AMEET A. VICHARE

• Drive end-to-end processing of import trade finance transactions, including Letters of Credit (LCs), Documentary Collections, Direct & Advance Payments, LC Issuance, and Buyers' Credit, ensuring accuracy, timely execution, and regulatory compliance.
• Lead and coordinate Trade Operations in the absence of the Team Lead, supporting revenue and volume targets by maximizing wallet share from existing Trade Services clients while ensuring seamless operational delivery.
• Facilitate day-to-day Trade Services operations and customer support, ensuring adherence to service standards, timely resolution of client queries, and accurate compliance and regulatory reporting to the RBI.
• Drive process improvements through root cause analysis, automation, and process enhancements, reducing recurring queries and improving operational efficiency and client experience.
• Collaborate with internal and external auditors during RBI inspections and internal audits, providing clarifications and ensuring timely resolution of audit observations.
• Deliver data-driven insights to clients, promoting Straight-Through Processing (STP) adoption to minimize transaction discrepancies, while conducting client education sessions, presentations, and knowledge-sharing initiatives for new and existing customers.

• Managed issuance of Letters of Credit (LCs) for export transactions, ensuring timely processing and authorization of Export Bill Lodgments.
• Reviewed realization of export proceeds to ensure compliance with RBI regulations and internal banking policies.
• Verified and authorized SWIFT messages, including MT103 and MT202 payment instructions, ensuring accuracy and compliance with trade finance standards.

• Managed end-to-end export trade finance transactions, including scrutiny and authorization of Export Bills under Letters of Credit (LCs), Documentary Collections, Advance Export Bills, Reimbursement Claims under LCs, and Import Miscellaneous Remittances (A2 Payments), ensuring accuracy and regulatory compliance.
• Led the Exports Team in processing Direct Export Bills, Documentary Collections, and Export LCs, ensuring timely execution and adherence to internal controls and regulatory requirements.
• Conducted compliance and audit checks, ensuring timely completion of transactions, accurate regulatory reporting to the RBI, and adherence to internal policies.
• Resolved audit observations and regulatory queries, ensuring compliance with RBI, FEMA, UCP, and URC guidelines while maintaining high quality and operational standards.

• Managed miscellaneous outward remittances, advance remittances, direct remittances, import bill remittances, and inward remittances.
• Processed inward remittances by realizing Nostro funds and crediting customer accounts, including Current, PCFC/RPC, EEFC, FCNR, and negotiation, discounting, and purchasing of export bills. Issued GR waivers in compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Administered export finance transactions, including scrutiny and authorization of export bills under Letters of Credit (LC), collection bills, advance export bills, and reimbursement claims under LC.
• Prepared and verified SWIFT messages for reimbursement claims, invoice reductions, discrepancy refusals, and other trade finance transactions while ensuring compliance with regulatory and audit requirements.
• Coordinated with auditors to resolve queries arising from RBI inspections, internal audits, and compliance reviews.
• Collaborated with the Technology Department to improve trade finance processes and automate transactions during the Finacle 10 migration and implementation.

Growth Path

• Phone Banking Officer: July 2006 – April 2007
• Senior Officer – Trade Finance Operations: May 2007 – September 2011

Key Responsibilities

• Managed export trade finance transactions, including scrutiny and authorization of export bills under Letters of Credit (LC), collection bills, advance export bills, reimbursement claims under LC, and lodgment of inland bills (domestic trade transactions).
• Processed and authorized import bills under Letters of Credit (LC) and documentary collections, ensuring compliance with RBI guidelines and internal banking policies.
• Coordinated with auditors to address queries and provide clarifications during RBI inspections and internal audits.
• Trained and mentored new team members, monitored their performance, and provided feedback to senior management.

Highlights

• Collaborated with the Technology Department to improve trade finance processes and automate transaction processing on Finacle 7.
• Partnered with the Technology Services Group to enhance software support, streamline workflows, and drive process automation, improving operational efficiency.

• Provided customer support for Reliance Mobile users by resolving complaints and responding to connectivity-related queries.
• Troubleshot network and connectivity issues, ensuring timely resolution and high customer satisfaction.
• Handled customer interactions professionally while adhering to service quality standards.
• Escalated complex technical issues to the appropriate teams for prompt resolution.