The Division

The SME & Trade Finance Directorate (SME&TF) sits within the Business Group and is accountable for the development and delivery of UKEF’s short term business which includes our credit insurance offering.

SME&TF comprises the Export Development and Inclusive Trade Division, which includes the Export Finance Manager (EFM) network and the Inclusive Trade Team, the Short-Term Underwriting Team including Export Insurance, Post-Issue Management, and Business Group Operations.

Our Export Finance Managers are regional representatives of UKEF and are the valuable link for exporters, businesses with export potential, local and national stakeholders and DBT colleagues. They provide information on the types of finance available, the suite of UKEF products and support, and services and signposting to other sources of potential support where appropriate. The EFMs work closely with DBT and our stakeholder banks to ensure that awareness of UKEF's support reaches as many companies as possible, and with a particular regard to underserved business sectors.

About the Role

To make a significant contribution to the export growth in their region by the provision of support services on trade finance and credit insurance. To represent, promote and deliver UKEF support, products, and services to exporting businesses, stakeholders and counterparties including but not limited to:

UK exporters and international businesses with UK operations.

Banks (both UK high street and others) working with trade and relationship managers and directors.

Trade credit insurers brokers and underwriters and associated counterparties.

Other non-banking financial solution providers.

Trade associations including promotional material, events, and conferences.

International buyers and borrowers.

Professional firms including accountants and lawyers and other ‘intermediaries.

Local, national, and international chambers of commerce.

Foreign Embassies located in the UK

Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and their Devolved Administration equivalents, trade advisers, FCDO overseas representatives, activities and their DBT sector and market-based groups in their exporting initiatives.

Supporting Ministers at trade events, meeting exporters and providing information to them as part of a Ministerial brief.

Whilst this role is home based it will require regular travel across the full extent of the geographic patch advertised and, occasionally across the UK if required. Applicants should be able to travel independently from a home base which ideally is located within or close to the advertised territory.

Job description

To be an ambassador for UK Export Finance and to proactively seek to create opportunities to raise awareness of its range of products and services. This will be achieved through the development and delivery of tailored presentations and meetings which will aim to promote the UK Export Finance product range with exporters, trade finance intermediaries, insurance organisations and other related third parties. This will include the delivery of presentations to a large, public audiences, dealing with questions from audience, participating in panel discussions, round tables and seminars to bank and exporter multi-disciplinary and function teams, or trade associations.

Take personal ownership of the development of a strategy to develop the business opportunities in their region, taking account of local knowledge, using local contacts and network.

Through strong relationships develop business opportunities for UKEF and solutions for UK exporters which will help them grow their exports through the provision of support on trade finance and credit and payment protection matters.

Successfully drive trade finance, working capital, buyer finance and insurance solutions through positive actions with banks, exporters, and internal departments to maximise fulfilment of UKEF products or alternative solutions.

Fully evaluate the needs of the business and signpost them to banks, private sector credit insurers, brokers, and other trade support bodies, as appropriate, to facilitate finance and credit risk products to enable exports.

Proactively establish, develop and deepen a wide range of relationships with appropriate providers of trade finance and risk mitigation products (such as banks, credit insurers, brokers, and others) and to introduce clients who require their services.

Lead relationships with key Regional/sectoral DBT colleagues and other exporter delivery bodies, to support on export promotional activities. Act as the lead source of support to colleagues in the DBT and its clients in the region on trade finance, credit insurance and payment risk in markets around the world.

Raise awareness by identifying opportunities to develop and provide training/seminars in UK Export Finance products primarily to banks and other external third parties.

Proactively assist and contribute to product innovation and development within UKEF, to better support exporters needs by providing feedback from the market and our own innovative ideas.

Supporting exporters in individual discussions with banks, credit insurers and other international trade business support organisations, advocating UK Export Finance as part of the solution.

Work collaboratively with UKEF underwriters in supporting the understanding and structure of the export transaction and credit analysis requirements with a view to expediting approval for the benefit of exporters.

Work with the exporter to explore potential solutions to meet their needs and to enhance their export capacity and capability. If appropriate, analyse statutory company accounts and management accounts to determine most appropriate financial support for the client.

Develop a sound understanding of government policy as it relates to exports to ensure the ability to explain in simple language the impact to businesses and stakeholders in seeking to access UKEF support.

Work collaboratively with colleagues across the whole department to ensure UKEF remains a great place to work.

This list is not exhaustive, and you may be required to carry out additional duties according to business needs.

Person specification

UK Export Finance is looking for motivated individuals with a desire to learn about the business. Successful candidates will be provided not only with functional training to enable them to do well in their role, but also with personal development to help them to achieve their career ambitions