Financial Controller - Coffee Trading in London

About Origin Commodities

Origin Commodities UK is a fast-growing physical coffee trading company headquartered in London. We source high-quality Arabica and Robusta coffee from origins including Ethiopia, Brazil, Vietnam, Honduras, and Colombia, supplying leading roasters and traders across the UK and Europe. Following a transformational year with revenues exceeding US$28m and volumes of 4200+ MT in 2025, we are scaling our operations and strengthening our finance function to support continued growth. The target for 2026 stands at 7500MT with approx. US$50m in annual revenue.

The Role

We are seeking an experienced and commercially astute Financial Controller to join our leadership team in London. Reporting directly to the CEO, you will take ownership of all financial operations, controls, and reporting for the coffee trading business. This is a hands-on role requiring deep understanding of commodity trading finance, trade finance instruments, and the ability to operate in a dynamic, entrepreneurial environment. You will work closely with the trading desk, operations team, and our India-based shared services centre to ensure robust financial management as the business scales.

Key Responsibilities

• Financial Control & Reporting
  • Own the month-end and year-end close process, ensuring timely and accurate financial reporting
  • Prepare monthly management accounts, variance analysis, and board reporting packs
  • Maintain and improve internal controls over financial reporting, inventory, and cash management
  • Oversee statutory accounts preparation and liaise with external auditors
  • Ensure compliance with UK GAAP / IFRS and relevant tax regulations
• Trading & Commercial Finance
  • Monitor and report on trading P&L, margin analysis, and position profitability by customer and origin
  • Work closely with traders to analyse deal profitability, pricing, and hedging performance
  • Oversee inventory valuation, mark-to-market processes, and commodity position reporting
  • Support commercial decision-making with timely financial analysis and scenario modelling
• Treasury & Working Capital
  • Manage cash flow forecasting, liquidity planning, and banking relationships
  • Oversee trade finance operations including letters of credit, invoice discounting, and shipment financing
  • Monitor and optimise financing costs, working with lenders to secure competitive terms
  • Manage FX exposure and coordinate hedging activities with the trading desk
• Planning & Strategy
  • Lead the annual budgeting process and maintain rolling forecasts
  • Provide financial input into strategic planning, new market entry, and business development initiatives
  • Identify and drive process improvements, cost optimisation, and operational efficiencies
• Team Leadership
  • Oversee and coordinate with the India-based shared services team on payment processing, reporting, and data analytics
  • Provide financial oversight of EU operations as and when they are established, ensuring consistent controls and reporting standards
  • Mentor and develop finance team members, fostering a culture of continuous improvement
  • Act as a trusted business partner to the CEO, MD, and trading leadership

Requirements

• Degree in Finance, Economics, Accounting, or a related discipline.
• 5-7 years of experience in FP&A, financial analysis, or business partnering roles.
• Experience in commodity trading, food processing, or agricultural supply chains strongly preferred.
• Strong financial modelling and Excel skills.
• Experience with ERP systems and BI tools (Power BI, Tableau or similar) is highly desirable.
• Solid understanding of commodity trading P&L mechanics, including physical trading, pricing, hedging, and logistics costs.
• Experience in manufacturing, packing, or processing environments is a strong advantage.
• Fluent English required; German highly desirable for local stakeholder interaction.
• Familiarity with Austrian accounting standards (UGB) or EU reporting frameworks is a plus.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and performance-linked bonus.
• The opportunity to work across both a trading desk and a physical processing business.
• Exposure to international commodity markets and cross-border operations.
• A dynamic and entrepreneurial environment in the heart of Vienna.