Executive Director, Client Coverage – International Banking, Switzerland

JOB PURPOSE:

The candidate is responsible for building, managing, and expanding relationships with commodity trading clients. The role focuses on portfolio growth through onboarding new clients and deepening engagement with existing ones. The candidate will originate and manage transactions across product lines, ensure robust risk management, and contribute to the strategic objectives of the country and sector.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES:

Client Relationships:

• Develop and maintain strong, trust-based relationships with commodity trading clients, ensuring exceptional service and responsiveness. Gain a deep understanding of client organizations and establish credibility with key decision-makers.
• Formulate and take ownership of client strategies in collaboration with internal stakeholders (Sector Head, Segment Head, GRM/NRM, Product partners).
• Manage daily interactions with clients and provide superior client service. Coordinate and resolve conflicts as they arise and manage expectations professionally.

Business Development:

• Identify and pursue new business opportunities within the commodities trading segment, in line with the bank’s risk appetite and strategic goals.
• Originate, structure, and manage transactions across trade finance, corporate finance, and global markets in coordination with relevant product partners. This is not a CTF-centric but a global coverage role.
• Drive portfolio growth by onboarding new clients and expanding the scope of services with existing clients, working with the FAB network for identifying cross-network opportunities.
• Promote cross-selling of the bank’s full suite of products, including corporate finance, structured finance, cash management, treasury, and other relevant offerings.
• Maintain accurate and reliable pipeline reporting for discussing same with Sector Head, Segment Head and senior management as needed.
• Meet budget and return targets.

Transaction management:

• Oversee the end-to-end transaction process, including documentation, internal approvals, booking and timely delivery to clients.
• Supervise credit, administration and operational aspects of the transactions, resolving conflicts as required.
• Commodity-finance specific: review drawdown requests and provide/obtain internal approvals in compliance with facility terms and conditions in coordination with product partners. Follow-up execution process with enablement and support teams, resolving conflicts as required.
• Examine and resolve credit, market and operational risk aspects of the transactions in collaboration with products and enablement units.

Credit:

• Maintain ownership of credit files and approval processes, including Capital Allocation Committee and Credit Committee related work. Lead the agenda to ensure timely delivery of new transactions and spot or annual credit reviews.
• Conduct credit assessments and coordinate the credit application and approval process with relevant stakeholders.
• Formulate thorough proposals and business plans in coordination with Credit, product and coverage partners.
• Provide necessary approvals within local delegations as needed (deviations, exceptions, etc).

Risk Management:

• Act as first line of defense for the Bank.
• Monitor and maintain the credit quality of the portfolio under management, detecting and managing early warning signals.
• Oversee client acceptance, on-boarding and ongoing due diligence, submitting and reviewing documentation requirements.
• Maintain customer knowledge and documentation up to standards, including call reports.

Internal Collaboration:

• Work closely with product partners, risk, legal, compliance, and other internal teams to deliver comprehensive solutions to clients.
• Ensure effective information flow and maintain organized records in accordance with established processes.

Job Context:

• Prepare timely and accurate reports for management and regulatory purposes.
• Provide relevant market insights and intelligence to senior management as required.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE:

Minimum Experience

• Minimum 8-10 years of customer-facing experience within a coverage department of a commodities-oriented bank, with strong exposure to large commodity trading houses.

Minimum Qualification

• Strong knowledge of the commodities trading industry.
• Strong knowledge and experience of trade finance, commodity finance, and structured finance products (including prepayments and pre-financing facilities). Demonstrated experience in negotiating terms and conditions, drafting and reviewing term sheets and facility agreements.
• Strong knowledge and experience of non-CTF product suites (corporate finance, DCM, project finance, market products).
• Solid understanding of financial statement analysis and credit assessments.
• Proven ability to work independently and collaboratively in complex, cross-border environments.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to lead negotiations with C-Suite executives.

JOB KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Excellent collaborative skills, this is a job requiring interaction with multiple stakeholders in an open architecture workplace. No “silo” attitude.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills.
• Ability to work independently yet collaboratively.
• High sensitivity to deadlines and strong ability to cope with a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent time and resource management capacities. Adaptable to change and shifting priorities.
• Adopt a “can do” attitude in the face of problems, ability to take charge.