Job Description

The Head of Trade Finance leads Rieter's global trade finance function, ensuring best-in-class structures, processes, and risk management while enabling profitable growth. This role combines strategic leadership, strong stakeholder engagement, and deep technical expertise to safeguard financial stability and support business expansion worldwide.
Your Mission

• Lead, develop, and empower the Global Trade Finance team across multiple locations, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Drive process excellence and the digital transformation of trade finance activities to enhance efficiency, compliance, and transparency.
• Act as a strategic partner to Sales, Order-to-Cash, Treasury and Controlling, deliver innovative solutions that support sustainable growth and protect company interests.
• Build and maintain strong, long-term relationships with banks, insurers, and financial institutions to secure competitive trade finance solutions.
• Represent Rieter externally with professionalism and credibility, strengthening the company's reputation with customers and financial stakeholders.
• Ensure all trade transactions comply with Rieter's policies and global compliance framework.
• Manage collateral, cash management, and credit risk exposure to safeguard the company against financial and reputational losses.
• Oversee and secure trade finance documentation, including letters of credit, guarantees, receivables, commercial contracts, and bills of exchange.
• Ensure robust Know Your Customer (KYC) and due diligence processes in collaboration with Sales, Compliance, and Legal functions.
• Support Trade Compliance activities to ensure adherence to international trade regulations, sanctions regimes, and export control requirements.
• Monitor global trade finance trends, competitor practices, and emerging instruments to keep Rieter at the forefront of best-in-class solutions.
• Introduce innovative financing structures that support profitable growth and evolving customer needs.

Your Story

• Master's degree in Business Administration, Economics, or Finance, ideally with specialization in Trade Finance.
• Proven track record in a senior trade finance leadership role within an international capital goods or machinery company.
• Comprehensive knowledge of trade finance instruments (e.g., L/C, bank guarantees, structured finance, transactional trade finance) and regulations such as Incoterms.
• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to balance growth opportunities and financial risk management.
• Demonstrated success in building strategic partnerships with banks, insurers, and authorities.
• Experience leading multicultural teams across geographies; ability to inspire, influence, and drive change.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate complexity into clear recommendations and actionable decisions.
• Excellent communication skills in English and German; additional languages such as Chinese, French, or Spanish are a strong asset.
• Solid knowledge of ERP systems (preferably SAP with focus on FI/CO and SD) and digital trade finance tools.

Our Promises

• An international working environment with long tradition.
• Versatile activity in a future-oriented environment with a lot of self-responsibility.
• Good development opportunities and fair employment conditions.
• A motivated team with mutual respect and good cooperation.

Job ID: 2509241207ab
Business: Corporate Functions
Country: Switzerland
Company: Rieter
Functional Area: Finance & Controlling
Entry Level: Manager
Contract type: Unlimited
Location: Winterthur
Nevenka Apollonio
Global HR Business Partner
Rieter AG
Klosterstrasse 20
8406 Winterthur
+41 52 208 7622
www.rieter.com
If you are interested in an exciting and varied work environment and have the qualifications listed above, we look forward to receiving your online application.

Skills Required