Senior Officer - Trade Finance Operations
Posted date [2026-07-08]
(ID: 47735)
 |
As the largest bank in the UAE, FAB has taken decisive steps as a regional pacesetter in the financial industry to bind both ambition and action together to accelerate the pace of positive environmental change. As the first bank in the MENA region to have committed to a target of net-zero emissions by 2050, we're making advances across our own operations in addition to walking alongside our clients as their strategic partner to ensure they can achieve their climate goals.... |
Job Description and Requirements
Senior Officer - Trade Finance OperationsJob Snapshot
Role: Senior Officer - Trade Finance Operations
Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Industry: Banking
Function: Finance
Experience: Minimum 5-8 years in trade finance operations
Job Type: Full-time
Position Overview
Senior Officer - Trade Finance Operations in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates is a Banking opportunity focused on trade finance processing, transaction checking, operational control, regulatory compliance, sanctions screening, ICC rules, SWIFT-related activities, SLA adherence, and risk management. The role supports First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) Centralized Operations by ensuring trade finance transactions are processed, verified, authorized, monitored, reported, and controlled in line with internal policies, customer turnaround standards, and local and international regulatory requirements.
Job Details
Country: United Arab Emirates
City: Abu Dhabi
Industry: Banking
Function: Finance
Salary: 18000-28000
Estimated salary range based on similar jobs in the job city; please confirm the final offer with the
employer.
Gender: Any
Candidate Nationality: Any
Job Type: Full-time
Role Context
The Senior Officer - Trade Finance Operations will work within FAB Centralized Operations as part of the Business Support Group, supporting trade transactions originated by Wholesale Banking, Corporate and Investment Banking, Commercial Banking, Financial Institutions, Investment Banking, Islamic Banking, and Consumer Banking. This role is responsible for maintaining strong processing quality, preventing operational losses, reducing complaints, supporting audit readiness, ensuring transaction accuracy, and helping the department maintain high standards of control, risk oversight, compliance, and customer service.
Key Responsibilities
* Process, check, verify, and authorize trade finance transactions in line with the approved authorization matrix.
* Support trade finance transactions originated across Wholesale Banking, Corporate and Investment Banking, Commercial Banking, Financial Institutions, Investment Banking, Islamic Banking, and Consumer Banking.
* Ensure transaction processing is completed in a controlled, accurate, timely, and cost-efficient manner.
* Maintain zero operational loss through strong review, control adherence, and timely escalation of risks.
* Ensure adherence to service level agreements and customer turnaround time standards.
* Monitor incoming messages and ensure they are attended within agreed SLA requirements.
* Update transactions in relevant systems accurately and within required timelines.
* Prepare sectional statements, statistical data, reports, and internal updates in line with FAB and department quality standards.
* Liaise with customers, counterparties, other banks, internal teams, and external contacts to resolve trade finance queries and operational problems.
* Handle routine correspondence with customers, internal departments, counterparties, and external stakeholders.
* Identify risks in day-to-day operations and bring material issues to management attention.
* Escalate transactions of unusual nature and support investigation where irregularities, errors, or risk concerns are identified.
* Conduct investigations to rectify errors and prevent recurrence through better controls and process improvements.
* Provide technical guidance to customers and team members where required.
* Ensure safe custody of designated records and maintain records as per approved custody requirements.
* Review and revise standard operating procedures on time and recommend improvements where processes require strengthening.
* Support system upgrades, technical assistance, project implementation, system development, and department initiatives.
* Participate in continuous improvement activities focused on global standards, productivity improvement, cost reduction, risk mitigation, and sustainability of processes.
* Recommend and implement changes in policies, procedures, processes, and systems in line with industry developments and control requirements.
* Develop or support robust tools and processes to identify and mitigate operational risks within trade finance operations.
* Monitor compliance with regulatory guidelines, Central Bank requirements, AML standards, sanctions requirements, and internal policies.
* Ensure unusual transactions are reported to the prescribed levels under bank procedures.
* Proactively highlight extraordinary non-operational risks, including market and legal risks, arising from trade transactions.
* Support internal audit, risk management, control reviews, self-assessments, and regulatory audits by providing accurate information and timely responses.
* Ensure no unauthorized breaches of policy, regulatory requirements, or standard operating procedures.
* Maintain strong housekeeping controls including reconciliations, tracers, documentation follow-up, and department control files.
* Support the line manager in developing, coaching, monitoring, and improving staff performance.
* Help arrange remedial training where performance, process knowledge, or control gaps are identified.
* Support multi-desk and multi-function activities within the Trade Finance department.
* Maintain high internal customer satisfaction by supporting timely responses, accurate processing, and effective issue resolution.
* Keep updated on trade finance industry developments and share relevant knowledge with direct and indirect reporting teams where applicable.
* Perform any other duty or task entrusted by the Department Manager or Head.
