At a Glance
- Tasks: Transform complex oil trading workflows into clear requirements for our development team.
- Company: Join VAKT, a pioneering company in energy trading technology.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, flexible working, and a strong focus on learning and wellbeing.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with opportunities for growth in a dynamic industry.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the energy sector with cutting-edge blockchain and AI technology.
- Qualifications: Experience in oil trading, strong analytical skills, and familiarity with Agile methodologies.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
VAKT is disrupting the physical global energy trading industry. Built on a foundation of blockchain and AI, and backed by a consortium of oil majors (including Shell and TOTSA), trading houses (Gunvor, Mercuria) and price reporting agencies (Argus Media), VAKT sits at the intersection of deep commodity domain expertise and frontier technology. Our next chapter is VAKT Agentic Logistics — an autonomous, multi-agent AI system purpose-built for commodity operations desks.
This is not a dashboard or a chatbot. It is eight specialised AI agents working autonomously across the operational layer that the industry still runs on email and spreadsheets: pre-ops scheduling, nomination management, document processing, contract compliance, vessel tracking, and post-ops coordination.
The Role
Reporting to a Product Manager (PM), the Business Analyst is the domain expert who turns complex physical oil trading workflows into clear, build-ready requirements for the development team. You will partner with the PM on discovery and delivery — owning requirements analysis, documentation and stakeholder elicitation — while the PM owns the product vision, roadmap and prioritisation decisions.
Key Responsibilities
- Requirements analysis — elicit detailed business and user requirements through workshops, trader/operator shadowing and process analysis; capture them as user stories with clear acceptance criteria;
- Documentation — produce process flows, lifecycle event maps, data models and functional specifications that engineers and QA can build and test against;
- Stakeholder liaison — work day-to-day with Originators, trading desks, schedulers, operators and back-office (tax, market operations, compliance, legal) to surface needs and validate solutions;
- Backlog support — refine and groom backlog items with the PM and dev team; slice work into deliverable increments;
- Domain expertise — act as the team's SME on the physical oil trade lifecycle and the various Modes of Transport (MOTs).
Domain Knowledge
You should be comfortable as a peer with traders, operators and schedulers across the physical oil trade lifecycle, including:
- Trade lifecycle: trade capture, confirmations, nominations and scheduling, inspection and loading/discharge, actualisation, invoicing, demurrage and settlement;
- Modes of Transport (MOTs): marine (charter parties, NOR, SOF, BLs, laytime/demurrage), pipeline (nominations, batching, custody transfer), rail, truck and barge — plus multi-leg movements across storage;
- Commercial mechanics: Incoterms (FOB, CIF, CFR, DAP, etc), pricing structures and benchmarks (Dated Brent, WTI, Argus, Platts), inventory management and waterborne movements;
- Hands-on knowledge of the physical oil trade lifecycle from execution through settlement, with exposure to multiple MOTs;
- Familiarity with CTRM/ETRM systems (RightAngle, Allegro, Endur or similar);
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; able to work with data to derive insights and prioritise effectively;
- Detail-oriented with a sense of urgency and accountability; able to multi-task and respond to tight deadlines;
- Experience in Agile / Scrum teams (user stories, acceptance criteria, refinement, demos);
- Excellent verbal and written communication; comfortable working with remote teams across time zones.
Nice to have:
- Developing understanding of AI Intelligent Document Processing (IDP);
- Exposure to blockchain / DLT or post-trade digitisation;
- Awareness of REMIT, EMIR, MiFID II or sanctions regimes.
What We Offer
A seat at the intersection of physical commodity trading and frontier technology — your work directly changes how the world's largest energy companies operate; A consortium-backed company with the stability of major industry sponsors and the energy of a focused product organisation; A collaborative, low-ego culture, with hybrid and flexible working, competitive compensation and a strong learning and wellbeing offer.
If you're excited about this role or about working at VAKT, we'd love to hear from you.
Business Analyst employer: VAKT platform
VAKT is an exceptional employer, offering a unique opportunity to work at the forefront of the energy trading industry, where your contributions will directly influence how major global companies operate. With a collaborative and low-ego culture, VAKT promotes employee growth through hybrid working arrangements, competitive compensation, and a strong focus on learning and wellbeing, making it an ideal place for those seeking meaningful and rewarding employment in a cutting-edge environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Business Analyst
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, especially those who work at VAKT or similar companies. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insights that might just land you an interview.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by diving deep into VAKT's products and services. Understand how blockchain and AI are changing the energy trading landscape. This knowledge will help you stand out as a candidate who’s genuinely interested and informed.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your analytical skills during interviews. Be ready to discuss how you've tackled complex problems in the past, especially in relation to the oil trade lifecycle. Use real examples to demonstrate your expertise!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the team at VAKT.
We think you need these skills to ace Business Analyst
Some tips for your application 🫡
Know Your Stuff:Before you start writing, make sure you understand the role of a Business Analyst in the context of physical oil trading. Brush up on your knowledge of trade lifecycles and Modes of Transport (MOTs) so you can speak the language and show us you're the right fit.
Tailor Your Application:Don’t just send a generic CV and cover letter. Tailor your application to highlight your experience with requirements analysis, documentation, and stakeholder liaison. Show us how your skills align with what we’re looking for at VAKT.
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, clarity is key. Use straightforward language and structure your thoughts logically. We want to see that you can communicate complex ideas simply, just like you would in your role as a Business Analyst.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for the best chance of getting noticed. It’s the easiest way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it reaches the right people. Plus, it shows us you’re genuinely interested in joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at VAKT platform
✨Know Your Domain Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on the physical oil trade lifecycle and the various Modes of Transport. Being able to speak confidently about trade capture, confirmations, and invoicing will show that you’re not just a candidate, but a potential team member who understands the industry.
✨Prepare for Requirements Analysis
Get ready to discuss how you would elicit detailed business and user requirements. Think about examples from your past experiences where you’ve successfully captured user stories and created clear acceptance criteria. This will demonstrate your analytical skills and attention to detail.
✨Showcase Your Communication Skills
Since you'll be liaising with various stakeholders, practice articulating complex ideas in simple terms. Prepare to explain how you’ve effectively communicated with traders, operators, and back-office teams in previous roles. This will highlight your ability to work collaboratively across different functions.
✨Familiarise Yourself with Agile Methodologies
As the role involves working in Agile/Scrum teams, be prepared to discuss your experience with user stories, backlog grooming, and sprint planning. Bring examples of how you've contributed to refining and prioritising backlog items, as this will show your readiness to hit the ground running.
