At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead quality assurance for a groundbreaking oil trading system and ensure seamless integration.
- Company: Join Trafigura, a global leader in commodities with a commitment to innovation and sustainability.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, diverse work culture, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Dynamic, fast-paced environment with a focus on collaboration and diversity.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of transforming energy trading with cutting-edge technology.
- Qualifications: Extensive QA leadership experience and strong understanding of financial services technology.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
Main purpose: The Oil Programme is a signature strategic initiative at Trafigura to implement a new, fully integrated end-to-end trading system for the energy business. It replaces the legacy platform with two interconnected ecosystems: Atlas — Front Office and Middle Office: trade capture, pricing, deal lifecycle, and logistics workflows. Titan — downstream finance processing: a dedicated Energy instance of the Titan platform currently under active development. The two ecosystems share a bidirectional, real-time integration boundary — the highest-risk surface in the programme.
The Oil Programme QA Lead is a programme-level quality assurance role, independent of both delivery teams. It owns end-to-end QA coverage for the full programme: everything that falls outside the scope of the individual Atlas and Titan ecosystem QA leads, plus the integration and coherence between them. The role is a standing member of the Oil Programme Readiness Group. It has authority to define programme-wide QA standards, set UAT entry and exit criteria, block UAT entry if criteria are not met, and elevate quality risks directly to the Programme Director.
Key responsibilities:
- Programme-level QA ownership: Own the programme-level QA strategy, incorporating and coordinating the Atlas and Titan ecosystem testing strategies. Define and maintain the E2E scenario model in partnership with the Product Validation team, ensuring every UAT acceptance criterion maps to tested coverage. Publish a single, authoritative programme QA status view to delivery leadership and business stakeholders. Own the escalation path for cross-team defects, coverage disputes, and quality risks.
- Cross-ecosystem and integration testing: Define and oversee testing of end-to-end business scenarios spanning both Atlas and Titan. Own QA coverage for cross-cutting systems such as Hydra that interact with both ecosystems. Coordinate E2E and performance testing workstreams, sequencing them so UAT entry criteria are met before formal UAT begins. Identify and close coverage gaps that neither individual ecosystem strategy addresses.
- Reporting and data validation: Coordinate the QA workstream for approximately 100 QlikSense reports that consume data from both Atlas and Titan. Define data validation scenarios and expected outputs; coordinate business sign-off on report accuracy. Ensure report validation is sequenced and completed before UAT entry.
- UAT readiness and governance: Define UAT entry and exit criteria at programme level, based on UAT scenarios and business risk. Work with Atlas QA Lead and Titan QA Lead to ensure ecosystem-level activities meet programme entry criteria. Bridge the different testing cadences: Atlas agile sprint-based testing and Titan manual release-cycle-based testing. Act as standing member of the Oil Programme Readiness Group; contribute to programme readiness decisions and cutover planning.
- Stakeholder engagement: Report QA status, risks, and blockers to the Programme Director and Steering Committee. Engage with Front Office, Middle Office, and Back Office business stakeholders during UAT definition and execution. Represent QA interests in programme planning, milestone reviews, and risk forums. Co-ordinate with infrastructure, release management, and environment teams to ensure test environments are stable and available.
Required qualifications:
- Significant experience leading QA at programme or portfolio level — not just within a single delivery team.
- Background in financial services or commodities trading technology; familiarity with front-to-back trade lifecycle (trade capture → risk → P&L → settlements → accounting).
- Proven ability to design and own end-to-end test strategies across multiple systems and teams.
- Experience defining UAT entry and exit criteria and driving readiness decisions with senior business and technology stakeholders.
- Strong understanding of system integration testing: messaging, APIs, event-driven architectures.
- Skilled at bridging different delivery methodologies — agile and waterfall / release-cycle-based teams working in parallel.
- Excellent written and verbal communication; able to present quality status and risks clearly to non-technical audiences.
- Independence and authority: comfortable escalating risks upward and holding delivery teams accountable to programme standards.
Preferred qualifications:
- Experience with large-scale platform migration or legacy decommission programmes.
- Familiarity with commodity trading platforms, ERP financial modules, and reporting tools.
- Exposure to performance testing strategy and tooling.
Attributes for success:
- A programme-level QA strategy is in place and accepted by all stakeholders prior to system integration testing.
- Every UAT acceptance criterion has documented, traceable test coverage before UAT entry is declared.
- All QlikSense reports are validated and business-signed-off before UAT cutover.
- The programme enters UAT with a clear, agreed entry gate that has been met — not waived.
- Cross-ecosystem defects and coverage gaps are visible, owned, and resolved — not lost between teams.
- Programme leadership and business stakeholders have a single, trusted source of QA status throughout.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and take pride in a diverse workforce! We do not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or other employment practices for reasons of race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital or veteran status, medical condition or handicap, disability, or any other legally protected status.
At the heart of global supply, Trafigura connects vital resources to power and build the world. Through our Metals and Minerals, Oil & Petroleum Products and Gas, Power and Renewables, commercial divisions, we use infrastructure, logistics and financing to connect producers and consumers, using our deep understanding of the markets we serve to make supply more efficient, secure and sustainable.
A career at Trafigura offers a gateway to working on some of the most exciting challenges of a rapidly changing world – from helping to optimise supply chains to developing infrastructure and new markets. In a culture that is founded on openness and energy, our people work as part of a multinational, globally connected team and thrive in a fast-paced environment where they can nurture and commercialise bold ideas. Everyone has a voice and is empowered to collaborate across geographies and disciplines to help shape our business and the wider world. We know the importance and value of diversity in our business and we invest in attracting, developing and retaining talent from all backgrounds.
Founded in 1993, Trafigura is one of the largest independent employee-owned commodities groups in the world with over 12,000 people working across more than 60 offices.
Oil Programme QA Lead in London employer: Trafigura Group
As a Python Engineer at our London-based Gas, Power & Renewables Technology team, you will thrive in a dynamic and collaborative environment that values innovation and direct impact. We offer a culture of continuous learning and growth, with opportunities to engage closely with traders and quants, ensuring your contributions are both meaningful and rewarding. Join us to be part of a well-resourced team at the forefront of energy markets, where your skills will directly influence trading strategies and outcomes.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Oil Programme QA Lead in London
✨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!
✨Tip Number 2: Attend Finance Events and Conferences
Make it a mission to attend finance-related events and conferences, even virtual ones! This is a golden opportunity to network face-to-face with people from companies like Trafigura Group. You never know who might be your next boss or a crucial contact!
✨Tip Number 3: Showcase Your Expertise
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 Trafigura Group.
✨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 Trafigura Group. 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 Oil Programme QA Lead in London
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 Trafigura Group 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 Trafigura Group how you can be a team player!
How to prepare for a job interview at Trafigura Group
✨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 Trafigura Group.
✨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 Trafigura Group'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!
