Consultant, Manager, Trade Facilitation (Transit Guarantees)

JOB PURPOSE The job holder will be responsible for promoting, selling, originating and structuring transit and trade facilitation bonds/instruments bond under the African Collaborative Transit Guarantee Scheme (AACTGS) under the supervision of the Director, Trade Facilitation and Investment Promotion.

The consultant will also assist to align and communicate with different key business units and external stakeholders according to the objectives set by Senior Management. This involves coordinating all the necessary tasks to ensure the successful issuance of various bond instruments in the market as well as developing innovative solutions customized to different clients and transactional parties.

Key Responsibilities

As Bond Business Developer, your duties and responsibilities include:

• Origination and structuring: Work closely with ZEP-RE, under Trans-Africa Bond Alliance (TABA), to promote, sell and structure transit and trade facilitation bonds including:
• Transit/customs bonds
• Container guarantees
• Trade facilitation bonds including Bid/tender bonds, Advance payment bonds, Performance bonds, Maintenance bonds, Retention bonds, Shipment bonds and Payment bonds.
• Financial Analysis: Conduct ad-hoc and periodic portfolio reviews and undertake in-depth financial analyses for underlying counterparty and transactional risks. Evaluate cash flow, debt levels, and overall financial health to make informed underwriting decisions.
• Negotiation: Engage in negotiation with applicants to establish terms and conditions that mitigate risks while meeting business objectives.
• Deal Origination: Work with various regional operating offices and develop a robust pipeline of transactions under the AACTGS while developing direct relationships with other stakeholders for new accounts including local fronting insurers, sureties, freight forwarders, corporates, amongst others.
• Underwriting policy framework: Review and Enhance existing bond underwriting policies, procedures and guidelines to support the Scheme while staying updated on industry, legal, regulatory and market trends that may impact the bond portfolio.
• Monitoring and risk management: Produce detailed risk reports and analysis of new client transactions, credit reports, and other relevant supporting documents for internal credit assessments and approvals. Determine the appropriate levels of exposure and limits for each transaction and recommend appropriate terms and conditions.
• Record Keeping: Prepare and maintain accurate compliance and audit records of underwriting decisions and documentation, and ensuring continued compliance with other internal company policies, industry and regulatory changes.
• Collaboration: Collaborate with other departments, such as legal and risk management, to ensure comprehensive risk assessment and compliance with internal policies.
• Communication: Communicate with applicants and internal stakeholders to gather necessary information and clarify underwriting requirements. Clearly articulate underwriting decisions and provide feedback to applicants.
• Work closely with ZEP-RE, under Trans-Africa Bond Alliance (TABA): Work closely with ZEP-RE, under Trans-Africa Bond Alliance (TABA), to ensure the successful development and implementation of plans, as well as the day-to-day operations of the TABA.
• Other responsibilities: Any other duties may be assigned from time to time by the Bank.
• Compliance Responsibilities:
• Understand and adhere to the Bank's AML, Regulatory and Conduct Compliance policies and procedures, notably:
• Staff Handbook (has code of conduct provisions)
• Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Counter Financing of Terrorism and Counter Proliferation Financing
• Conflicts of Interest and Policies on Staff Involvement in External Engagements/Activities
• Anti-Bribery & Corruption
• Insider Trading Guidelines
• Report any suspicious or non-compliant activities or matters relating to the Bank’s staff or the customers to the Compliance Department.
• Complete the Annual Compliance Training/Assessment.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Qualifications Master’s degree in Finance, Actuarial Science, Business, Economic or Insurance or other similar specializations; or equivalent combination of education and work experience.

Years & Nature of Experience

• Sound quantitative experience of at least 8 years in credit risk and international financial markets including trade debt financing. Previous experience as a Bond Underwriter or in a similar insurance underwriting or structuring role is highly desirable particularly familiarity with the practical solutions that can enhance the growth of intra-African trade.
• Strong understanding of a (re)insurance company’s financial performance, credit analysis, regulatory capital, and various bond/guarantee instruments.
• Practical knowledge and experience of issuance of bonds/guarantees including customs/transit bonds at national and regional level and understanding of surety industry regulations and compliance standards is desirable.
• Practical experience of promoting customs bonds and regional customs bonds is desirable.
• Strong understanding of a (re)insurance company’s financial performance, credit analysis, regulatory capital, and various bond/guarantee instruments.
• Practical knowledge of issuance of bonds/guarantees including customs/transit bonds at national and regional level and understanding of surety industry regulations and compliance standards is desirable.
• Practical experience of promoting customs bonds and regional customs bonds is desirable.

TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES
Proficiency level: Experienced Professional

PROFICIENCY

• Experienced professional managing processes, coordinating resources, and producing technical material

LEADERSHIP SKILLS

• Acts as a subject matter expert within own area, providing technical guidance to colleagues across Afreximbank Group while maintaining required integrity
• Coaches, motivates and mentors junior colleagues. May have formal line management responsibilities for a limited number of junior professionals and clerical staff.
• Identifies and addresses training needs for the team, including preparing and delivering training programmes as directed by senior management.

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS

• Proactively builds and manages effective working relationships and networks both internally and (where relevant) externally at different organizational levels to support project outcomes.
• Influences decisions at functional level and may support external negotiations.
• Sharing complex technical information to diverse audiences in a clear and concise manner for purposes of driving results and promote a learning culture.

PROBLEM SOLVING & BUSINESS IMPACT SUPPORTING

• Solves more complex non-routine problems based on sound critical analysis, technical knowledge and prior experience, whilst considering the potential long-term consequences and benefits of different courses of action.
• Acts with flexibility as a first escalation point for technical issues encountered by junior colleagues.
• Impacts own function by managing a specific area or sub-function, sometimes inputting to functional strategy and policies and providing technical guidance across the organization.

AFREXIMBANK MANDATE

• Has a substantial understanding of Afreximbank Group’s products and services and how own area contributes to Afreximbank Group’s values and mission.
• Has good knowledge of the continent and African diaspora’s political, economic and trade landscape and is able to offer well informed opinions on the subject internally and to external counterparts.
• Identifies practical ways in which Afreximbank Group’s values and mission can be cascaded to junior colleagues and external parties.

Behavioural Competencies - Afreximbank’s Core Values:

• Commitment to Africa and supporting the emancipation and empowerment of Africans
• Uncompromising integrity
• Passion for Learning and Drive
• Teamwork
• Trust and Respect for the Individual
• Innovation, Excellence and Flexibility
• Professionalism and Responsiveness

KEY INTERACTIONS

Internal

• Collaborate with other departments including TCIF, BAOP, LEGA, COMP, CLRE, CRAS, etc.

External

• Clients, RECs, AfCFTA,etc.

Application Process
Interested candidates should submit their CVs to Afreximbank@robertwalters.com, ensuring that the job title is clearly stated in the email subject line for proper consideration.