STRUCTURED TRADE FINANCE ASSOCIATE

STRUCTURED TRADE FINANCE ASSOCIATE

Country: Spain

IT STARTS HERE

Santander (www.santander.com) is evolving from a global, high-impact brand into a technology-driven organization, and our people are at the heart of this journey. Together, we are driving a customer-centric transformation that values bold thinking, innovation, and the courage to challenge what’s possible.

This is more than a strategic shift. It’s a chance for driven professionals to grow, learn, and make a real difference.

Our mission is to contribute to help more people and businesses prosper. We embrace a strong risk culture and all our professionals at all levels are expected to take a proactive and responsible approach toward risk management.

Santander Corporate & Investment Banking (Santander CIB) is Santander's global division that supports some of the world's most complex and sophisticated corporate and institutional clients, offering customized services and value-added wholesale products to best meet their needs.

THE DIFFERENCE YOU MAKE

SCIB is looking for a Structured Trade Finance Associate based out of Madrid.

The Structured Trade Finance team specializes in designing sophisticated financing solutions to facilitate international trade, particularly transactions involving commodities. Our solutions are tailored to address the complexities and uncertainties inherent in global trade.

Our solutions aim to tackle strategic needs of our clients, leveraging on trade flows: (i) Export Prepayments (ii) Structured PXFs (iii) Borrowing Bases and (iv) Inventory Finance, (v) Contract Monetisation, and (vi) Aircraft Pre-Delivery Payments, but also out-of-the-box solutions tailored to special event-driven situations. Our business is firmly anchored in the real economy.  The team is pursuing a transformational approach — already backed by a proven track record — applying structured trade solutions to finance C-suite strategic decisions such as acquisitions, CAPEX investments, strategic sourcing, and liability management.

If you have an innovative mindset and want to join a growing franchise that continues to evolve and has become one of the key growth engines of Santander’s Global Transaction Banking division, this is your opportunity!

We’re shaping the way we work through innovation, cutting-edge technology, collaboration and the freedom to explore new ideas. To succeed in this role, you will be responsible for:

• Lead the end-to-end structuring and legal execution of structured trade deals, fronting negotiations with clients while coordinating interactions with internal stakeholders (Risks, Legal, Middle Office).
• Conduct thorough due diligence on underlying transactions (including financial modelling, asset and reserve analysis, offtake contracts, and annual reports), and proposing enhancements to optimize transaction structures.
• Drive origination efforts in collaboration with Structured Trade team members across Santander’s global offices and with Relationship Managers. Preparing detailed client presentations and pitches to capture new opportunities.
• Navigate and resolve structuring, accounting, risk, and legal challenges throughout the lifecycle of transactions.
• Lead product development initiatives to strengthen the Structured Trade franchise, including managing internal product approvals.
• Develop specialized commodities sector expertise, being a key aspect to propose new ideas and gain client trust.
• Our strategy also relies on the collaboration with other SCIB areas combining our structured trade solutions with the wider SCIB offering (ECA-finance, Structured Finance, Markets). Good management of these stakeholders is also crucial.

WHAT YOU’LL BRING

Our people are our greatest strength. Every individual contributes unique perspectives that make us stronger as a team and as an organization. We’re enabling teams to go beyond by valuing who they are and empowering what they bring.

The following requirements represent the knowledge, skills, and abilities essential for success in this role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Professional Experience

• At least 4 years of accredited professional experience in structured trade finance, commodity finance or project finance
• Previous experience in law firms or accounting consultancy firms are highly valued
• International experience will be a plus.

 Education

• We welcome diverse academic backgrounds. Degrees in Economics or Finance are equally valued as degrees in Engineering or Law, reflecting the multidisciplinary and problem-solving nature of the role.

Languages

• Fluency in spoken and written English and Spanish. Additional languages are a plus.

Skills

• Knowledge of trade and commodity finance, export finance, or project finance.
• Legal background, accounting expertise, and capital markets knowledge are advantageous.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (particularly Excel and PowerPoint).

WE VALUE YOUR IMPACT

Your contribution matters, and it’s recognized. You can expect a fair, competitive reward package that reflects the impact you create and the value you deliver. But we know rewards go beyond numbers.

• We’re enable our teams to go beyond through global opportunities and broad career paths.
• Flexibility that works. Enjoy a hybrid working models—some days remote, some days onsite with your team—along with flexible hours.
• Learning for life. Access hundreds of courses on our platforms, including exclusive access to our global learning space: Santander Open Academy (www.santanderopenacademy.com)
• Competitive rewards. Receive a highly competitive salary with performance-based bonuses, motivating you to keep growing with us.
• Financial advantages. Benefit from preferential banking terms, special interest rates on loans, life insurance, and more.
• Your health is our priority. Through BeHealthy, our global wellness programme, we promote Holistic wellbeing.
• We know family is everything. That’s why we offer childcare support and family-friendly programmes tailored to each life stage.
• Always by your side. Get access to Santander Contigo, our program for employees and their families offering legal, emotional, and administrative advisory services.
• Extra benefits. Gym/WellHub membership, medical centers in some of our facilities, meal subsidy, parking, shuttle service from various points in Madrid, as well as exclusive discounts and offers for Santander employees. And that’s only the beginning—we’ll tell you more when you join!

We’re here to keep you motivated, help you reach your goals, and celebrate your progress, every step of the way.

LOCAL COMPLIANCE

Santander is proud of being an organization where there are equal opportunities regardless of age, gender, disability, civil status, race, religion or sexual orientation. We are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible application process for all candidates.

WHAT TO DO NEXT

If this sounds like a role you are interested in, then please apply.
 

READY TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP IN YOUR JOURNEY?

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