About this role

Job Purpose

The Trade Finance & Operations Manager will serve as the primary custodian of all trade finance activities, banking relationships, and treasury operations
The role demands a highly experienced finance professional capable of managing end-to-end import/export documentation, FX execution, royalty payments, and cash & investment management, while leading a team of six and supporting strategic financial planning and reporting.

Trade Finance & Banking:

Manage the full lifecycle of Letters of Credit (LCs) issuance, amendment, presentation, and settlement — in coordination with issuing and confirming banks.
Oversee Bills for Collection (BCs) for both import and export transactions, ensuring timely document handling and compliance

FX & Royalty Payments:

Execute FX purchases from banks, obtaining competitive rates and managing FX exposure in line with company policy.
Process royalty payments to parent/affiliated companies in compliance with CBN regulations and applicable tax treaties.
Monitor FX market trends and advise treasury management on optimal timing and hedging strategies.

Cash & Investment Management:

Oversee daily cash positioning, ensuring adequate liquidity across all Naira and foreign currency accounts.
Manage short-term investment placements (T-bills, money market instruments) to optimise returns on surplus cash.
Monitor and report on overall financing costs, including interest expense, bank charges, and FX transaction costs.

Forecasting, Budgeting & Financial Reporting:

Prepare treasury management reports, variance analyses, and commentary for the Finance Director and group reporting.

Debt Management:

Track financial covenant compliance (leverage ratios, interest cover, DSCR) and prepare compliance certificates for submission to lender banks.
Prepare monthly debt management reports covering outstanding balances, financing costs, covenant status, and upcoming maturities for Finance Director review.
Qualifications and Experience
Full ICAN membership (mandatory requirement).
7 – 10 years of progressive experience in trade finance, treasury operations, or corporate banking.
Demonstrated hands-on experience with LCs, Bills for Collection, FX management, debt management, and bank liaison in a large corporate or FMCG environment.
Proficiency in SAP — particularly FI/CO, Treasury & Risk Management (TRM), and AP/AR modules — for transaction processing, reporting, and month-end closing.
Advanced Microsoft Excel skills including financial modelling, pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, and dashboard/reporting templates for treasury and debt tracking.
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Trade Finance & Operations Manager