Team Head within the Trade & Working Capital Solutions Team focusing on Commodities & Energy (CE2). Generally this role would be working with Director level employees proactively contributing to the development of trade finance & structured trade solutions and running transactions with and for them with high levels of autonomy. The role includes both analysis and administration tasks and taking personal control of smaller individual transactions or significant elements of larger/more complex transactions - including running some transactions and activities independently. There is a significant customer facing element to the role, including gathering information and attending customer meetings, marketing and transaction execution. The role is expected to have its own network of customers, advisors and other industry players.

Work with the team across all activities including preparation of client marketing materials, transaction summaries, proposals and term sheets and all execution procedures. Interface with relevant colleagues within GTFD and with other departments including Legal, Compliance, Loan Capital Markets, Agency, Credit, CBD1/2, META, SFD, S&T Pillar, CRID and other departments across other regions and geographies as necessary and applicable to individual transactions. Interface with external counterparties including borrowers, lawyers and other professional advisors, guarantors and other financial institutions. These interfaces will occur largely on a transaction specific basis whilst working as part of a deal team. In addition, there will be times when these consultations will be related to broader strategy and policy matters, i.e. not transaction specific.

The anticipated salary range for this role is £90,000 - £136,000, with the final offer determined based on the candidate’s skills, experience, role scope, location, and relevant market factors. In addition to base salary, the role may be eligible for a discretionary incentive award and a competitive benefits package, including core benefits such as pension provision.

Position Description: Working with senior staff (Director and above) as part of a deal team to support the implementation of the Trade & Working Capital Solutions strategy for the origination of new transactions in EMEA in the commodities & energy and some other sectors under ad-hoc initiatives. Contributing to development of the GTFD sustainability strategy, including the development and implementation of solutions across GTFD product offering to address SMBC clients’ requirements. Liaising with all relevant departments within EMEA required for marketing and execution including CD, OAD, CPD, legal, other marketing departments (CBD1&2, META, SFD, etc), capital markets, LCM, and other branches and offices across the global GTFD network. As appropriate, modelling and analysis for transactions in support of transaction lead and as part of an advisory or arranging team. Understanding the Bank’s internal procedures and processes and applying them correctly and in compliance with all rules and regulations and monitor and support junior staff in doing so. Working on asset management, and other areas of GTFD’s wider business as requested.

To carry out marketing activities including: Dealing directly with customers for the origination of regulated products including telephone and face to face meetings. Preparing externally facing marketing materials in line with the guidelines and seeking compliance approval. Taking responsibility for specific customer group(s) (market, product, region). Exposure to team management responsibilities by contributing to senior management initiatives. Review new facility documentation to ensure the accuracy of all financial details and compliance with the Bank’s procedure and the terms of the associated credit approvals. Compliance with all bank policies and procedures, including full personal accountability for timely completion of training, CPD, etc. Promotion of GTFD’s O&D and risk mitigation strategy through building counterparty relationships (and with LCM and other GTFD teams) and suggesting distribution and risk mitigation strategies during the transaction evaluation and structuring process.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience: Expertise in Trade Finance; Sector knowledge in Commodities & Energy; Practical banking experience; Strong numerical and financial skills; Understanding of cross-border lending and the relevant elements of trade finance; Advanced competence in all relevant Microsoft software and general computer literacy; Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work with multiple parties across geographies and disciplines; The ability to work on multiple tasks in parallel under pressure and to time constraints with significant changes.

What we offer: For all the expertise and experience you bring to help us make a difference, it’s only sustainable if we support you to build your career and be your best self so we offer competitive company benefits, centred around promoting positive well-being and work-life balance. We also believe in fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment, where all team members' perspectives and contributions are valued. Initiatives in place which promote a diverse and inclusive culture and healthy work life balance include hybrid working, Sport & Social Clubs and Diversity and Inclusion networks.

As an employee of SMBC you have access to a host of both useful and exciting benefit offerings. See below some of the benefits on offer to you: Hybrid and flexible working; Competitive paid leave days; Benefits to support your physical wellbeing, including private medical insurance and life and invalidity insurance; Various policies to support your mental wellbeing, including a robust behavioural health network with counselling and coaching services; Access a wide range of learning and development opportunities and career progression opportunities.

We recognise our role as a bank to support social change and welcome all applications, including those from groups often under-represented in financial services. We value the uniqueness of professional and personal backgrounds and perspectives as they play a vital role in continuing the sustainable growth of our organisation. We’ll ensure reasonable adjustments to our recruitment process are offered due to a disability or long-term condition whenever requested.

We are committed to transparent and equitable pay practices. Compensation is determined using objective criteria, including skills, experience, and role responsibilities, and applied consistently throughout our recruitment processes. We do not request candidates' pay history and are committed to preventing unjustified pay disparities.