Our client, African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is seeking to recruit a Regional Representative for the Caribbean Office based in Barbados. This is a permanent full-time position. For more information on the Afreximbank please visit their website www.afreximbank.com.
The Regional Representative will help the Bank achieve its mission, “stimulating a consistent expansion of and diversification of African/Caribbean trade so as to rapidly increase Africa’s share of global trade, while operating as a first class, profit oriented, socially responsible financial institution and a centre of excellence in African/Caribbean trade matters”, by developing opportunities for business development in trade projects and export development finance at the regional level and providing leadership for various branch administrative matters as may be required in liaison with the Administrative Services department.
Nature and Scope:
The candidate will be required to prepare annual strategic and marketing plans for the Caribbean, North and South American region and lead the implementation of these plans for the achievement of the Bank’s objectives in these areas. The Regional Representative will also be required to supervise Client Relations Managers and Associates and identify the Bank’s key/core customers for this region and create Account Management Plans for the top 20 customers in the Branch for the purpose of maximising cross selling of the Bank’s products and services.
Reporting to the Director & Global Head, Client Relations, the Regional Representative is responsible for leading and providing direction to the Client Relations Managers in the Branch on implementation of business plans, client account plans and strategies; managing a strong team of client relations bankers and accountable for the overall profit and loss of the Branch.
Key Responsibilities:
• Manages a portfolio of clients with deliberate cultivation based on proactive individualized plans. These plans would be developed in coordination with the product teams and should be designed to increase client engagement.
• Provides client service to each client or government organisation. This includes responding to client inquiries in a timely and courteous manner.
• Leads Branch Client Relations team members to accomplish functional goals to ensure high level client service. This includes coaching team members.
• Is responsible for deal team coordination across the Bank’s products and geographies. • Finds out what information, products or services the customer requires to meet his/her needs, providing clear, accurate and relevant information.
• Maintains a strong working knowledge of client portfolios / products with the Bank.
• Resolves customers’ queries within agreed authority.
• Produces file notes after any client meetings, summarising any additional actions required, including follow-up calls.
• Plans sales activities, including reviewing existing customer files to identify sales opportunities.
• Undertakes commercial negotiations.
• Manages new business pitches.
• Complies with legal requirements, industry regulations, organisational policies and professional codes.
• Prepares annual Regional Strategic and Marketing Plans derived from the Bank’s Strategic Plan for Management’s Approval.
• Leads implementation of marketing plans as approved by the Bank and actively secures mandates and business in the region.
• Implements strategies for entering various segments of the trade finance market and investment banking in the region.
• Evaluates and reviews new business Pre-Assessment Memos and Credit Proposals from the region, Product teams and Head Office and makes recommendations on the same to the Director & Global Head Client Relations.
• Represents the Bank in high level meetings and fora and makes presentations in conformity with the high standards for which the Bank has become known.
• Manages staff, Bank’s assets and property at the Branch in liaison with the Administrative Services Department.
• Maintains and improves the Bank’s image across the Caribbean, North and South American region.
Knowledge and Skills Requirements:
• Post graduate degree in Business Administration, Banking or Finance from a recognised University or a recognised post graduate professional qualification in Banking. • Sound experience of at least 10 years with a leading financial services organisation and familiarity with the major trade finance products to be offered to clients especially syndication, co-financing, club deals, correspondent banking products including letters of credit, factoring, forfaiting, structured trade finance, carbon financing, corporate finance risk participations, project-related financing and considerable knowledge of how this work. • Ability to communicate and function in a culturally diverse and change oriented setting with good knowledge of banking practices in the Caribbean, North and South American region Africa.
• Ability to interact with senior officials of banks, corporates and governments and to represent the Bank in important professional fora where oral presentation of papers will be necessary to high level technical and professional audiences.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English. Knowledge of the Bank’s other working languages is an added advantage (French, Arabic and Portuguese). • Demonstrated leadership capabilities, including ability to organise and manage human resources to attain goals.
Candidates interested in this exciting opportunity should send their Curriculum Vitae with full details of their experience, qualifications, and the names and contact details of two business references to reach no later than August 3, 2023.
