Head of Middle Office

About the role

The position entails the leadership and coordination of the oil middle office function, which is critical to the global trading and shipping operations of the Ampol group. As the Head of Middle Office Trading and Shipping, this role is responsible for the oversight of operational and risk management functions that underpin trading activities. This role is critical in ensuring the seamless operation of trading processes, the maintenance of compliance, and the adept management of risks associated with the group's hydrocarbon and freight exposures. It involves the meticulous measurement of risk, vigilant monitoring of compliance with established risk limits, and the provision of control reporting to senior management and the Board, thereby bolstering Ampol's supply, trading, and shipping strategies.

Furthermore, the function extends its lens to market risk support, facilitating the optimal utilization of Ampol's risk limits in the pursuit of returns and growth. The Middle Office operates independently from the Front Office trading and shipping activities, ensuring that Ampol possesses an unbiased perspective on its exposure, the management of such exposure, and the identification and escalation of any limit or policy breaches in alignment with established policies and risk appetite.

Additionally, this role encompasses the responsibility for Ampol's oil Enterprise Commodity Risk Management (ECRM) Committee forum, which serves as the principal management committee overseeing the Group's financial risk management activities. A key aspect of this position is to empower the middle office function to refine its strategy and processes, evolving towards a cohesive global model.

The role is also responsible for Ampol's arrangements with the exchanges (ICE, CME et al) that Ampol trades through and for managing the relationship with its clearing broker/s, to ensure appropriate access to approved instruments, maintenance of trading limits and user access and profiles.

The Middle Office is a critical function within a Trading business to support the group's strategic objectives of managing risk effectively and growing in a safe and sustainable manner. To ensure appropriate oversight this role requires strong yet independent internal relationships with the Front Office (Traders), Back Office, Group Treasury, Supply and other key stakeholders across AMPOL'S location which includes Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, the USA and potentially Europe in the near future.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead a high performing team of Middle Office professionals, providing guidance, training, and performance management.
• Contribute to the development of trading strategies and operational improvement to develop our global model.
• Represent the middle office in cross-functional meetings and initiatives.
• Understand the Group's commodity risk management trades and strategies and lead the independent oversight of commodity risk management and trading activities.
• Manage the integrity of commodity risk positions and analysis by challenging risk data (physical and paper) completeness, accuracy, timeliness and reconciling outcomes to cash/accounting. Ensure accurate valuation of exposure and derivatives.
• Maintain fit for purpose control documents including ECRM policy, guidelines and management limits to support risk management and trading activities within risk appetite.
• Oversee daily, weekly and monthly performance reports including MTM P&L, exposure and position limits ensuring compliance with policies and escalation of any breaches.
• Work closely with traders, risk managers, compliance and finance teams to ensure seamless operations across the trade lifecycle on a global model acting as a key point of contact to resolve issues. Collaborate with traders to review risk-taking strategies and mitigate potential risks.
• Lead process improvement initiatives, streamlining operations to enhance efficiency and reduce errors.
• Operate an excellent ECRM Committee forum by providing high quality and timely materials, thought leadership and strategic direction as it relates to management of Ampol's financial risks within the Board approved risk appetite and limits settings.
• Undertake special reviews and projects, ensuring appropriate recommendations made by external consultants and auditors are actioned.

Qualifications & experience

• Tertiary qualification in a quantitative discipline such as Finance, Accounting, Business, Engineering, Computer Science, Actuarial, Math.
• Post-tertiary qualifications such as Master of Applied Finance, MBA, CFA, CA/CPA are well regarded.
• Minimum 5-10 years of experience in senior global Middle Office and market risk management roles in a trading environment or downstream oil industry.
• Leading teams, translating strategy and policy into action.
• Managing cross functional projects or initiatives in various types of size and complexity.

Knowledge & Skills

• Strong understanding of oil markets, derivatives, and financial instruments.
• Proficiency in trading and risk management systems (e.g. Allegro, Aspect, Lacima).
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to work effectively with cross-functional teams and a senior audience.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment and work under pressure.
• Knowledge of market regulations and compliance standards in the oil trading industry.
• Ability to manage large complex projects including change management.
• Understanding of how to engage internal and external stakeholders to achieve an outcome.
• Superior skills and working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Power BI et al).

Want to take your career to the next level? Apply today.