Trade Accountant (1 year contract)

Company Description

Vitol is a leader in energy and commodities. Vitol produces, manages and delivers energy and commodities to consumers and industry worldwide. In addition to its primary business of trading, Vitol is invested in infrastructure globally, with $10+billion invested in long-term assets.

Vitol’s customers include national oil companies, multinationals, leading industrial companies and utilities. Founded in Rotterdam in 1966, today Vitol serves its customers from some 40 offices worldwide. Revenues in 2024 were $331bn.

For more information: vitol.com

Job Description

The Trade Accounting team is broadly responsible for business controls, accounting functions, and financial analysis around the Trade Profit and Loss (P&L) of commodities for Chinese entities including metals, oil related products and carbon reduction units.  Primary functions include owning the close process for a range of these entities, proactively working with commercial, operational, IT systems and back-office teams to ensure effective closing in accordance with Chinese Accounting GAAP and assist regional Trade accounting team to comply with company policies and IFRS. In addition, the role will require participation in regular ad-hoc projects in a fast-paced commercial environment.

Main Activities

• Regularly engaging in discussions with commercially-focused teams (operations, commercial analysts) and middle/back-office (IT systems, treasury, settlements, contracts) teams in order to understand commercial activity captured in the Trading system
• Coordinating and executing daily deal settlements and VAT special invoice flow, ensuring timely and accurate processing in collaborating with relevant internal teams
• Reviewing and analyzing Trade P&L, inventory valuations, accruals and various other accounts monthly
• Performing reconciliations between the trade capture and accounting systems and tax declarations
• Contributing to continuous ad hoc projects, including integrating new business developments and identifying process/system improvements
• Preparing for and participating in annual audits
• Supporting regional trade accounting team by improving the quality of derivative/hedge accounting data and other information to comply with company policies and IFRS
• Other duties as assigned

Successful Candidates Will:

• Demonstrate strong accountability and ownership of deliverables.
• Adapt quickly to new concepts in a fast-paced business environment.
• Show interest in developing deep knowledge of trading systems and accounting impacts.
• Exhibit self-motivation, analytical skills, and a proactive approach to ambiguous problems.
• Build relationships across global teams and communicate openly.
• Balance understanding of the ‘big picture’ with attention to detail.
• Work collaboratively and celebrate team success.
• Manage stress, multitask, and adapt to change.
• Continuously assess and improve processes.
• Earn trust through reliable follow-through.
• Be curious, creative, and ready for challenges.
• Communicate effectively with global offices and departments.
• Collaborate to solve problems and suggest process optimizations.

Job Skillset / Knowledge:

• Accounting: Solid knowledge of Chinese accounting standards and strong bookkeeping skills. Candidates with experience in international accounting standards or group reporting are preferred.
• Taxation: Understanding of the basic logic of major tax categories, with the ability to independently verify the reconciliation between tax and accounting figures, and to identify key tax-accounting differences per request.
• Tools: Excellent Excel skills (including pivot tables, functions, and building auxiliary working papers). Experience with BI analysis software is preferred.
• Language: Good English reading and writing skills, with the ability to use English as a working language.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or above, majoring in finance, accounting or related field. CPA License is preferred
• 5-8 years of experience in accounting
• Experience of Big Four accounting firms and/or a background in commodity trading, retail, manufacturing, or complex supply chain enterprises are preferred.

Additional Information

Vitol Asia is committed to providing equal opportunities to all staff. Globally, Vitol seeks to conduct its business in accordance with the UN Global Compact’s ten principles, including those on human rights, one of which is to “Ensure a diverse and inclusive work place, where possible, free from discrimination regardless of age, gender, race, cultural heritage, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion or disability.”

Only successful candidates will be contacted.