Junior Structured Trade and Commodity Finance Consultant Full-time Job

To assist in the active marketing and execution of Structured Trade Finance product solutions to South African and African clients in the Natural Resources Sector in order to increase Absa market share. The task involves assisting in the marketing as well as networking through strategic relationships, both internal and external, in order to book transactions that meet Absa risk criteria and achieve acceptable returns on capital employed. Suited to an individual with degree in Commerce/Science/Engineering coupled with 3-5 years experience working in structured trade and commodity finance environment. Exposure to Natural Resources an advantage

Job Description

Accountability: Business Performance

• Create shareholder wealth through assisting in growing the profitability of the portfolio by developing new and existing customer potential including sales opportunities and new product initiatives identified.
• Deliver enhanced quality of service delivery in areas such as technical competence (product related), transaction project management, meeting of deadlines, client satisfaction, developing new product offerings/structures.
• Assist to manage and mitigate risk - regularly review client activities and transactions and identify areas of potential risk to both the client and Absa requirements and specifications - as it applies and through ensuring the required procedures and controls are implemented.
• Liaise with internal and external service providers, insurers, freight forwarders, transporters, logistic companies, Specialized Funding Solutions (SFS) Legal, Credit Product and Sector) to mitigate operational and credit risks.
• Ensure that best practice, skills and knowledge are shared through ongoing interaction, team meetings, roadshows etc. across the Natural Resources Division and the larger Structured Trade & Commodity Finance (STCF) team and where appropriate and compelling working with other areas of the Absa Group.
• Work closely with the rest of STCF Transactional Management-, Relationship Teams and Specialized Funding Solutions to ensure effective and efficient working relations.

Accountability: Client Service Delivery

• Continuously review, improve and amend relevant templates and processes. (Credit approval templates, reports etc).
• Assist in ensuring adherence to agreed Service Level Agreements and manage turnaround times to ensure in principle feedback to clients are provided within specified time frames.
• Keep up to date with Commodity Finance market trends especially in the Natural Resources Sector in order to ensure effective delivery to client base. (Media resourcing, daily news updates, market trends etc.)
• Assist to promote cross selling opportunities to regions and other areas.

Accountability: Client Service Delivery

• Assist in negotiating and closing structured commodity finance deals with local and global corporate and commercial clients in the Natural Resources Sector.
• Assist in identifying, through internal networking with Regional Relationship Executives, new client relationships and opportunities both with current Absa and non-Absa clients.
• Assist in the proactive creation of partnerships with our most valued customers so that we are engaged in customers' planning and strategy in relation to STCF Natural Resources Sales.
• Work across the Group in integrating activities and direction to deliver a consistently high quality product offering which fully harmonizes the range of relevant solutions for the customer base across the organization.
• Attend STCF Roadshows and Training Workshops to promote Commodity finance solutions.

Accountability: Product & Strategy

• Assist to conduct product promotion visits to all major business centers in order to promote the Commodity Finance product offering.
• Assist in implementing effective origination and sales strategies in partnership across Geographies.
• Assist with deal implementation & deal structuring.
• Contribute to the implementation of the team's primary strategy of transaction execution by delivering expert knowledge and product solutions to the regional business centers.

Education

Bachelor`s Degrees and Advanced Diplomas: Business, Commerce and Management Studies (Required)

Absa Group Limited is listed on the JSE and is one of Africas largest diversified financial services groups with a presence in 12 countries across the continent and around 41 000 employees.
We own majority stakes in banks in Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, the Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania (ABSA Bank in Tanzania and National Bank of Commerce), Uganda and Zambia. We also have representative offices in Namibia and Nigeria, as well as insurance operations in Botswana, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia.