Trade Finance Analyst

Job title : Trade Finance Analyst

Job Location : Lagos Deadline : October 16, 2026 Quick Recommended Links

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IDEAL CANDIDATE

• The ideal candidate is a highly organized and analytical professional with experience in trade finance, commodity trading, financial analysis, transaction underwriting, and supply chain operations.
• The candidate should be comfortable coordinating with suppliers, logistics providers, warehouses, inspection agencies, financiers, and buyers in a fast-paced trading environment.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Trade Opportunity Assessment & Underwriting

• Identify, evaluate, and recommend viable commodity trade opportunities.
• Conduct commercial due diligence on suppliers, buyers, commodities, and market conditions.
• Analyze transaction economics, expected margins, cash flow, and profitability.
• Assess transaction risks, including price volatility, supplier performance, buyer creditworthiness, logistics, quality, and operational risks.
• Review financing requests and determine appropriate transaction structures, funding requirements, repayment sources, and risk mitigants.
• Prepare detailed trade investment memoranda covering transaction rationale, risks, expected returns, and recommendations.
• Monitor commodity prices and market trends to identify profitable trading opportunities.

Trade Finance & Transaction Management

• Manage the end-to-end lifecycle of financed trade transactions from purchase through final repayment.
• Coordinate trade finance drawdowns and ensure compliance with financing conditions.
• Monitor utilization of trade finance facilities and maintain accurate transaction schedules.
• Track repayment obligations and ensure facilities are settled on or before their due dates.
• Prepare transaction summaries and funding reports for management and financing partners.

Procurement & Trade Execution

• Coordinate commodity purchases with approved suppliers.
• Monitor purchase orders, supplier performance, and delivery timelines.
• Ensure procurement activities comply with internal policies and financing requirements.
• Maintain accurate records of contracts, invoices, warehouse receipts, and supporting transaction documents.

Quality Control & Inspection

• Coordinate commodity quality inspections before purchase and prior to shipment.
• Liaise with independent inspection agencies and laboratories to ensure products meet agreed specifications.
• Review quality reports and escalate variances before payments are processed.
• Ensure proper documentation of quality certificates and inspection reports.

Logistics & Delivery Monitoring

• Coordinate the transportation of commodities from suppliers to warehouses, processors, or customers.
• Monitor deliveries to ensure goods are received in full and within agreed timelines.
• Work with logistics providers, warehouse operators, and internal operations teams to resolve delivery issues.
• Track inventory movements and ensure financed goods remain properly accounted for throughout the transaction lifecycle.

Portfolio Monitoring & Risk Management

• Monitor the performance of active trade finance transactions.
• Identify early warning signals that could affect repayment, profitability, or transaction execution.
• Monitor buyer payments and collections to ensure repayments are received on schedule.
• Escalate emerging operational, credit, market, or counterparty risks.
• Recommend corrective actions where transactions deviate from approved parameters.

Reporting & Performance Analysis

• Prepare transaction profitability reports and post-transaction performance reviews.
• Produce reports covering outstanding facilities, repayments, inventory positions, and portfolio performance.
• Analyze completed transactions to identify lessons learned and opportunities for process improvement.
• Provide management with market intelligence, pricing trends, and portfolio analysis.

REQUIREMENTS

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business Administration, Agriculture, Supply Chain Management, or a related discipline.

Experience

• 2–5 years of relevant experience in one or more of the following:
• Trade Finance
• Commercial Banking
• Commodity Trading
• Credit Analysis
• Structured Trade Finance
• Supply Chain Finance
• Agribusiness

Technical & Professional Knowledge

• Strong understanding of trade finance, commodity trading, transaction structuring, and working capital financing.
• Experience in financial analysis, commercial due diligence, transaction underwriting, and preparation of investment or credit memoranda.
• Good understanding of commodity procurement, logistics, inventory management, and quality assurance processes.
• Strong analytical and financial modelling skills.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel.

Core Competencies

• Strong commercial and analytical mindset.
• Excellent negotiation and communication skills.
• Strong stakeholder management abilities.
• High attention to detail and accuracy.
• Strong organizational and multitasking skills.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
• Strong risk identification and problem-solving abilities.

KEY SUCCESS MEASURES

Success in the role will be measured by:

• Timely and seamless execution of commodity trade transactions.
• Successful financial settlement and repayment of trade finance facilities.
• Thorough commercial due diligence and transaction underwriting.
• Effective coordination across suppliers, buyers, logistics providers, inspection agencies, warehouses, and financial partners.
• Accurate tracking of inventory, deliveries, and facility repayments.
• Effective identification and mitigation of transaction risks.
• High-quality transaction, portfolio, and performance reporting.
• Actionable market intelligence and analysis provided to management.
• Continuous improvement in trade execution and operational efficiency.