CTFP - Certified Trade Finance Professional

Corporate - Front and middle-office professionals.

Banks - Front and middle-office professionals:

• Specialists within the Transaction Banking function,
• Senior Corporate Banking Relationship Managers,
• Senior Corporate Treasury Professionals,
• Holders of CDCS / CSDG / CITF / GTC Certifications.

Our final exam consists of a 60-minute examination which is live proctored via the internet.  The passing grade is 70% minimum. Upon passing the examination, learners will be issued an accredited certificate for the program. You can then use the “CTFP” designation.  For details regarding international recognition (LIBF, WDA and IBF) visit our accreditation page.

The individual e-learning courses can be purchased separately, however they will not qualify you for the certification programme. To pass the examination and attain the certification, you will need to purchase the full certification programme. 

The curriculum is split between 5 core courses, that everyone must complete, and 6 elective courses, of which you must choose 4 (5 core courses and 4 electives = a total of 9 courses). 

Core courses:

• Advanced Working Capital for Trade

This course will build on the basic understanding of the Asset Conversion Cycle (ACC) introduced in the Introduction to Trade Finance course. Detailed explanations of the cash flow and working capital cycle of commercial companies of all sizes. Gain a basic understanding of the terminology that is widely used to describe the meaning and functions of working capital.

• Advanced Documentary Credits

A detailed review of documentary credits (letter of credit), from structuring and issuance to document verification to financing and settlement. Gain a solid, practical understanding of the transaction lifecycle of a documentary credit.

• Advanced Guarantees

Learn more about the issuance of guarantees, the use of counter guarantees and more complex transactions. Take a closer look at the global standards, legal framework, and the proper application of guarantees from all sides.

• Export Finance

Learn the key role of export credits and official export credit agencies play in international sales and its financing, particularly in developing nations. Discover the associated risks, and the pros and cons for exporters, importers, and lenders.

• Advanced Supply Chain Finance

Gain an in-depth understanding of the key events in the physical supply chain, the parties involved in these events and their financial consequences. Competently analyse financial consequences in terms of risk, funding, liquidity, payment flows and the needs of both finance provider and their client. Explore the unmet and latent corporate needs not currently addressed by the supply chain finance product set and the principle innovations in discussion amongst banks, non-bank financiers and technology service providers.                                                              

Electives (choose 4):

• Digital Trade Finance and Fintechs

Get to grips with the digital trade ecosystem including the advent of fintechs, the legal, regulatory and commercialization challenges involved and the broad range of trends and solutions that are available to support international trade. The course covers risk mitigation in the open account space, the digitisation of the financial supply chain and emerging technologies in digital trade finance.

• Advanced Standby Letters of Credit

Take an in-depth look at how standby letters of credit work, the purposes for which they can be used and the rules and regulations governing them. Learn the importance of wording standby letters of credit properly and how to protect against problems.

• Managing Trade Sales

Understand how to align the organization of your sales team and staffing model to your bank’s business strategy, target customer markets, and sales coverage process. Learn best practices in trade finance revenue attribution and the complexities of measuring sales performance and customer revenue contribution. Learn how to establish a sales process and develop metrics and objectives consistent with your desired business results.

• Managing Trade Products

Learn a bank manager’s role and responsibilities in handling trade finance products and a bank’s key functions in managing trade products on an on-going basis. Learn the working model trade product managers should use to enhance and/or develop trade product. Discover management philosophies to build a trade product management team.

• Managing Trade Operations

This course will provide intermediate-level bank officers with an overview of the key responsibilities of trade Operations management. Learn the range of skills required for long term success in the position, including production management and process management.

• Advanced Commodity Finance

Commodity trade represents around 25% of world trade – this course will teach students the three types of commodities, their features and their respective risks. Discover how the major players and trading houses in this sector are shaping supply chains. Look at the function of commodities trading from a banker’s perspective and the various tools and documents required.

The industry-validated syllabus was developed by a group of 12 leading trade finance experts drawn from ICC’s Banking Commission