Trade Finance Associate

ABOUT LALCO TRADING

LALCO Trading is a Singapore-based global commodity trading company specialising in the sourcing and distribution of essential commodities across key sectors. Our primary business revolves around the global trade and efficient distribution of agriculture products, edible oils, frozen meat, industrial scrap, minerals & mining materials, and pharmaceuticals. We partner with suppliers and buyers across the world to ensure reliable supply chains and high standards of trade excellence.

ROLE OVERVIEW

We are seeking an experienced and meticulous Trade Finance Associate to join our finance team at our Great World City office. In this role, you will be responsible for the processing and settlement of a full range of documentary trade and trade finance transactions, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and international trade finance rules. You will play a key role in supporting the company's global commodity trading operations.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES1. Documentary Trade and Financing Execution

• Process and settle documentary trade transactions, including import and export letters of credit, advising, confirmation, amendments, negotiation and documentary collections.
• Handle transferable and back-to-back letters of credit, LC financing, bill discounting, invoice financing, forfaiting or factoring and other approved trade finance products.
• Review trade contracts and proposed payment structures; translate commercial terms into bank applications, documentary requirements, settlement actions and control milestones.
• Prepare and submit accurate instructions to banks and coordinate with Trading, Logistics, Finance, counterparties and banking partners until final settlement and document release.
• Maintain maturity, acceptance and payment trackers; follow up outstanding items and escalate delays, discrepancies, rejected documents or funding issues promptly.

2. Document Examination and Transaction Controls

• Examine documents against LC terms, applicable ICC rules and agreed transaction requirements, including UCP 600, ISBP, URC 522 and Incoterms 2020 where relevant.
• Cross-check commercial invoices, packing lists, bills of lading, certificates of origin, insurance documents, weight and quality certificates and other supporting records for consistency.
• Apply maker-checker, approval, document-release and payment controls; ensure exceptions are documented and approved by the appropriate authority before further processing.
• Maintain a complete, accurate and audit-ready electronic record for each transaction, covering contracts, approvals, applications, bank correspondence, documents, discrepancies and settlement evidence.

3. Compliance and Financial Crime Controls

• Confirm that required KYC, commodity, transaction and compliance approvals are in place before submitting bank instructions, releasing documents or processing settlement.
• Perform or verify sanctions screening and AML red-flag checks when assigned, using approved systems and covering relevant counterparties, banks, vessels, ports, intermediaries and jurisdictions.
• Identify and promptly escalate potential sanctions matches, trade-based money laundering indicators, unusual payment requests, document inconsistencies, third-party involvement or other suspicious features to Compliance.
• Do not override screening alerts, compliance conditions or rejected transactions; support Compliance reviews, investigations and information requests with complete and timely records.

4. Workflow, Systems and IT Projects

• Design, document, implement and maintain end-to-end trade finance workflows, SOPs, checklists, templates, approval matrices and escalation routes suitable for a growing commodity trading firm.
• Actively participate in system development and IT projects involving CTRM, ERP, treasury, banking and document-management solutions, including requirements definition, workflow validation, user acceptance testing, implementation and enhancements.
• Help establish reliable transaction master data, system controls, exception logs, maturity reports and management dashboards; identify and resolve data or process gaps.
• Train new staff and relevant users on approved workflows, systems, documentary standards and control requirements.

1. Start-up Collaboration

• Work independently in a lean team and coordinate closely with Trading, Logistics, Finance and Compliance to resolve time-sensitive transaction issues.
• Provide concise updates on transaction status, bank utilisation, outstanding acceptances, maturities, discrepancies and material exceptions.
• Undertake other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the superior from time to time, in support of the company's evolving business needs.

MUST-HAVE REQUIREMENTS

• At least 3 years of hands-on trade finance experience involving physical commodity transactions, gained in a commodity trading firm or a bank trade finance function supporting commodity clients.
• Strong working knowledge of letters of credit, documentary collections and trade financing, together with UCP 600, ISBP, URC 522 and Incoterms 2020.
• Demonstrated ability to examine shipping documents, identify discrepancies and manage transactions through acceptance, maturity and settlement.
• Working understanding of sanctions, AML/CFT and trade-based money laundering risks relevant to commodity transactions and cross-border payments.
• Demonstrated ability to create and implement workflows, SOPs, checklists and operational controls, and willingness to participate actively in systems and IT projects.
• Strong Microsoft Excel capability and confidence working with CTRM, ERP, banking portals and electronic document repositories.

KEY START-UP DELIVERABLES

• Establish an approved end-to-end trade finance workflow with clear ownership, control points, service standards and escalation routes.
• Implement standard bank-instruction templates, document-checking and settlement checklists, maturity trackers and exception records.
• Define and validate trade finance requirements and controls for relevant system implementation or enhancement projects.
• Produce reliable reporting on transaction status, facility utilisation, maturities, discrepancies and unresolved operational risks.

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE

• Experience with bulk and containerised commodity trades, complex LC structures, structured trade facilities or multi-bank arrangements.
• Familiarity with ICC rules beyond the core requirements, SWIFT messages, marine insurance, commodity documentation and payment-stage sanctions controls.
• Experience establishing or improving trade finance operations in a start-up, new trading desk or rapidly growing organisation.

EDUCATION AND CORE COMPETENCIES

• Diploma or degree in Banking, Finance, Accounting, International Trade, Business or a related discipline; relevant professional trade finance qualifications are advantageous.
• Meticulous, organised and solutions-oriented, with sound judgement and the ability to manage multiple deadlines under pressure.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, with the confidence to challenge discrepancies and escalate control concerns promptly.

SKILLS & COMPETENCIES

· Meticulous and highly detail-oriented with the ability to spot discrepancies in complex documentation

· Ability to multitask and thrive in a fast-paced, deadline-driven trading environment

· Good communication and interpersonal skills for liaising with banks, counterparties, and internal teams

· Excellent organisational and time-management skills

· Strong understanding of AML red flags and compliance best practices in trade finance

· Self-motivated with the ability to work independently and as part of a team

POSITION DETAILS

• Job Title: Trade Finance Associate
• Employment Type: Permanent (Full-Time)
• Work Location: Great World City Office Tower, Singapore
• Salary Range: SGD 4,500 – 6,500 per month (commensurate with experience)
• Work Arrangement: On-site

job

Pay: $4,500.00 - $6,500.00 per month

Work Location: In person