Trade Finance, Automation Lead

Trafigura; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Trafigura is seeking a senior Automation Lead to join its Trade Finance function to accelerate the adoption of AI, automation, and modern tooling while maintaining operational credibility on the desk. This role bridges Trade Finance operations and IT delivery teams to translate business friction into prioritised automation initiatives.

The candidate will drive end-to-end digitalization, build robust business cases, and develop reusable artefacts to accelerate future automation.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience combining Trade Finance or commodity finance operations with technology-driven transformation.
• Experience at a commodity trading house’s Trade Finance or finance function with a demonstrable transformation track record, or at a Trade Finance fintech (e.g. Komgo, Contour, Traydstream, Enigio, Bolero, TradeSun, or equivalent).
• Documented automation or AI projects personally led or co‑led, with quantified outcomes — including hours saved, error rate reductions, or cycle time improvements.
• Background in technology-driven business transformation: business analyst, project or programme manager, super user, or product/scrum lead.
• Experience working with leading‑edge technology platforms in the Trade Finance domain.

Responsibilities

• Own and maintain the Trade Finance technology and automation roadmap — identifying, prioritising, and driving high-ROI use cases across reporting, reconciliation, controls, credit workflows, and document handling.
• Own digitalization and technology projects related to Trade Finance end-to-end — from scoping, business case, and vendor/platform evaluation through to delivery, rollout, and adoption.
• Partner with IT delivery teams to progress priority initiatives from concept through to production deployment, remaining engaged at every stage.
• Map and redesign business processes ahead of automation, ensuring workflows are optimized before tooling is applied.
• Prototype solutions or produce precise, IT-consumable business requirements to validate value and support production build decisions.
• Develop reusable artefacts — templates, playbooks, and requirement patterns — that accelerate future automation initiatives.
• Coach and upskill Trade Finance colleagues in modern, tool-driven ways of working, including prompt design, tool adoption, and process instrumentation.
• Serve as the visible technology advocate for the team, sharing practical outcomes and embedding a data-led, digitally native culture.
• Monitor external benchmarks from peer trading houses and Trade Finance technology providers and assess their applicability internally.
• Represent Trade Finance in cross-functional technology transformation forums.
• Ensure new tools and products are adopted effectively by business domains, with value measurement frameworks in place.

Skills

SQL

Python

Low-code/No-code

AI tooling

Reqs specs

Cross-functional

Change agent

Tools

ETRM

TMS

GL

Job description

About the Role

Trafigura is seeking a senior Automation Lead to join its Trade Finance function. This is a strategic, dual-profile appointment whose primary mandate is to accelerate the team’s adoption of AI, automation, and modern tooling — while maintaining operational credibility on the desk to understand workflows from the inside and drive meaningful, sustained change. The successful candidate will act as the bridge between Trade Finance operations and IT delivery teams, translating business friction into prioritised, deliverable automation initiatives. This role requires a demonstrable track record as a change agent, combined with sound Trade Finance domain knowledge.

Key Responsibilities

Technology & Automation Leadership Own and maintain the Trade Finance technology and automation roadmap — identifying, prioritizing, and driving high-ROI use cases across reporting, reconciliation, controls, credit workflows, and document handling.

Own digitalization and technology projects related to Trade Finance end-to-end — from scoping, business case, and vendor/platform evaluation through to delivery, rollout, and adoption. Build robust business cases for each initiative, aligned with IT architecture guidelines and the function's future-state vision.

Partner with IT delivery teams to progress priority initiatives from concept through to production deployment, remaining engaged at every stage.

Map and redesign business processes ahead of automation, ensuring workflows are optimized before tooling is applied.

Prototype solutions or produce precise, IT-consumable business requirements to validate value and support production build decisions.

Develop reusable artefacts — templates, playbooks, and requirement patterns — that accelerate future automation initiatives.

Coach and upskill Trade Finance colleagues in modern, tool-driven ways of working, including prompt design, tool adoption, and process instrumentation.

Serve as the visible technology advocate for the team, sharing practical outcomes and embedding a data-led, digitally native culture.

Monitor external benchmarks from peer trading houses and Trade Finance technology providers (e.g. Komgo, Contour, Traydstream, Enigio, Bolero) and assess their applicability internally.

