Export Finance Manager (London)

The SME & Trade Finance Division (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 Strategic Sectors Division, which includes the Export Finance Manager (EFM) network, 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., 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 (SMEs, MSBs, LSEs) 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, FCO 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.
+ If applicable, work with the Devolved Administration Governments such as The Northern Ireland Assembly, Welsh & Scottish Governments
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.

Person specification
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 audience, dealing with questions from an audience, participating in panel discussions, round tables and seminars to bank and exporter multi-disciplinary and function teams, or trade associations.
- To 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 and insurance solutions through positive actions with banks, exporters, and internal departments to maximize fulfilment of UKEF products or alternative solutions.
- To 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.
- To 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 and 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.
- To 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.
- To 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.
- To 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.

Licences
Full UK Driving Licence, All applications will be sifted against our essential criteria outlined in the personal specification.
+ Statement of suitability - you should fully articulate in 750 words how you meet the essential criteria outlined in the person specification within the Information Pack.
For the initial sift your application will be evaluated against:
1. Experience - CV, Application and Statement of Suitability.
In the event of a high volume of applications, an initial sift will be carried out on the following essential criteria:
+ Experience working with trading businesses of all sizes and developing business opportunities by building relationships and trust.
+ Relationship Management skills.
+ An understanding of current international trade practice.
If you are successful following the sift stage, you will be invited to an initial interview; this will include the following assessment:
1. Behaviours/Experience - a formal panel interview where you will be interviewed across all four behaviours highlighted.
2. Technical - A short presentation covering the behaviour Seeing The Big Picture which will need to be prepared in advance).
Details of interview panel members will be e-mailed to all successful candidates who are invited for interview.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
+ UK nationals
+ nationals of the Republic of Ireland
+ nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
+ nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
+ nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
+ individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
+ Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

+ Leadership
+ Managing a Quality Service
+ Communicating and Influencing
+ Working Together

Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
+ A short presentation covering the behaviour Seeing The Big Picture which will need to be prepared in advance.

£62,245
The London salary for this role is £62,245
The National salary for this role £57,057
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.
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
GBP, Alongside your salary of £62,245, UK Export Finance contributes £18,032 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
+ Learning and development tailored to your role
+ An environment with flexible working options
+ A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
+ A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%