VP - Trade Finance Operations [T500-24361]

About Us:

MUFG Bank, Ltd. is Japans premier bank, with a global network spanning in more than 40 markets. Outside of Japan, the bank offers an extensive scope of commercial and investment banking products and services to businesses, governments, and individuals worldwide. MUFG Banks parent, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. (MUFG) is one of the worlds leading financial groups. Headquartered in Tokyo and with over 360 years of history, the Group has about 120,000 employees and offers services including commercial banking, trust banking, securities, credit cards, consumer finance, asset management, and leasing. The Group aims to be the worlds most trusted financial group through close collaboration among our operating companies and flexibly respond to all the financial needs of our customers, serving society, and fostering shared and sustainable growth for a better world. MUFGs shares trade on the Tokyo, Nagoya, and New York stock exchanges.

MUFG Global Service Private Limited:

Established in 2020, MUFG Global Service Private Limited (MGS) is 100% subsidiary of MUFG having offices in Bengaluru and Mumbai. MGS India has been set up as a Global Capability Centre / Centre of Excellence to provide support services across various functions such as IT, KYC/ AML, Credit, Operations etc. to MUFG Bank offices globally. MGS India has plans to significantly ramp-up its growth over the next 18-24 months while servicing MUFGs global network across Americas, EMEA and Asia Pacific.

Job Title:

VP Trade Finance Operations

Location: Bangalore, India

Job Summary:

The Vice President Trade Finance Operations will lead a functionalized operations team responsible for trade finance document examination, red flag identification, and sanctions screening across global trade products. The role ensures operational excellence, regulatory compliance, risk mitigation, and adherence to international trade rules while supporting high-quality service delivery to internal and external stakeholders. The VP will drive process governance, risk controls, and operational efficiency across trade processing functions including Letters of Credit, Collections, and Guarantees.

Key Responsibilities:

Trade Finance Document Examination

• Oversee end-to-end examination of trade documents under Letters of Credit, Documentary Collections, and Guarantees.
• Ensure strict compliance with UCP 600, ISBP, URC 522, URDG 758, and internal policies.
• Review discrepancies and provide guidance on complex trade transactions and exception handling.
• Maintain high accuracy standards and ensure SLA adherence across the team.

Red Flag and Financial Crime Risk Controls

• Lead the review and escalation of trade-based money laundering (TBML) indicators and red flags.
• Ensure appropriate due diligence and investigation of suspicious trade activities.
• Partner with Compliance and Financial Crime teams to strengthen trade surveillance frameworks.
• Develop and enhance controls for identifying unusual trade patterns and risk indicators.

Sanctions Screening and Compliance

• Oversee sanctions screening related to trade transactions, counterparties, vessels, goods, and jurisdictions.
• Ensure adherence to global sanctions regulations including OFAC, EU, UK, and UN sanctions regimes.
• Manage escalations and decision-making for potential sanctions hits.
• Drive continuous improvement in screening processes and compliance governance.

Team Leadership and Functional Management

• Lead and develop a functionalized team of trade specialists responsible for document checking, compliance checks, and transaction processing.
• Drive productivity, quality assurance, and operational excellence across teams.
• Implement training programs to enhance trade expertise and compliance awareness.
• Foster a strong risk culture and accountability within the team.

Operational Governance and Process Improvement

• Establish robust operational controls, quality frameworks, and audit readiness.
• Track and report key operational metrics, risk indicators, and productivity benchmarks.
• Lead automation and process improvement initiatives to enhance efficiency and scalability.
• Support internal audits, regulatory reviews, and risk assessments.

Stakeholder Management

• Partner with Trade Product, Relationship Management, Compliance, Risk, and Technology teams.
• Provide subject matter expertise on trade finance operations and regulatory requirements.
• Support client servicing teams in resolving complex trade queries.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Bachelors degree in finance, Business, or related field; professional certifications preferred (e.g., CAMS, CDCS).
• 1518 years of experience in banking operations, with at least 5 years in a leadership role.
• Strong knowledge of banking products, operational workflows, risk and compliance.
• Experience with learning management systems (LMS) and e-learning tools is an advantage.
• Experience managing teams responsible for sanctions screening and trade compliance controls.

Skills & Competencies:

• Deep knowledge of trade finance products and regulatory frameworks
• Strong understanding of trade-based money laundering risks
• Expertise in sanctions compliance and transaction screening
• Operational risk management and control governance
• Leadership and people management
• Stakeholder engagement and cross-functional collaboration
• Process transformation and automation mindset

Success Measures:

• High accuracy and quality in document examination
• Effective identification and escalation of risk indicators
• Strong sanctions compliance with minimal regulatory findings
• Improved operational efficiency and turnaround times
• Development of a high-performing trade operations team

Leadership Expectations:

• Promote a culture of risk awareness, accountability, and continuous improvement
• Lead with integrity while balancing client service, operational efficiency, and regulatory compliance