Represent Trade Finance in cross-functional technology transformation forums.

Ensure new tools and products are adopted effectively by business domains, with value measurement frameworks in place.

Trade Finance Operations

Execute day-to-day Trade Finance responsibilities across the full instrument lifecycle, including:

• Letters of Credit: Drafting, reviewing, and ensuring compliance against UCP 600 terms; liaising with issuing banks and counterparties to satisfy collateral requirements.
• Receivable Discounting: Managing eligible receivables pools, coordinating with financing banks, and tracking utilisation against approved limits.
• Borrowing Base Reporting: Compiling eligible assets and liabilities, applying advance rates and concentration limits, and preparing periodic certificates for submission to lending banks.

Contribute to credit-limit management, collateral monitoring, and controls — flagging exceptions, escalating exposures, and ensuring bank reporting is accurate and delivered on time.

Support Trade Finance officers during peak volume periods, audits, and monthly reporting cycles.

Serve as an operational subject‑matter expert whose hands‑on experience directly informs automation priorities — identifying manual touchpoints, data gaps, and process inefficiencies that represent the highest-value opportunities on the roadmap.

Required Experience

• 7+ years of experience combining Trade Finance or commodity finance operations with technology-driven transformation.
• Prior experience at a commodity trading house’s Trade Finance or finance function with a demonstrable transformation track record, or at a Trade Finance fintech (e.g. Komgo, Contour, Traydstream, Enigio, Bolero, TradeSun, or equivalent).
• Documented automation or AI projects personally led or co‑led, with quantified outcomes — including hours saved, error rate reductions, or cycle time improvements.
• Background in technology-driven business transformation: business analyst, project or programme manager, super user, or product/scrum lead.
• Experience working with leading‑edge technology platforms in the Trade Finance domain.

Technical Skills

• Working knowledge of SQL; proficiency in Python or a low‑code/no‑code platform (e.g. Power Apps, Retool, Alteryx, UiPath, n8n).
• Familiarity with modern AI tooling, including LLM APIs, RAG pipelines, and AI agents.
• Ability to specify integrations between trade systems (ETRM / TMS / GL / bank platforms) — integration build expertise is not required, but the ability to scope, brief, and challenge IT credibly is essential.
• Ability to interpret system architecture diagrams and data models independently.
• Comfortable prototyping with AI tools, with genuine curiosity about the application of data and AI to business processes.
• Ability to produce precise, IT-consumable requirements specifications.

Domain Knowledge

• Sound understanding of Trade Finance instruments and workflows: open account, Letters of Credit, borrowing base reporting, credit exposure, collateral management, and receivable discounting.
• Familiarity with commodity trading flows (e.g. pipeline, storage, blending, in‑transit financing) is advantageous.

Behavioural Competencies

A genuine change agent: creative, driven, and collaborative, with a strong bias towards outcomes.

Comfortable challenging existing processes and incumbents, with the patience to bring stakeholders along and the resilience to manage pushback.

Hands‑on by instinct — focused on making things work rather than directing from a distance.

Able to navigate ambiguity and make progress without a fully defined brief.

Effective in cross‑functional (business and IT) teams delivering complex products or projects.

Actively models and builds a data‑and AI‑led culture across the wider team.

A collaborative team player with a commitment to continuous learning.

Additional Desirable Attributes

• Prior experience with next‑generation ETRM platforms (e.g. Atlas, Titan).
• Background in consulting (Big 4 or MBB) with a Trade Finance or commodities focus.
• Bilingual English and Spanish.

Equal Opportunity Employer

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.

Company Overview

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.

We are accelerating our investments in renewable energy, including hydrogen, ammonia and other low‑carbon energy technologies required for the transition to a low carbon future.

We are committed to responsible business practices and we work with our stakeholders to improve environmental and social standards, bringing greater trust and transparency to global supply chains.

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.

The Trafigura Group owns global multi‑metals producer Nyrstar; fuel storage and distribution company Puma Energy; and joint ventures Impala Terminals, a port and logistics provider, and Nalo Renewables, investing in wind, solar and battery storage projects.