The posting
Trade Finance Manager — Commodity Trading
Company: Bright Fortune Resources Pte Limited (BFR) Location: Singapore
About Us
Bright Fortune Resources Pte Limited (BFR) is a Singapore-based commodity trading company.
We are seeking a hands-on Trade Finance Manager to manage trade finance, documentation and seaborne physical trade operations, while maintaining and developing our banking facilities. Working in a lean Singapore team, you will collaborate closely with the General Manager, Finance, traders and external counterparties.
This is an individual-contributor role with broad functional ownership, not a position supported by a dedicated trade documentation team. It suits someone who combines strong documentary trade execution skills with practical experience in physical commodity operations and the ability to move financing matters forward with banks.
Key Responsibilities
1.Seaborne Physical Trade Operations & Contract Coordination
- Coordinate with suppliers and buyers on purchase and sales contracts for seaborne commodity trades, reviewing and clarifying commercial and operational terms in line with agreed deal recaps and internal approvals.
- Follow up on contract issuance, amendments and execution; ensure consistency across purchase and sales obligations, payment terms, shipment schedules, quantity and quality specifications, and documentary requirements.
- Coordinate shipment execution with suppliers, buyers, shipping agents, inspection companies and relevant operations teams, including shipping instructions, document requirements and loading and discharge arrangements.
- Monitor vessel and shipment status, communicate timely updates and escalate delays or other execution issues.
- Follow up on shipment quantities, quality results and contractual claims, coordinating with relevant parties to resolve discrepancies and support timely final settlement.
- Maintain accurate contract, shipment and settlement records, ensuring physical trade execution is aligned with LC and financing requirements.
2. Trade Finance Operations & Documentation
- Independently manage import and export trade finance transactions from contract review through LC issuance, amendments, document presentation, negotiation and settlement, with particular emphasis on back-to-back LC structures.
- Review commercial contracts and negotiate LC terms with banks, suppliers and buyers to ensure consistency with the underlying trade and financing arrangements.
- Prepare, check and coordinate complete sets of trade and shipping documents, including invoices, bills of lading and supporting certificates, in accordance with LC terms, UCP600 and ISBP.
- Manage the alignment of the underlying export LC and corresponding import LC, including amounts, shipment dates, expiry dates, presentation periods and documentary requirements; identify funding or documentary gaps early.
- Resolve discrepancies, payment queries and transaction issues promptly, coordinating with banks, counterparties, traders and operations teams.
3.Banking Relationships & Credit Facilities
- Act as the day-to-day contact for financing banks and maintain productive relationships with relationship managers, credit and trade operations teams.
- Drive facility applications, renewals and enhancements with the General Manager, coordinating business information, financial documents, KYC requirements and responses to bank queries.
- Identify and engage suitable banking partners to diversify financing support, subject to management approval and banks’ credit assessment.
- Negotiate facility and transaction terms, pricing, fees, security requirements and operational conditions within approved authority.
- Maintain a clear pipeline of financing initiatives, follow up proactively and keep management informed of progress, outstanding requirements and approval bottlenecks.
4.Facility Control, Funding & Reporting
- Monitor available limits, utilisation, LC exposures, maturities and settlement obligations to support timely execution of physical trades.
- Coordinate funding and payment schedules with Finance and traders; flag potential liquidity gaps, facility constraints and overdue items in advance.
- Check bank charges and financing costs, maintain accurate transaction and facility records, and provide concise management reporting.
- Ensure adherence to approved facility terms, internal authorisation controls and applicable compliance requirements; coordinate bank KYC and sanctions-related queries and escalate exceptions.
- Improve trade finance procedures, documentation controls and handover records to support reliable execution in a small team.
Requirements
- Diploma or degree in Banking, Finance, Business or a related discipline, or equivalent relevant professional experience.
- At least 5 years of relevant trade finance and/or commodity trade operations experience, with substantial hands-on responsibility for LC execution and documentary checking. Experience within a commodity trading house is strongly preferred.
- Hands-on experience coordinating seaborne physical commodity trades, including supplier and buyer contract communication, shipment follow-up and trade documentation.
- Practical experience handling back-to-back LCs and a sound understanding of UCP 600, ISBP and Incoterms.
- Demonstrated experience liaising directly with banks on facility applications, renewals, credit line utilisation or financing terms—not solely processing documents under existing facilities.
- Ability to independently prepare and review trade documents, resolve discrepancies and manage time-sensitive transactions.
- Banking experience is an advantage, but must be complemented by a willingness and ability to handle corporate-side documentation and physical trade execution personally.
- Experience in iron ore, steelmaking raw materials or other dry bulk commodities is an advantage. CDCS certification is a plus, not essential.
- Strong communication, negotiation and follow-through skills; organised, detail-oriented and comfortable taking ownership in a lean team.
- Proficiency in English and Mandarin to review relevant trade documents and communicate with English- and Mandarin-speaking banks, counterparties and China-based trading and operations teams.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and other standard office applications.
How to Apply
Please email your CV, expected salary and notice period to [email protected], with the subject line “Application — Trade Finance Manager”.
Please briefly highlight your experience in:
- Seaborne physical trade operations and supplier/buyer contract coordination;
- Back-to-back LC execution and documentary checking; and
- Bank facility applications, renewals or enhancements, specifying your personal involvement.
Only Singaporean or SPR may apply.
Salary range: SGD4,500-SGD8,000