Ideal Profile
* Graduate degree, preferably in Commerce, Financial Services, Banking and Finance, or a related discipline.
* CDCS, CSDG, CITF, or relevant trade finance certification is preferred.
* Minimum 5-8 years of experience in trade finance operations.
* Hands-on experience across all major trade finance products.
* Strong understanding of ICC rules, local laws, legal risks, trade documentation, and shipping terms.
* Extensive knowledge of UCP600, URC522, ISBP, URDG758, URR725, Incoterms 2020, and ICC Banking Commission opinions.
* Hands-on experience with core banking solutions.
* Working knowledge of trade finance activities linked to IMB, insurance business, SWIFT, and related operational processes.
* Strong specialization in own trade finance area with working knowledge of all trade products.
* Good understanding of AML, Central Bank guidelines, sanctions, regulatory requirements, operational risk, and audit expectations.
* Ability to process and review complex trade finance transactions without compromising risk and control standards.
* Strong attention to detail with the ability to identify documentation gaps, transaction risks, processing errors, and unusual activity.
* Ability to work under pressure while maintaining accuracy, service quality, and strong turnaround performance.
* Strong communication skills for dealing with customers, counterparties, other banks, internal teams, and management.
* Good team support capability with ability to coach, guide, and assist staff where needed.
* Conversant with MS Office and analytical tools.
* Strong follow-up skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks, deadlines, queries, and operational priorities.
Skills Set
* Trade finance operations
* Funded trade products
* Unfunded trade products
* Transaction processing
* Transaction checking
* Transaction authorization
* Trade documentation
* ICC rules
* UCP600
* URC522
* ISBP
* URDG758
* URR725
* Incoterms 2020
* ICC Banking Commission opinions
* Core banking solutions
* SWIFT operations
* AML compliance
* Sanctions monitoring
* Central Bank guidelines
* Regulatory compliance
* Operational risk control
* SLA adherence
* Customer turnaround time
* Error investigation
* Process improvement
* SOP review
* Audit readiness
* Internal control
* Reconciliation support
* Tracer monitoring
* Customer query handling
* Counterparty coordination
* Trade finance reporting
* Statistical reporting
* System upgrades
* Technical assistance
* Staff coaching
* Multi-desk support
* MS Office
* Analytical tools
Why Join Us
This opportunity is ideal for a trade finance operations professional who wants to strengthen expertise within Abu Dhabi’s Banking sector. The role offers exposure to high-volume trade processing, regulatory control, ICC rules, sanctions monitoring, SWIFT-related activities, customer service, system enhancement, audit readiness, and operational risk management within a major UAE financial institution. It is a strong fit for someone who values accuracy, compliance, process discipline, and reliable service delivery in a complex trade finance environment.
About the Company
First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) is one of the UAE’s leading banking groups, offering retail banking, commercial banking, corporate banking, investment banking, Islamic banking, global markets, trade finance, asset management, and digital financial services. In Abu Dhabi, FAB supports clients through centralized operations, strong governance, regulated transaction processing, and disciplined risk management designed to protect customers, business lines, subsidiaries, affiliates, and the wider financial ecosystem.
Gender: Any
Candidate Nationality: Any
Job Type: Full-time
Role Context
The Senior Officer - Trade Finance Operations will work within FAB Centralized Operations as part of the Business Support Group, supporting trade transactions originated by Wholesale Banking, Corporate and Investment Banking, Commercial Banking, Financial Institutions, Investment Banking, Islamic Banking, and Consumer Banking. This role is responsible for maintaining strong processing quality, preventing operational losses, reducing complaints, supporting audit readiness, ensuring transaction accuracy, and helping the department maintain high standards of control, risk oversight, compliance, and customer service.
Key Responsibilities
* Process, check, verify, and authorize trade finance transactions in line with the approved authorization matrix.
* Support trade finance transactions originated across Wholesale Banking, Corporate and Investment Banking, Commercial Banking, Financial Institutions, Investment Banking, Islamic Banking, and Consumer Banking.
* Ensure transaction processing is completed in a controlled, accurate, timely, and cost-efficient manner.
* Maintain zero operational loss through strong review, control adherence, and timely escalation of risks.
* Ensure adherence to service level agreements and customer turnaround time standards.
* Monitor incoming messages and ensure they are attended within agreed SLA requirements.
* Update transactions in relevant systems accurately and within required timelines.
* Prepare sectional statements, statistical data, reports, and internal updates in line with FAB and department quality standards.
* Liaise with customers, counterparties, other banks, internal teams, and external contacts to resolve trade finance queries and operational problems.
* Handle routine correspondence with customers, internal departments, counterparties, and external stakeholders.
* Identify risks in day-to-day operations and bring material issues to management attention.
* Escalate transactions of unusual nature and support investigation where irregularities, errors, or risk concerns are identified.
