Associate - Financing Operations

Role Summary

The Associate – Loan Operations is responsible for managing and executing end-to-end loan processing and servicing activities for Bilateral and Syndicated loan transactions across multiple APAC entities, including Hong Kong, Singapore, Labuan, Taiwan, Tokyo, and Sydney. The role ensures the accurate and timely execution of loan drawdowns, rollovers, rate fixings, disbursements, and settlements, in strict compliance with bank policies, operational controls, and regulatory standards. The incumbent will collaborate closely with internal stakeholders such as Treasury, Syndication, and Finance teams to deliver seamless execution across the loan lifecycle while maintaining operational excellence and strong risk control discipline.

Key Responsibilities

Loan Processing & Execution

• Process loan drawdowns, rollovers, and rate fixings for both bilateral and syndicated loan transactions.
• Liaise with Treasury Traders for rate fixing and funding arrangements; coordinate fund movement reporting with Treasury Settlements.
• Execute loan disbursements to clients, ensuring accurate booking of drawdown and rollover transactions in Loan IQ within agreed timelines.

Accounting & Processing

• Prepare and post accounting entries related to loan disbursements, liability bookings, and settlements.
• Manage customer payments and ensure timely completion of all transactions under the assigned portfolio.
• Monitor and follow up on overdue principal, interest, and fee payments, ensuring proper escalation and recovery measures.

Settlements & Disbursements

• Arrange disbursements to risk participants, insurance companies, participating banks, and other contractual partners.
• Support the Loan Syndication Team in executing loan sell-downs (primary and secondary) and manage deal settlements efficiently.
• Handle audit confirmations pertaining to agency transactions.

Operational & System Support

• Participate in User Acceptance Testing (UAT) for new system implementations, enhancements, and migrations.
• Support regional offices in tracking outstanding documentation related to financing activities and generating periodic reports.
• Collaborate with Project and Change Management teams to implement market or client-driven changes without operational disruption.

Risk, Compliance & Control

• Ensure strict adherence to Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and uphold high standards of accuracy and control.
• Conduct root cause analyses for operational defects and implement continuous improvement initiatives.
• Identify potential operational risks and contribute to strengthening internal controls and regulatory compliance frameworks.

People & Process Management

• Foster a positive, collaborative, and high-performance team culture, encouraging continuous learning and professional growth.
• Demonstrate strong team-building and leadership skills, with the ability to motivate, mentor, and empower team members to deliver excellence.
• Possess strong project analysis and implementation exposure, ensuring effective execution of process improvement and transformation initiatives.
• Drive KPI tracking, productivity metrics, and business performance reporting, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and service quality benchmarks.
• Build operational capacity and domain depth within the team, ensuring stability, scalability, and readiness for new business requirements
• Promote a culture of accountability, innovation, and operational discipline across the function.

Qualifications and Education Requirements

• Experience: 4–9 years of experience in loan operations, agency, middle office and syndicated lending, or related banking operations.
• Regional Exposure: Experience managing cross-border loan operations across APAC markets preferred.
• Soft Skills: Strong coordination, communication, and stakeholder management skills to effectively engage with internal and external partners.

Skills and Competencies

• Loan IQ Expertise – Proficient in Loan IQ for end-to-end loan servicing and transaction lifecycle management (mandatory)
• Payment Systems Knowledge – Strong understanding of RTGS, CHATS, SWIFT messaging, and RMB cross-border transactions
• Banking Systems Exposure – Familiarity with Flexcube, Calypso, Matisse MSC, and Summit is an advantage
• Documentation Review – Strong ability to interpret facility agreements and extract operational details accurately
• Technical Proficiency – Skilled in Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint for reporting and analysis
• Analytical Mindset – Proven ability to identify and resolve operational or system-based issues through root cause analysis and process improvements

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