Head of Trade Services

City National Bank of Florida•Miami, FL

About The Position

Trade Services /Trade Finance Product Head is responsible for providing overall leadership, strategic direction, managing the P&L and ensuring operational excellence for the bank’s trade Business. This role oversees the end‑to-end execution of trade transactions including letters of credit, collections, guarantees, and related financing while ensuring adherence to international regulations, ICC rules, and internal risk policies. The Trade Head also plays a pivotal role in the strategic development, management, and enhancement of trade finance products and services to ensure they remain competitive, compliant, and aligned with evolving market needs. Working closely with internal stakeholders, clients, and external partners, the position ensures seamless delivery of trade services and actively contributes to strengthening the bank’s trade finance/services offering.

Requirements

8-10 years experience in trade, operations, trade services, or trade finance, with extensive exposure to documentary credits, collections, guarantees, and trade documentation.
Extensive knowledge of trade finance products including Letters of Credit, Standby LCs, Documentary Collections, Guarantees, Supply Chain Finance, and trade-related financing structures.
Ability to lead and develop teams, drive performance, delegate effectively, and build a high performing culture.
Clear, professional, and effective communication skills, with the ability to interact confidently with internal stakeholders, clients, correspondent banks, and auditors.
Strong familiarity with global sanctions, AML/KYC requirements, and regulatory frameworks impacting trade operations.
Strong problem solving skills and demonstrated ability to take initiative and critically analyze processes and procedures in a push toward constant improvement
Independent decision making and strong control mindset.

Nice To Haves

Certified Documentary Credit Specialist (CDCS) preferred.
Certified Trade Finance Professional (CTFP) preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead and oversee all trade finance/services processing activities to ensure accuracy, efficiency, and compliance.
Define and implement operational policies, procedures, controls, and service standards to ensure efficiency, consistency, and regulatory compliance.
Elaborate Product programs and Product Team job descriptions and org chart, Manage the trade execution team, ensuring strong performance, clear prioritization, and operational continuity.
Work with operations to elaborate review and implement the operative process aligned to bank processes and International Rules.
Ensure full compliance with internal risk policies, ICC rules (UCP 600, URC 522, URDG 758, ISP98), and applicable international regulations, escalating issues as required.
Liaise with internal stakeholders including business units, risk, compliance, legal, internal audit, and operations leadership to support governance, audits, and process improvements.
Ensure the operative process and Guidelines in place, ensuring guidelines and procedures in place for the day to day trade services/finance operations, guiding staff through complex cases and supporting effective resolution of documentation, processing, or settlement issues.
Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) such as turnaround time, error rates, discrepancy rates, and SLA adherence; develop action plans to improve performance and operational quality.
Review from the product perspective and for the operative process the entitlements and process for the authorization for the complex or high value transactions, ensuring accuracy, appropriate documentation, and adherence to trade regulations and bank policies.
Work closely with sales, product, corporate finance, logistics/trade desks, compliance, and technology teams to ensure smooth trade execution and alignment with product and business goals.