Trade Product Head - Compliance

Role Overview

We are seeking a Trade Product Head - Compliance to lead the strategy, governance, regulatory alignment, and operational compliance of our trade products across payments, documentation, and financing. This senior leadership role is responsible for translating RBI Master Directions, FEMA regulations and FTDR into live platform rules, product design, pricing, and frontline enablement, while leading operational compliance to ensure every transaction meets regulatory standards without slowing growth.

The role requires balancing compliance-first execution with commercial objectives, driving usage, income, and digital adoption to ensure Trade Pes trade products remain both market-relevant and regulatorily sound.

Key Responsibilities

Product Governance & Strategy

• Codify RBI Master Directions, FEMA guidelines, and FTDR into internal policies, SOPs, and eligibility rules.
• Define product roadmap, pricing, waiver policies, and P&L ownership ensuring compliance is embedded at design stage.
• Oversee trade finance instruments including LCs, collections, guarantees, trade credits and EEFC accounts.

Regulatory Leadership

• Implement a FEMA-first framework covering repatriation timelines, realization evidence, advance/receipt conditions, and hedging eligibility.
• Lead readiness for RBIs 2025 consolidated Trade Regulations gap assessments, process redesign, training.
• Act as the subject matter authority on cross border trade regulations, FEMA reporting and FX linked compliance.

Compliance & Operational Controls

• Establish TBML and sanctions frameworks (risk ratings, red flag triggers, escalation paths).
• Ensure EDPMS/IDPMS reporting discipline, with accurate transaction tagging, closure of entries, and exception management.
• Oversee operational compliance for trade credits, advances, and deferred payments in line with FEMA guidelines

Commercial & Frontline Enablement

• Train RMs, partners, and clients on documentation, requirements and compliance-first solutioning.
• Establish pricing frameworks, tolerance bands, and approval matrices that balance compliance with market competitiveness.
• Support sales in structuring compliant trade finance deals.

Digital & Operation Alignment

• Embed rules engines for FEMA/TBML validations into the platform.
• Automate EDF/eBRC submissions, inward remittance reconciliations, and trade documentation workflows.
• Drive adoption of digital compliance-first solutions among clients and partner banks.

Key KPIs

• Regulatory performance: RBI observations, FEMA reporting accuracy, EDPMS/IDPMS pendency within thresholds, timely closure of EDF/BRC/realisation cases, TBML/AML red-flag detection and resolution, and readiness for RBIs 2025 Trade Regulations.
• Product performance: Trade income, LC/BG issuance, bill lodgements, FX hedge attachment rates.
• Digital adoption: Uptake of compliance-first workflows, automation of remittance/trade documentation, and reduction in manual exception handling.

Ideal Background

• 20+ years of leadership experience in trade operations, compliance and product governance at AD-I banks, fintechs, or large trade institutions.
• Strong knowledge of RBI Master Directions, FEMA regulations, and global AML/TBML frameworks.
• Exposure to structured trade finance, SCF, factoring, forfaiting, and derivative-linked solutions.
• Proven track record of product ownership, P&L responsibility, and regulatory governance.
• Strong stakeholder management with RBI, AD-I banks, and global correspondent partners.
• Credentials preferred: CDCS, CTFP, CTFC, CITF, CSDG, IIFT/financial certifications or equivalent.