Operations Specialist in Chelmsford

Our client, an international commodity trading company, seeks an experienced Operations Specialist to join an international team driving geographic expansion and creating a centre of operational excellence. As an Operations Specialist, you will support our Precious Metals Trading Division and potential new business ventures, playing a vital role in global operations.

You will ensure seamless execution of transactions for material services trading offices worldwide, booking, verifying, processing, and settling with precision. You will collaborate with Trading, Commercial, and Controlling teams to investigate and resolve breaches, and coordinate with internal and external stakeholders to maintain smooth operations.

Your responsibilities include:

• Approving critical pool metal release instructions.
• Verifying depository releases and receipts.
• Orchestrating physical movements for customers while monitoring supply chain activities.
• Acting as a trusted partner to the global Commercial team, strengthening customer relationships, addressing real‑time inquiries, and resolving discrepancies with suppliers and customers alike.
• Mastering the complexities of value‑added tax implications across global regions, ensuring compliance while supporting the administration of global supply contracts aligned with their terms.

Knowledge and Experience

Educational Background: A bachelor’s degree in finance, economics, business administration, or a related field is required. Candidates without a degree may be considered if they have substantial and relevant professional experience that demonstrates equivalent expertise and knowledge.

Professional Experience: At least 5 years of progressive experience in a trading back office or a fast‑paced financial services environment is preferred.

Trade Support Expertise: Advanced understanding of trade support operations, particularly in commodity products such as precious metals and their financial instruments.

Logistics and Physical Goods Handling: Experience in logistics and managing the physical movement of goods, ensuring efficiency and accuracy.

Analytical and Problem‑Solving Skills: Strong numerical, analytical, and problem‑solving abilities, high curiosity and exceptional attention to detail, monitoring contracts and identifying discrepancies in executed trades, and managing risks associated with price volatility in commodities.

Collaborative Mindset: A proactive approach with a focus on teamwork and collective success, emphasizing collaboration over individual contribution.

Regulatory and Tax Knowledge: Working knowledge of regulatory requirements, Incoterms, and value‑added taxation (VAT) for global trading operations.

Technical Proficiency: Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, with a focus on Excel (including pivot tables), PowerPoint, and Visio.

Principal Responsibilities

Processing of Trades:

• Verify executed trade data in Trinity Trading system and ensure accuracy.
• Ensure that all trade confirmations are received from / sent to counterparties within prescribed dates.
• Resolve trade discrepancies in real time, mitigating risk to the business.
• Agree overnight metal positions with the trading desk and ensure compliance with approved limits.
• Support commercial team transactions, leasing, and supply contracts.
• Work with trading, commercial and credit to ensure credit lines are adhered to.
• Support business with analysis, where required.

Pool Accounts Management:

• Clear London and Zurich daily commitments within designated cut‑off time to avoid market defaults.
• Review metal commitments for counterparts against their assigned credit risks.
• Approve metal clearing and transfer as per assigned weekly timetable.
• Reconcile closing metal positions with financial institutions.
• Settle daily depository commitments and monitor forward positions.
• Approve internal / external metal movements accurately and timely on the pool accounts.
• Reconcile all stock positions and clear discrepancies.
• Ensure accurate daily stock positions and communicate inconsistencies to the trading team immediately.

Contract Management:

• Review contractual operational terms in supply contracts and customer agreements.
• Ensure compliance with contractual obligations regarding pricing, delivery, and payment.
• Prepare management summaries.
• Identify, report and resolve discrepancies internally and externally.
• Advise operational requirements to trading desks and commercial teams.
• Work closely with controlling teams to resolve queries and adjustments incurred.

Supply Chain Management:

• Review and monitor supply‑chain metal forecast & identify any shortfalls of supply.
• Adapt to changes required by refining, monitor OSR metal outturn.
• Ensure supply chain has accurate information to meet contractual demand.
• Coordinate physical shipments timely, log deliveries and provide data for regional tax teams & REACH reporting.
• Ensure customers have metal made available when required.
• Assist operations manager with global development of supply chain & master data, streamlining global processes.

Compliance:

• Ensure a robust system of internal controls exists to satisfy internal-year-end financial reporting compliance audits and EMIR/FCA regulations in a timely manner, including an update of process controls when required.
• Follow guidelines related to REACH.
• Support regulatory reporting, e.g. EMIR and LBMA.
• Ensure company guidelines are properly implemented and that requirements are fulfilled timely.

Tax Planning for Metal Movement:

• Assist operations manager to advise on metal movement for tax planning.
• Understand VAT regulations and implications in the UK, Italy, South Africa, and Japan for PGM business.
• Process and record VAT properly.
• Work closely with tax departments and external service providers to ensure tax compliance.

Ad Hoc:

• Back up for credit management processes when required.
• One of authorised persons to review and approve cash management.
• Assist in all projects related to trading operations and regression testing on Trinity trading platform.

Work Environment: The position is with minimal supervision. 36.25 hours per week as part of a shift rota to cover global requirements. Hybrid working pattern.

Supervisory Responsibilities: None.