Strategic Initiatives

Strategic Initiatives

Full-Time 54000 - 66000 £ / year (est.) Hybrid
Castleton Commodities International

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead strategic initiatives and onboarding for global trading operations in energy commodities.
  • Company: Join a dynamic energy company focused on innovation and collaboration.
  • Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, health benefits, tuition assistance, and generous paid time off.
  • Other info: Opportunities for community involvement and continuous learning await you!
  • Why this job: Make an impact in the energy sector while developing your skills in a fast-paced environment.
  • Qualifications: 10+ years in business analysis or project management within energy commodities; strong communication skills required.

The predicted salary is between 54000 - 66000 £ per year.

CCI is hiring a Strategic Initiatives professional to support our commercial business across complementary pillars: the execution of high-impact business initiatives, onboarding of new commercial talent, and ETRM trade lifecycle automation prototypes, efficiency gains, and control initiatives. This role will partner with Front Office, Physical Product Schedulers, Merchant Operations, Finance and P&L, Risk, Technology, and other cross-functional teams to deliver strategic system enhancements, onboard new trading desks, assist the Principal Investments team with onboarding and offboarding EU / UK asset businesses, and drive expansion into new markets and products across our global energy commodity platform.

Responsibilities:

  • Lead onboarding and strategic projects across the global trading footprint with focus on coverage of the London and Geneva offices and business’, including new trading desks, and market and product expansions.
  • Assist the Principal Investments team with Trade Ops and Finance deliverables of asset investments or divestitures.
  • Manage new business efforts, including documentation of business and system requirements, cross-functional facilitation, system setup and testing, project planning, and coordinating task completion across Trading, Risk, P&L, Tax, Technology, Operations, Accounting, and other teams as required for the project scope.
  • Establish operational risk and control processes, and documentation for new business and trading activity.
  • Support the commercial business in diligence and approvals of new initiatives.
  • Onboard and provide ongoing support to new commercial resources, including traders.
  • Ensure cross-functional coordination across support groups, connecting new initiatives into existing global processes and, where applicable, working with functional area owners on the definition and implementation of non-standard workflows.
  • Undertake ad-hoc strategic and corporate projects as required.
  • Collaborate with and, at times, lead initiatives across the firm to design and implement solutions supporting organizational needs, including new product configuration, trading reference data architecture and setup, and process and data flow analysis.
  • Oversee the configuration, integration, and optimization of ETRM systems to support front, middle, and back-office functions.
  • Setup of new forward price and volatility curves and settlement quotes in the system.
  • Liaise with developers for IT development and support as needed.
  • Coordinate with the Data Integration team to organize and streamline reference data and develop reporting and analytics solutions.
  • Leverage Python for automation prototypes, maintenance of existing processes reliant on Python code, and advanced analytics initiatives.
  • Facilitate user acceptance testing, deployment, and training for new system features and enhancements.
  • Maintain a strong understanding of data sources, uses, and controls across the enterprise, ensuring accuracy and compliance.
  • Maintain documentation of new products onboarded, in addition to areas where the team has assisted in efficiency or enhanced control initiatives.

Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Math, Economics, Engineering, Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field.
  • 10+ years experience in a combination of business analysis, project management, cross-departmental business management, trade support, risk, P&L, physical scheduling, or operations within the energy and commodities industry.
  • Ability to effectively communicate with commercial teams and all levels of management, with the ability to autonomously lead both meetings and initiatives.
  • Demonstrated trade lifecycle experience across one or more of the following commodity products: Electricity, Oil, or Natural Gas; with past exposure to Physical UK and European Power, Carbon, & Natural Gas, Physical Oil Trading, and / or Structured Transactions strongly preferred.
  • Hands-on experience across the commodity transaction lifecycle including trading, positions, mark-to-market and P&L management (including FX exposure), confirmations, credit and margin management, scheduling, settlements, invoicing, and accounting.
  • Understanding of forward and settlement pricing — including FX, IR, and volatilities — for the valuation of US power, gas, carbon and oil liquids futures, swaps, physicals, and options.
  • Strong technical and analytical skills with prior ETRM system experience required.
  • Experience with algorithmic or systematic trading preferred.
  • Python experience preferred.
  • Familiarity with Agile project management methodologies and product model approaches preferred.
  • Excellent communication skills with the ability to engage and influence stakeholders across the organization.
  • Strong attention to detail and excellent organizational skills.
  • Demonstrated track record of ownership, accountability, and delivery on complex, cross-functional initiatives.
  • Demonstrates the ability to lead and execute.
  • Must be able to work effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic and high-intensity environment including open-floor plan, with timely responsiveness and the ability to work beyond normal business hours when required.

