Precious Metals Trade Finance Officer

Main purpose:
Trafigura is seeking an expert Trade Finance Officer to join our team in Geneva. Candidate needs to feel comfortable in a fast‑paced environment, utilising experience and skills to handle large trading volumes and high‑pressure deadlines.

• Good understanding of LBMA/COMEX standards, Vaulting process, international bullion markets and refining/tolling processes.
• Handling of unallocated/allocated accounts, lease agreements/financing, precious repos.
• Weekly monitoring and mark to market of any stock positions.
• Ensuring timely processing of payments together with running cash positions with the banks.
• Risk covering sales where necessary with banks and/or insurance.
• Review and issuance of L/Cs or Bank Guarantees for the group purchases of commodities.
• Analysing financing requirements and negotiating with banks to place transactions under borrowing bases, bilateral facilities or repurchase agreements.
• Monitoring utilisation and decision making for financing optimization.
• Negotiation and documentation of financing facilities instruments.
• Preparation and dispatch of invoices and original documents for payment under documentary letters of credit received from buyers.
• Finding and structuring the most appropriate and cost‑effective banking solutions for physical trading activities.
• Controlling and monitoring risks related to the daily purchases and sales of commodities.
• Handling new trades and flows in close coordination with commercial and operations departments.
• Acquiring bank lines and establishing new banking relationships (entities, products) as and where necessary.
• Participating in the training of junior team members.
• Assessing physical transactions for risk and compatibility for relevant financing facilities.
• Reporting on credit/performance exposure and risk related to finance management.
• Handling all aspects of LCs and collections.
• Reviewing and approving spot and term contracts and tenders for finance‑associated risks.

• Minimum five years within a trading company or financial institution with a strong understanding of trade finance instruments and pitfalls.
• Fluent English.
• Experience in the precious metals market with expertise in handling financing requirements related to precious metals.
• Capability to handle complicated transactions and engage banks outside of standard procedures (e.g., how to finance it, how to involve operations, establish banking facilities).
• Understanding of various risks involved in day‑to‑day operations and good knowledge of INCOTERMS.

• Additional language knowledge.

• Attention to detail while summarising information and seeing the global picture.
• Excellent communication skills, both externally and internally, including occasional reporting to finance senior management.
• Strong logical and analytical skills.
• Proactive, able to establish positive relationships with banks, match each deal with the best bank’s profile, negotiate rates, and maintain cost awareness.
• Problem‑solving and innovative thinker: challenges trader financing structure proposals and suggests improvements.
• Calm under pressure, reacts quickly and remains confident.
• Establishes a robust communication network to keep all parties informed throughout the trade cycle.

• Fast paced: intraday execution with hard deadlines.
• High pressure: same‑day contract, payment, and delivery cycles.
• Multi‑channel: simultaneous teams, group emails, phone calls.
• High value: low volume but high value requires precision and fraud awareness.
• Cross‑functional: constant interaction with various departments involved in the trading process.

• Traders, Operations, Treasury, Compliance, Banks, Counter parties, Insurance, Credit, Deals Desk, Derivative Operations, Other finance departments.

Reporting directly to the Head of Trade Finance for Metals, Minerals & Bulk.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and take pride in a diverse workforce. We do not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or other employment practices for reasons of race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital or veteran status, medical condition or handicap, disability, or any other legally protected status.