A credit analyst in Africa Global Trade Finance’s deal origination team, Samuel Cutler splits his time between desk-based due diligence in London and visiting traders and supply chains on the ground across Africa. He talks client exposure, steep learning curves and why trade finance is “banking’s best kept secret”.
GTR: What’s your job title, and what do you do day to day?
Cutler: I’m a credit analyst at AGTF, in the deal origination team. We help fund commodity traders across Africa, and my involvement ranges from onboarding new clients to carrying out due diligence, both behind the desk and on the ground.
I’ve been there for about two years now. It’s flown by.
GTR: How did you end up in trade finance?
Cutler: I left university in 2023 after studying business management at the University of Reading. I had an internship at a bank and was trying to land a job there, but didn’t get one, so I went travelling for a bit.
While trying to break into trade finance, I wanted to move to London, so I worked at an estate agency for about six months and then pivoted into AGTF. It didn’t come straight away, but this is my first career role in trade finance.
GTR: What drew you to trade finance?
Cutler: I’ve always had a keen interest in current affairs. I studied politics and business at school, and I like breaking businesses down and understanding how they operate.
In trade finance, before you fund a business, you’ve got to understand all the mechanics. That really appealed to me.
GTR: What’s the biggest misconception people have about your job?
Cutler: That I’m always on holiday.
The travel is real, but so is the work that comes with it. The highs look really high, but there’s a lot of background work going on behind the scenes as well.
GTR: What’s been the steepest learning curve so far?
Cutler: Managing client expectations and developing the level of critical analysis required when structuring deals has been a big step up. The exposure I’ve had at this age has been rewarding, but it’s definitely a steep learning curve too.
GTR: What part of the role do you enjoy the most?
Cutler: I really enjoy the client relationship side of things – working directly with clients, understanding how their businesses work, what drives them, and how we can support their growth.
I also value the opportunity to meet entrepreneurs and business owners from a wide range of backgrounds. Going to places like Nigeria, visiting farms and understanding how the whole supply chain works – seeing the farmers, the processes and the final product – I find that really rewarding.
And the travel is a bonus as well.
GTR: Who has been your most important influence or mentor so far?
Cutler: I’d say it’s a combination. Colleagues and senior professionals I’ve worked with have been big influences, because they all bring different perspectives that have shaped my approach.
Peers have been important too. I’ve benefited from the ITFA Emerging Leaders network – people slightly further along in similar roles. That’s been helpful because it’s more relatable.
On a personal level, my father Rupert works in trade credit and political risk insurance at Holtarka. I’ve used him as a mentor as well. If there’s stuff going on at work that I don’t fully understand, I’ll speak to him – he’s been a really good sounding board.
GTR: You’ve attended several GTR events. What do you get out of them?
Cutler: I’ve been to a number now and I’ve really enjoyed them. They’re a great opportunity to meet senior decision-makers, expand my understanding of the industry, and build relationships outside my day-to-day network.
It’s also about putting faces to names you usually only see over email and meeting everyone involved across the supply chain.
From a business perspective, GTR Commodities in Geneva was very good for us. We got to see one of our clients out there. Meeting in person really helped and sped things up with onboarding, so it was very beneficial.
GTR: Why should more young professionals consider trade finance as a career?
Cutler: It’s probably one of banking’s best-kept secrets. It’s fast-moving, commercially focused and gives you exposure to real businesses and global markets much earlier in your career than people might expect – especially compared with something like investment banking.
GTR: What excites you most about the industry going forward?
Cutler: The demand for trade finance and how global the flow of commodities is. What’s happening in the world – tariffs, wars, politics – influences our business in real time. You come to your desk in London, and something that happened overnight, you may have to react to it. That’s quite exciting.
It’s also an industry that’s growing. It still feels slightly overlooked within banking and finance, which makes it interesting to be part of.
