Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Global Oil & Energy Trading Platform (Mid-sized), Location: Singapore
Summary
An established and growing Oil & Energy Trading Platform is seeking an experienced and commercially minded Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to lead its global finance function and support the next phase of growth.
Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, the CFO will be a key member of the executive leadership team, responsible for shaping financial strategy, strengthening banking and funding capabilities, enhancing governance frameworks, and partnering closely with commercial teams to drive sustainable profitability.
This role offers the opportunity to operate at the centre of a dynamic international trading environment, working across treasury, trade finance, risk oversight, financial management, corporate development, and strategic decision-making.
Responsibilities
Strategic Financial Leadership
- Develop and execute financial strategies that support the company's growth objectives and long-term business plans.
- Partner with senior leadership and commercial teams (especially with the traders) to assess new opportunities, evaluate transaction structures, and provide financial insights on strategic initiatives.
- Lead financial planning, capital allocation, budgeting, and performance management processes.
- Provide strategic advice and financial recommendations to executive leadership and shareholders.
- Support the organisation's regional and international expansion initiatives through disciplined financial stewardship.
Treasury & Trade Finance
- Build and maintain strong relationships with banking partners and financial institutions across multiple jurisdictions.
- Lead the negotiation, execution, and ongoing management of trade finance and working capital facilities.
- Oversee liquidity management, cash flow forecasting, funding strategies, and foreign exchange exposure management.
- Optimise the company's capital structure and funding arrangements to support growing trading activity and business requirements.
- Ensure efficient deployment of working capital across trading operations.
Financial Risk Governance & Controls
- Establish and strengthen financial risk management frameworks covering liquidity, funding, market-related financial exposures, and other key financial risks in collaboration with the Risk team and Trading team.
- Provide oversight of financial exposure reporting, valuation processes, and the financial implications of hedging activities.
- Ensure robust financial controls surrounding trading transactions, settlements, reconciliations, valuation methodologies, and reporting processes.
- Deliver timely visibility of material financial exposures and liquidity positions to executive management.
- Partner closely with trading, operations, and control functions to ensure sound financial governance across the organisation.
Financial Management & Reporting
- Oversight on financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, and management analysis.
- Ensure compliance with applicable Singapore accounting standards (FRS/ IFRS) and regulatory requirements.
- Oversee accounting policies relevant to commodities trading, including inventory valuation, revenue recognition, and derivative accounting, where applicable.
- Drive improvements in financial reporting, controls, systems, and operational efficiency.
- Ensure the delivery of accurate, timely, and insightful management information.
Corporate Finance & Growth Initiatives
- Lead financial evaluation, due diligence, and execution support for strategic investments, partnerships, and expansion initiatives.
- Assess capital requirements, investment returns, and associated financial risks.
- Develop financing strategies to support both organic and inorganic growth opportunities.
- Provide financial leadership for corporate restructuring, new market entry, and international business expansion projects.
Tax, Compliance & Governance
- Oversee tax planning, transfer pricing considerations, and cross-border financial arrangements.
- Ensure compliance with applicable regulatory, tax, and reporting requirements across operating jurisdictions, including the Global Trader Programme (GTP).
- Strengthen governance frameworks, internal controls, and financial compliance standards.
- Manage relationships with auditors, legal advisers, tax consultants, financial institutions, and other external stakeholders.
Leadership & Stakeholder Management
- Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing finance team.
- Foster a culture of accountability, commercial partnership, and operational excellence.
- Serve as a trusted adviser to senior management on financial and strategic matters.
- Collaborate effectively across trading, operations, and support functions to support business objectives.
Requirements
Qualifications
- At least a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, Business, or a related discipline.
- Professional qualifications such as CA, CPA, ACCA, CFA, or MBA are preferred/advantageous.
Experience
- Minimum 12-15 years of relevant experience, including at least 5 years in a senior finance leadership position within complex trading, commodities, energy, shipping, supply chain, or asset-intensive businesses. Senior candidates with C-Level experience in oil trading, petroleum products trading, energy or commodity trading would be highly advantageous.
- Proven track record in managing substantial trade finance facilities and banking relationships.
- Strong background in treasury, trade finance, corporate finance, financial planning, and risk governance.
- Experience operating within an international, cross-border business environment.
- Track record of working closely with trading teams to support business growth and strategic decision-making.
Technical Knowledge
- Strong knowledge of trade finance instruments, including including LCs, SBLCs, Bank Guarantees and Structured Commodity Financing
- Robust understanding of physical commodity trading, trading margins, credit exposures and working capital cycles.
- Familiarity with financial instruments, hedging concepts, and MTM valuation and risk management methodologies.
- Strong understanding of accounting standards (FRS/IFRS), transfer pricing, cross-border taxation, and corporate governance requirements.
- Excellent understanding of international trade practices, Incoterms and commodity trading operations.
Leadership Attributes
- Strategic thinker with strong commercial and financial acumen.
- Ability to balance growth ambitions with prudent financial discipline and risk management.
- Excellent stakeholder management, communication, and negotiation skills.
- Hands-on leadership style with the ability to operate at both strategic and operational levels.
- High integrity, sound judgment, and the ability to thrive in a dynamic entrepreneurial environment.
What's in it for you & Why this Opportunity?
- Executive leadership role with direct influence on business strategy and growth.
- Broad scope covering treasury, trade finance, corporate finance, governance, and commercial partnership.
- Opportunity to shape and professionalise a growing Global Oil & Energy Trading Platform
- High visibility with shareholders, senior leadership, banking partners, and key stakeholders.
- Competitive compensation package
Kindly drop us a copy of your CV (word format) through this application to register your interest.
All our conversations will be kept strictly confidential.
We regret that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Thank you.
Selby Jennings is a Trading Style of Phaidon International (License number R16S8194)
