Head of Trade Finance – Guarantees & Documentary Credit

The Head of Trade Finance is responsible for overseeing the end‑to‑end management of the bank’s guarantee and documentary credit operations, ensuring timely and accurate processing of transactions in line with internal policies and regulatory requirements.

Key Responsibilities

Bank Guarantees – Domestic & International

• Manage the complete lifecycle of domestic and international bank guarantees (bid bonds, performance bonds, advance payment bonds, retention bonds, etc.): issuance, amendment, extension, reduction, cancellation and claims management, in full compliance with internal policies and external guidelines.
• Review, negotiate and approve guarantee texts requested by clients or correspondent banks, ensuring adherence to URDG 758, ISP98 and internal standards.
• Act as the primary point of contact for corporate clients on all guarantee‑related matters, providing accurate and timely responses to queries and resolving discrepancies in collaboration with internal stakeholders.
• Oversee the end‑to‑end issuance workflow, from initial instruction and document verification through to delivery, ensuring compliance with agreed SLAs.
• Ensure correct use of SWIFT messages (MT 760, MT 768, MT 799) for issuance, amendment and management of guarantees with correspondent banks.
• Supervise credit limit verification (signature lines) prior to issuance of any guarantee instrument, in coordination with Risk Management and Credit functions.
• Enforce the maker‑checker principle across all transactions, maintaining rigorous segregation of duties within the team.
• Conduct periodic reviews of the outstanding guarantee portfolio to proactively identify and mitigate operational, credit and legal risks.

Letters of Credit & Documentary Credit

• Manage import and export letters of credit (LC), standby letters of credit (SBLC) and documentary credits in full compliance with UCP 600 and ISBP.
• Supervise the examination of documents presented under credits, managing discrepancies and related communications with presenting banks via SWIFT (MT 750, MT 754).
• Coordinate the discounting and negotiation of commercial documents (bills of lading, commercial invoices, bills of exchange) within documentary credit transactions.
• Manage correspondence with correspondent banks for confirmation, transfer and negotiation of documentary credits (SWIFT MT 700 series).

Operational Excellence, Automation & Reporting

• Continuously review and improve operational processes to reduce turnaround times, eliminate inefficiencies and deliver service excellence to corporate clients.
• Champion and implement automation and digital solutions to streamline the issuance and management of guarantees and documentary credits.
• Ensure accurate booking of all trade finance transactions in the bank’s core systems and timely collection of fees, commissions and charges from clients.
• Monitor expiry dates of outstanding guarantees and documentary credits, proactively managing renewals, extensions and cancellations.
• Generate regular management reports and KPI dashboards (processing times, transaction volumes, outstanding risk exposure), monitoring performance targets and addressing delays or inaccuracies promptly.
• Liaise with internal stakeholders (Risk, Credit, Legal, Compliance, IT) and external parties (beneficiary banks, regulators, auditors) to ensure smooth execution of operations.

AML, Sanctions Screening & Counterparty Due Diligence

• Ensure full compliance with all AML/CFT obligations applicable to trade finance, with particular attention to Trade‑Based Money Laundering (TBML) typologies: over/under‑invoicing, triangulation schemes, and document falsification.
• Oversee sanctions screening on transactions, counterparties, goods and countries involved, managing alerts and blocked transactions in coordination with the Compliance function (OFAC, EU and UN sanctions lists).
• Ensure thorough KYC/KYB due diligence on all parties involved in transactions, including correspondent banks, beneficiaries and applicants, in line with EU AML Directives and local regulatory requirements.
• Monitor regulatory developments and maintain operational procedures in continuous alignment with evolving requirements.

Audit Readiness & Compliance

• Ensure full adherence to local and international regulations (URDG 758, UCP 600, ISP98) and internal operational policies at all times.
• Maintain all documentation and processes in a state of audit‑readiness, preparing the team for internal and external audits (Internal Audit, external auditors, regulatory inspections).
• Manage any non‑conformities identified during inspections, defining and implementing remediation plans within appropriate timelines.

People Management & Team Development

• Lead, motivate and develop a team of four trade finance professionals, setting clear individual objectives and supporting career growth through targeted training and coaching.
• Conduct regular training sessions to ensure the team is up to date on policies, procedures and regulatory changes relevant to trade finance operations.
• Serve as the technical escalation point for complex or non‑standard transactions, supporting the team in delivering high‑quality outcomes under time pressure.

Requirements

Experience

• Minimum 8–10 years of experience in Trade Finance within a bank or financial institution, including at least five years in a role specifically focused on managing bank guarantees or trade finance processes.
• Demonstrated track record in managing letters of credit and documentary credit for corporate clients.
• Prior experience leading or supervising operational teams.

Technical Skills

• In‑depth knowledge of international trade finance rules: UCP 600, URDG 758, ISP98, ISBP.
• Solid understanding of AML/CFT regulations as applied to trade finance (EU AML Directives, FATF recommendations) and international sanctions frameworks (OFAC, EU, UN).
• Familiarity with KYC/KYB processes and counterparty due diligence standards.
• Working knowledge of trade finance SWIFT message types (MT 700 series, MT 760 series, MT 798).
• Experience with trade finance platforms is a strong advantage.

Education, Certifications & Languages

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Economics, Finance, Law or a related discipline.
• Professional certification in Trade Finance or Bank Guarantees – e.g. CDCS (Certified Documentary Credit Specialist) or CSDG (Certified Specialist in Demand Guarantees) – is strongly preferred.
• Fluent English, both written and spoken – essential for managing international transactions and correspondent banking relationships.
• Knowledge of Italian and/or a second foreign language is a plus.

Soft Skills

• Strong organisational and prioritisation skills in a high‑volume, deadline‑driven environment.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with confidence in managing corporate client and senior stakeholder relationships.
• Process improvement mindset with a genuine interest in digital transformation and automation.
• Sharp analytical skills and a solution‑oriented approach to complex operational challenges.
• Authentic leadership and a genuine commitment to developing people.

We are open to considering flexible working requests in line with organisational requirements.

MUFG is committed to embracing diversity and building an inclusive culture where all employees are valued, respected and their opinions count. We support the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion in recruitment and employment, and oppose all forms of discrimination on the grounds of age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy and maternity, race, gender reassignment, religion or belief and marriage or civil partnership. We make our recruitment decisions in a non‑discriminatory manner in accordance with our commitment to identifying the right skills for the right role and our obligations under the law.