MERL JESTIN
Vice President BNP Paribas Bank Trade And Forex
MUMBAI
Summary
Performance-driven Vice President with 16 years of experience aligning systems with business requirements, policies, and regulatory requirements. Passionate about applying excellent organization and communication skills to manage and lead teams. Results-oriented individual well-versed in interfacing and consulting on business processes to drive results based on sound overall business judgment.
Overview
1
1
Language
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
Vice President
Bnp Paribas Bank
07.2025 - Current
- Handling forex team and spearheading EDPMS reduction team , bank has a large pendency of 21000 crores and have cleared around 8000 crores pendency which is a milestone achievement since the shipping bills were older than 3 years
- Spearheaded initiatives to enhance operational efficiency, achieving significant improvements in workflow productivity.
- Independently handled a project called "Conserto," and smoothly managed a complicated workflow migration by liaising with various stakeholders, implementing the changes before deadlines, and suggesting improvements to the workflow, which were appreciated. It was a massive task, as the open inventory in the previous workflow had to be migrated to the new workflow, and the number of pending inventory items was massive.
- Led cross-functional teams to implement strategic projects, resulting in streamlined processes and increased collaboration.
- Developed and executed comprehensive risk management strategies, ensuring compliance and protecting organizational assets.
- Implemented data-driven decision-making processes, enhancing accuracy in financial forecasting and resource allocation
- Handling both trade and handling projects related to system
- Preparation of TAT data on monthly basis to be presented to senior management .
- Spearheaded forex trading strategies, optimizing currency exposure and enhancing profit margins.
- Developed and implemented risk management frameworks, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards.
- Led cross-functional teams in executing high-value forex transactions, improving operational efficiency.
- Analyzed market trends and economic indicators, providing insights that informed strategic decision-making.
- Spearheaded strategic initiatives to optimize financial operations, enhancing overall efficiency across departments.
- Developed comprehensive risk management frameworks, significantly strengthening compliance and oversight within operations.
- Led cross-functional teams in implementing innovative financial products, driving market competitiveness and customer engagement.
- Facilitated high-stakes negotiations with key stakeholders, resulting in improved partnerships and resource allocation.
Assistant Vice President - Forex Head
AXIS BANK LTD.
03.2014 - Current
- Leading Trade Finance Operations team comprising 10 members in the third largest branch of Axis bank and overall accountability for efficient processing, client servicing and end to end service delivery of various Trade Products for Corporate and Retail Bank Clients. (Inward foreign remittance, outward foreign remittances, Export shipping bills Lodgement & Realization, Export Finance, Import bills Lodgement and Payments, Issuance of Foreign LC & Suppliers Credit, Issuance of Inland LC, BG and Inland Bill discounting).
- Ensuring all documents are in line with FEMA/RBI and internal guidelines and to press the transactions as per TAT.
- Manage recent digitization by RBI for Export Data processing & monitoring system (EDPMS) and Import Data processing and monitoring system.
- Strong team management and client management skills along with internal resource management. - Single point of contact for compliance/Regulatory follow-ups; enable resolution of client queries in line with regulatory requirements.
- Adept to larger volume handling with optimal efficiency and zero escalations. I have been an amazing team member and now a team leader, aligning my goals with those of the firm and providing superlative service and increasing revenue for the bank
- Working with the back-end team, business partners and clients to provide and promote quality service solutions.
- Minimizing queries flow to trade operations team and provide proactively training/advisory services to clients to minimize input defects and enable faster turn –around.
- Periodically analyze of client enquiry statistics to identify trends and recurring issues. Leading efforts across reducing customer attrition & retaining old customers, ameliorating customer satisfaction levels by identifying needs & taking corrective measures.
- Marketing Trade Service Initiatives, successes and strengths to new existing clients.
- Provide backup support to the trade services team and be a team player.
- Developed and maintained healthy cooperative working environment within organization by assisting and coordinating with others time to time to ensure smooth flow of business operations.
- Responsible for handling concurrent/internal/external audit and closure of queries
- Have been promoted to Assistant Vice President from Deputy Manager in a span of 6 years
YES BANK LTD
10.2011 - 02.2014
- Team member Trade Finance Operations team and overall accountability for efficient processing, client servicing and end to end service delivery of various Trade Products for Corporate and Retail Bank Clients.
- Processing of all trade related products like Buyer’s credit, Bank Guarantees, Forex, Outward remittances, inward remittances Letter of credit, Exports and Import related products for all giant corporate customers.
- Handled all general banking operations as well for the corporate customers Handling client queries related to trade finance.
- (Inward foreign remittance, outward foreign remittances, Export shipping bills Lodgement & Realisation, Export Finance, Import bills Lodgement and Payments, Issuance of Foreign LC & Suppliers Credit, Issuance of Inland LC, BG and Inland Bill discounting).
- Ensuring all documents in line with FEMA/RBI and internal guidelines and to press the transactions as per TAT.
- Working with team, business partners and clients to provide and promote quality service solutions.
- Minimizing queries flow to trade operations team and provide proactively training/advisory services to clients to minimize input defects and enable faster turn –around.
- Periodically analysis of client enquiry statistics to identify trends and recurring issues. Leading efforts across reducing customer attrition & retaining old customers, ameliorating customer satisfaction levels by identifying needs & taking corrective measures.
- Marketing Trade Service Initiatives, successes and strengths to new existing clients.
- Provide back up support to the trade services team and be a team player.
- Developed and maintained healthy cooperative working environment within organization by assisting and coordinating with others time to time to ensure smooth flow of business operations.
- Responsible for handling concurrent/internal/external audit and closure of queries.
Technocrats Security Systems Pvt Ltd
08.2009 - 10.2011
- Includes budgeting and analysis of profitability.
- Management of cash and procurement of funds at lowest possible rates and Liaisoning with the bankers.
- Dealing in Bank Guarantees, LC’s and TT’s. Dealing in RTGS, NEFT on daily basis Assisted in finalization of balance sheet
- Was responsible solely for change in bank in the current organization to increase profitability of Firm.
- Overall management to ensure smooth functioning of the organization.
Education
MBA - Finance
Mumbai University
Mumbai, India 04.2001 -
Skills
16 years experienced Trade Finance professional, bringing management experience and a willingness to take on added responsibility to meet tight deadlines
Enthusiastic team player with a strong work ethic and advanced complex problem-solving skill
Handled all products such as letter of credit, bank guarantee, exports, imports, forward contracts and outward remittances both retail and corporate
PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS IN AXIS BANK
Recognized (Certificate awarded) for contributing significantly to Axis Bank’s bottom line in the foreign exchange division., Second, I was recognized (Certificate awarded) as Axis Bank’s top employee for the month for the quality of service provided to my customers. This Honor was bestowed upon me because, despite intense competition from other bankers, one highly regarded corporation chose my bank to receive a multi-phase transfer of two billion dollars.
Training
Attend the orientation workshop on "Foreign exchange business and Regulatory requirement under FEMA -1999”. – Axis Bank.
Section name
- Date of Birth: 20th December 1985
- Location Preference: Mumbai
Timeline
Vice President
Bnp Paribas Bank
07.2025 - Current
Assistant Vice President - Forex Head
AXIS BANK LTD.
03.2014 - Current
YES BANK LTD
10.2011 - 02.2014
Technocrats Security Systems Pvt Ltd
08.2009 - 10.2011
MBA - Finance
Mumbai University
04.2001 -