* Conduct investigations to rectify errors and prevent recurrence through better controls and process improvements.
* Provide technical guidance to customers and team members where required.
* Ensure safe custody of designated records and maintain records as per approved custody requirements.
* Review and revise standard operating procedures on time and recommend improvements where processes require strengthening.
* Support system upgrades, technical assistance, project implementation, system development, and department initiatives.
* Participate in continuous improvement activities focused on global standards, productivity improvement, cost reduction, risk mitigation, and sustainability of processes.
* Recommend and implement changes in policies, procedures, processes, and systems in line with industry developments and control requirements.
* Develop or support robust tools and processes to identify and mitigate operational risks within trade finance operations.
* Monitor compliance with regulatory guidelines, Central Bank requirements, AML standards, sanctions requirements, and internal policies.
* Ensure unusual transactions are reported to the prescribed levels under bank procedures.
* Proactively highlight extraordinary non-operational risks, including market and legal risks, arising from trade transactions.
* Support internal audit, risk management, control reviews, self-assessments, and regulatory audits by providing accurate information and timely responses.
* Ensure no unauthorized breaches of policy, regulatory requirements, or standard operating procedures.
* Maintain strong housekeeping controls including reconciliations, tracers, documentation follow-up, and department control files.
* Support the line manager in developing, coaching, monitoring, and improving staff performance.
* Help arrange remedial training where performance, process knowledge, or control gaps are identified.
* Support multi-desk and multi-function activities within the Trade Finance department.
* Maintain high internal customer satisfaction by supporting timely responses, accurate processing, and effective issue resolution.
* Keep updated on trade finance industry developments and share relevant knowledge with direct and indirect reporting teams where applicable.
* Perform any other duty or task entrusted by the Department Manager or Head.
Ideal Profile
* Graduate degree, preferably in Commerce, Financial Services, Banking and Finance, or a related discipline.
* CDCS, CSDG, CITF, or relevant trade finance certification is preferred.
* Minimum 5-8 years of experience in trade finance operations.
* Hands-on experience across all major trade finance products.
* Strong understanding of ICC rules, local laws, legal risks, trade documentation, and shipping terms.
* Extensive knowledge of UCP600, URC522, ISBP, URDG758, URR725, Incoterms 2020, and ICC Banking Commission opinions.
* Hands-on experience with core banking solutions.
* Working knowledge of trade finance activities linked to IMB, insurance business, SWIFT, and related operational processes.
* Strong specialization in own trade finance area with working knowledge of all trade products.
* Good understanding of AML, Central Bank guidelines, sanctions, regulatory requirements, operational risk, and audit expectations.
* Ability to process and review complex trade finance transactions without compromising risk and control standards.
* Strong attention to detail with the ability to identify documentation gaps, transaction risks, processing errors, and unusual activity.
* Ability to work under pressure while maintaining accuracy, service quality, and strong turnaround performance.
* Strong communication skills for dealing with customers, counterparties, other banks, internal teams, and management.
* Good team support capability with ability to coach, guide, and assist staff where needed.
* Conversant with MS Office and analytical tools.
* Strong follow-up skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks, deadlines, queries, and operational priorities.
Skills Set
* Trade finance operations
* Funded trade products
* Unfunded trade products
* Transaction processing
* Transaction checking
* Transaction authorization
* Trade documentation
* ICC rules
* UCP600
* URC522
* ISBP
* URDG758
* URR725
* Incoterms 2020
* ICC Banking Commission opinions
* Core banking solutions
* SWIFT operations
* AML compliance
* Sanctions monitoring
* Central Bank guidelines
* Regulatory compliance
* Operational risk control
* SLA adherence
* Customer turnaround time
* Error investigation
* Process improvement
* SOP review
* Audit readiness
* Internal control
* Reconciliation support
* Tracer monitoring
* Customer query handling
* Counterparty coordination
* Trade finance reporting
* Statistical reporting
* System upgrades
* Technical assistance
* Staff coaching
* Multi-desk support
* MS Office
* Analytical tools
Why Join Us
This opportunity is ideal for a trade finance operations professional who wants to strengthen expertise within Abu Dhabi’s Banking sector. The role offers exposure to high-volume trade processing, regulatory control, ICC rules, sanctions monitoring, SWIFT-related activities, customer service, system enhancement, audit readiness, and operational risk management within a major UAE financial institution. It is a strong fit for someone who values accuracy, compliance, process discipline, and reliable service delivery in a complex trade finance environment.
About the Company
First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) is one of the UAE’s leading banking groups, offering retail banking, commercial banking, corporate banking, investment banking, Islamic banking, global markets, trade finance, asset management, and digital financial services. In Abu Dhabi, FAB supports clients through centralized operations, strong governance, regulated transaction processing, and disciplined risk management designed to protect customers, business lines, subsidiaries, affiliates, and the wider financial ecosystem.
