Head of Trade Finance

Rieter is the world’s leading supplier of systems for manufacturing yarn from staple fibers in spinning mills. Based in Winterthur (Switzerland), the company develops and manufactures machinery, systems and components used to convert natural and man-made fibers and their blends into yarns in the most cost-efficient manner. Cutting-edge spinning technology from Rieter contributes to sustainability in the textile value chain by minimizing the use of resources. Rieter has been in business for 230 years, has 18 production locations in ten countries and employs a global workforce of around 4 560, about 15% of whom are based in Switzerland.

Committed and satisfied employees are of particular importance to our company's success. For this reason, we are looking for an active personality as

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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

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.