Trade Finance Officer

ROLE SUMMARY

The TF Officer will join OQT’s Trade and Structured Finance department and support the efficient day-to-day delivery of trade finance activities. The role focuses on the accurate and timely financial execution of trading contracts, including contract preparation and review, coordination and receipt of acceptable collateral, processing of outgoing trade finance instruments, and support for working capital optimization in collaboration with the wider Trade and Structured Finance team, Treasury and other relevant internal stakeholders.

Reporting to the Head of Trade and Structured Finance, the Trade Finance Officer will maintain effective working relationships with banks and risk mitigation solution providers and relevant internal stakeholders to support the financial execution of trading contracts and support the evolving development needs of the business. The role will also contribute to the adoption of AI-enabled tools and automation within Trade Finance to enhance productivity, streamline workflows and improve service delivery. The TF Officer must speak fluent Arabic to enable smooth operations with Omani Refineries, terminals and sister companies.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES / ACTIVITIES

• Collaborate with the Trade Finance team in Dubai and Banks in the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) wherever required, to source more flexible/profitable funding lines as well as managing the day to day and time difference with Dubai/ Oman.

• Develop and/or maintain banking relationships in relation to trade finance bilateral lines. Propose amendments or additional facilities to accommodate evolving business requirements or improve pain points noted in daily operations.

• Liaise with banks and risk mitigation solution providers, including insurance markets, to procure acceptable risk cover and monitor credit exposure.

• Plan and organize, in close collaboration with Treasury, the allocation of financings to banks according to transaction requirements and bank limits.

• Coordinate the review of bilateral facility finance documents, including amendments, and agree key changes with the Department Head and Chief Financial Officer.

• Verify physical commodity deals against trade confirmation details, counterparty information and the internal system.

• Review sales and purchase contracts for the portfolio and support junior team members.

• Contribute to the adoption of AI-enabled tools and other data-driven practices within the trade finance team to enhance productivity, process efficiency and reporting capabilities.

• Process the timely issuance of letters of credit, bonds, guarantees and performance bonds.

• Check the workability and vetting of letters of credit, including amendments and acceptances.

• Ensure acceptable financial security, including confirmation and/or adequate credit insurance, is in good order for each shipment before approving loading or discharge by Operations.

• Provide cover for absent team members or additional business needs.

• When required, review tenders and support finance-economics calculations, particularly for new business, for review by the Department Head and Chief Financial Officer.

• Prepare all relevant settlement documentation for physical commodity deals for negotiation or presentation to banks to ensure payment performance.

• Ensure team compliance in issuing and booking invoices and confirming payment requests for action by Treasury.

• Support OQT’s broader strategy and culture, in areas such as M&A and/or Commercial Development by being the point of contact across all stakeholders

• Ensure compliance with company policies, guidelines and procedures.

• Periodically review existing policies, guidelines and procedures to maintain alignment with the business or seek amendments.

• Collaborate closely with Structured Finance in the execution and monitoring of transactions.

EXPERIENCE & COMPETENCE

• Minimum 6 years career experience within a commodity, energy trading or banking business

• Fluent Arabic is essential

• Embedded OQT experience a significant value add

• Degree qualified in Finance, Economics, Management, Engineering, or demonstrated commensurate work experience equivalent

• Financial Institutions and negotiation experience and ability to effectively interface and influence internally and externally, across global structures

• Significant financial acumen, analytical skills, and efficient planning skills

• Exposure to the GCC, with particular focus on Omani business is preferred

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

The successful applicant will possess strong analytical skills and should thrive in a busy, fast-paced and complex environment. Experience of working within a demanding business, combined with exceptional stakeholder management skills and attention to detail will combine to enable a collaborative, respected approach to working joint initiatives across geographies and cultures.

The role demands excellent problem-solving skills, a solution-led mindset, financial and business acumen, together with strong technical capability including proven experience of credit instruments and pricing, and use of different risk mitigation tools and techniques.

Whilst personality is key, a well-developed sense of ethics and integrity are critical, as is the ability to defend these principles when questioned. Equally, the successful candidate must possess a highly entrepreneurial and commercial mindset – demonstrating results-oriented focus and the ability to work with minimal supervision and drive continuous improvement.

Strong interpersonal skills are essential to enable effective communication across all levels of the business, enabling successful collaboration and stakeholder management.

ADDITONAL INFORMATION

Established in 2006 and headquartered in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), OQT has seven offices located across key markets and trading hubs, enabling us to establish a global footprint and a reputation as one of the region’s major participants in the commodities trading industry.