Employee Programs & Benefits:

  • CCI offers competitive benefits and programs to support our employees, their families and local communities.
  • These include competitive comprehensive medical, dental, retirement and life insurance benefits.
  • Employee assistance & wellness programs.
  • Parental and family leave policies.
  • CCI in the Community: Each office has a Charity Committee and as a part of this program employees are allocated 2 days annually to volunteer at the selected charities.
  • Charitable contribution match program.
  • Tuition assistance & reimbursement.
  • Quarterly Innovation & Collaboration Awards.
  • Employee discount program, including access to fitness facilities.
  • Competitive paid time off.
  • Continued learning opportunities.

Visit https://www.cci.com/careers/life-at-cci/# to learn more!

Strategic Initiatives employer: Castleton Commodities International

Castleton Commodities International (CCI) is an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture, where employees are empowered to leverage cutting-edge AI technologies. Located in a dynamic environment, CCI offers robust growth opportunities, comprehensive benefits, and a commitment to professional development, making it an ideal place for those seeking meaningful and impactful careers in the field of data science.

Castleton Commodities International

Contact Details:

Castleton Commodities International Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Strategic Initiatives

✨Tip Number 1: Tap Into Professional Networks

The finance world loves a good connection, so jump into industry-specific groups on platforms like LinkedIn where you can find discussions on financial controlling. Engaging in these communities can expose you to hidden job leads that aren't openly advertised!

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Consider writing articles or sharing insights related to financial controlling or industry trends. Publish these on platforms like LinkedIn to establish yourself as a knowledgeable player in the field. This not only increases your visibility but also catches the attention of recruiters from Castleton Commodities International.

✨Tip Number 4: Apply Directly on Company Websites

Since you're going for a full-time gig, don't forget to keep an eye on the careers page of companies you're interested in, like Castleton Commodities International. Many companies prefer candidates who apply through their website as it shows genuine interest and makes your application stand out!

We think you need these skills to ace Strategic Initiatives

Business Analysis
Project Management
Cross-Departmental Coordination
Trade Lifecycle Experience
Commodity Transaction Lifecycle
ETRM System Experience
Python Programming

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Off Your Numbers Game:In financial controlling, detail is everything! Make sure your CV showcases your proficiency with numbers—highlight any relevant experience in budgeting, forecasting, or working with financial software. Quantifying your past achievements will make you stand out, so don’t be shy about flaunting those impressive percentages or cost savings you've implemented.

Tailored Cover Letter is Key:Your cover letter is a chance to shine, especially for a full-time role. Use it to express your genuine interest in Castleton Commodities International and the specific impact you hope to make in financial controlling. Mention any relevant qualifications or experiences that align with the company’s goals, and don’t forget to show that you're ready for a long-term commitment!

Certifications Matter:List relevant certifications such as ACCA or CIMA on your CV. These qualifications not only showcase your dedication to the field but also your technical competence in financial principles. If you have any ongoing training or courses, make sure to mention those as well to demonstrate your commitment to continual learning in financial controlling.

Don’t Overlook Soft Skills:While numbers are crucial, so are those soft skills! Financial controllers need strong communication and analytical reasoning abilities. We recommend embedding examples of these skills in your CV and cover letter, like how you’ve successfully delivered financial reports to stakeholders or collaborated with teams to improve processes. Let’s show Castleton Commodities International how you can be a team player!

How to prepare for a job interview at Castleton Commodities International

✨Brush Up on Technical Skills

Make sure you're comfortable with key financial concepts, especially around forecasting, budgeting, and variance analysis. Sometimes, interviewers may throw in technical questions or case studies, so practicing these types of scenarios will help you shine!

✨Showcase Your Financial Acumen

If you've had experience with specific financial software like SAP or Oracle, make it known! Be ready to discuss how you used these tools to improve processes or reporting, as this hands-on knowledge can really set you apart in a full-time role with Castleton Commodities International.

✨Know Your Numbers

In full-time interviews, especially in financial controlling, be prepared for numerical reasoning tests or questions. Brush up on your mental maths and understand how to interpret and analyse financial statements on the spot, as this may come up during the assessment.

✨Connect with Company Goals

Familiarise yourself with Castleton Commodities International's financial objectives and any recent developments. During the interview, try to weave your understanding of their business model and challenges into your answers—this shows your genuine interest and alignment with their goals!