Gihan Amaratunga

VP - Wholesale Operation Readiness for Group (Singapore, Hong Kong , Thailand , Indonesia , China)

Project details - Implementation of a New Financial Supply Chain System and Documentary Trade

Responsible for the quality of Software Delivery while ensuring Operational and Business Readiness

• Manage UAT testing in new TRD system - Testing for three cycles and Regression
• Coordinate with stake holders(Products) to complete target operating models activities (Application /Internal hand offs, simulation)
• Preparation the TO BE system process flows for the respective operation centers
• Analyze the risk related matters and table issue in the Project Working Committee meeting
• Coordinate with the vendor for defect fixes and meet target date for project deliveries
• Analyze Downstream and Upstream system capabilities
• Identified issues with production, workforce and material sourcing and implemented successful solutions.
• Resolved issues and recommended actions based on production and compliance reports.

Team Manager - Global Trade & Receivable finance Dept(GCB 05)

Established the Core Trade Investigation Team in UAE (SNAG) – Carry out HUB/HIE system investigations for operational entries, AML & Sanction risk

• Daily monitoring and review of G/L, Nostro ,Suspense and FI accounts
• Reconciliation of Trade accounts in HIE/HUB and escalate imbalances to Global HUB team
• Frequently engage with Global HUB team to obtain access for HSBC universal Banking System
• Investigate and escalate issue related account imbalances, HUB/HIE system issues to Global HUB Support
• Manage operational activities and challenges/queries of HUB support teams to establish a robust operational model and lead team to deliver excellent service(Global HUB Core Banking Support)
  
• Conduct training's on investigations and handling of customer queries/complains
• Support the transformation team to digitize the reconciliation process in HIE/HUB, WDM
• Report/Escalate deficiencies/discrepancies in the policies to the Global standard team

PIC - Export and Imports Team

• Servicing HSBC Group offices in United Arab Emirates, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar.

• Managing experienced CDCS qualified documents checkers(People Manager)

• Authorizing transactions and checking Import/Export documents , Forfeiting,Factoring,Packing Credit, Commitment to Negotiate and Clean import loans within the limit of USD 30 Million.

• Conduct training sessions to develop the knowledge of GOP related to Sanctions & AML

• Identification of Under/over invoicing,Ghost shipment ,Unusual pricing ,Black list entities,High risk Goods & Countries ,Adverse Sea searcher/IMB reports

• Work closely with BRCM to carry out the quality assurance checks of post transactions and to ensure the transactions processed are in line with the Global operating Procedure.

• Prepare and present the Financial Crime Risk Dashboard to the management and highlight the impacted segments.

Worked closely with the Products and IT teams to implement Value added Tax(VAT) in UAE & Bahrain

• Coordinate with products team to launch the VAT system in ME HIE

• Understand and conduct training on the Exclusive & Inclusive VAT system(Stake holders)

• Automate the VAT system for all Global Trade Finance products to mitigate the regulatory risk and responsibilities to the UAE Central bank regulation.

Completed a project on the Digitization & Transformation of entire Trade Finance business(Block Chain)

Block Chain - System that connects all stake holders in to a secured online network system, which permits to carry out business under one platform.(Banks, Shipping companies, Insurance companies, Clients & other Government entities etc.)

• Authorization of Issuance of Import Letters of Credit and Amendments(SBLC)

• Checking the Workability / Vetting of the Documentary credits, Packing Credits ,Clean Import Loans ,Shipping Guarantees ,Forfeiting ,Factoring ,Packing Credit, Commitment to Negotiate

• Checking of Import and Export transactions ,and authorizing Forfeiting transactions, Factoring , Packing Credit, Commitment to Negotiate and  Clean import loans(Within a limit of USD 2.7M)

• Correspondence with on shore/off shore business partners of respective regions and handling of day to day challenges and communications and updates

• Vetting of forfeiting financing documents and coordinating with stake holders to obtain competitive rates.

• Post shipment financing facilities for Financial Institution (Funded & Unfunded)

• Escalate AML or sanction concern to the relevant team or investigate further.(UAR)

• Conduct training's on global procedures and their updates to improve the staff knowledge and to mitigate the FCC and operational risk.

*  Migration of Global Trade finance products to stake holders in China, India & Sri Lanka and Conducted Training sessions - Export & Import document checking, DC advising,Payment,Acceptance,Packing credit, Open accounts and bill processing.

* Migration of Global Trade finance operations of Qatar,Bahrain,Oman & Kuwait (MENA region) to UAE(onshore) - Export & Import document checking,DC advising,Payment,Acceptance,Packing credit,Open accounts and bill processing.

• Processing and checking of  DC / NDC documents(Import/Exports)

• Checking Export & Import DC documents as per the DC and trade materials in the capacity of a first and second checker(Up to USD 0.5 Million)

• Advising discrepancies to the customer and provide technical support/advise to rectify the discrepancies.

• Processing of Trade loans ,Export L/C advising, Import/Exports Bill , Handling Discrepancies, Acceptances, Payments/Retirement, Bill Discounting, Assignment of Proceeds and Transferable DC's

• Handle Trade related products(Import, Export)

• Preparation and approving of credit facility papers for SME & Corporate customers(Credit Risk)

• Issuance of Guarantees(Bid bond, Advance payment , Performance, Retention)

• Review of various non standard Guarantee Texts, assessing risks associated with those in line with bank’s operational guidelines and Legal opinions

• Handling of Claims, Cancellations and corresponding bank charges

• Handle customer queries and satisfy customer trade and credit requirements.(Reputation Risk)