ROLE SUMMARY

The TF Officer will join OQT’s Trade and Structured Finance department and support the efficient day-to-day delivery of trade finance activities. The role focuses on the accurate and timely financial execution of trading contracts, including contract preparation and review, coordination and receipt of acceptable collateral, processing of outgoing trade finance instruments, and support for working capital optimization in collaboration with the wider Trade and Structured Finance team, Treasury and other relevant internal stakeholders.

Reporting to the Head of Trade and Structured Finance, the Trade Finance Officer will maintain effective working relationships with banks and risk mitigation solution providers and relevant internal stakeholders to support the financial execution of trading contracts and support the evolving development needs of the business. The role will also contribute to the adoption of AI-enabled tools and automation within Trade Finance to enhance productivity, streamline workflows and improve service delivery. The TF Officer must speak fluent Arabic to enable smooth operations with Omani Refineries, terminals and sister companies.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES / ACTIVITIES

· Collaborate with the Trade Finance team in Dubai and Banks in the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) wherever required, to source more flexible/profitable funding lines as well as managing the day today and time difference with Dubai/ Oman.

· Develop and/or maintain banking relationships in relation to trade finance bilateral lines. Propose amendments or additional facilities to accommodate evolving business requirements or improve pain points noted in daily operations.

· Liaise with banks and risk mitigation solution providers, including insurance markets, to procure acceptable risk cover and monitor credit exposure.

· Plan and organize, in close collaboration with Treasury, the allocation of financings to banks according to transaction requirements and bank limits.

· Coordinate the review of bilateral facility finance documents, including amendments, and agree key changes with the Department Head and Chief Financial Officer.

· Verify physical commodity deals against trade confirmation details, counterparty information and the internal system.

· Review sales and purchase contracts for the portfolio and support junior team members.

· Contribute to the adoption of AI-enabled tools and other data-driven practices within the trade finance team to enhance productivity, process efficiency and reporting capabilities.

· Process the timely issuance of letters of credit, bonds, guarantees and performance bonds.

· Check the workability and vetting of letters of credit, including amendments and acceptances.

· Ensure acceptable financial security, including confirmation and/or adequate credit insurance, is in good order for each shipment before approving loading or discharge by Operations.

· Provide cover for absent team members or additional business needs.

· When required, review tenders and support finance-economics calculations, particularly for new business, for review by the Department Head and Chief Financial Officer.

· Prepare all relevant settlement documentation for physical commodity deals for negotiation or presentation to banks to ensure payment performance.

· Ensure team compliance in issuing and booking invoices and confirming payment requests for action by Treasury.

· Support OQT’s broader strategy and culture, in areas such as M&A and/or Commercial Development by being the point of contact across all stakeholders

· Ensure compliance with company policies, guidelines and procedures.

· Periodically review existing policies, guidelines and procedures to maintain alignment with the business or seek amendments.

· Collaborate closely with Structured Finance in the execution and monitoring of transactions.

EXPERIENCE & COMPETENCE

· Minimum 6 years career experience within a commodity, energy trading or banking business

· Fluent Arabic is essential

· Embedded OQT experience a significant value add

· Degree qualified in Finance, Economics, Management, Engineering, or demonstrated commensurate work experience equivalent

· Financial Institutions and negotiation experience and ability to effectively interface and influence internally and externally, across global structures

· Significant financial acumen, analytical skills, and efficient planning skills

· Exposure to the GCC, with particular focus on Omani business is preferred

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

The successful applicant will possess strong analytical skills and should thrive in a busy, fast-paced and complex environment. Experience of working within a demanding business, combined with exceptional stakeholder management skills and attention to detail will combine to enable a collaborative, respected approach to working joint initiatives across geographies and cultures.

The role demands excellent problem-solving skills, a solution-led mindset, financial and business acumen, together with strong technical capability including proven experience of credit instruments and pricing, and use of different risk mitigation tools and techniques.

Whilst personality is key, a well-developed sense of ethics and integrity are critical, as is the ability to defend these principles when questioned. Equally, the successful candidate must possess a highly entrepreneurial and commercial mindset – demonstrating results-oriented focus and the ability to work with minimal supervision and drive continuous improvement.

Strong interpersonal skills are essential to enable effective communication across all levels of the business, enabling successful collaboration and stakeholder management.

ADDITONAL INFORMATION

Established in 2006 and headquartered in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), OQT has seven offices located across key markets and trading hubs, enabling us to establish a global footprint and a reputation as one of the region’s major participants in the commodities trading industry.