Contract Analyst
Summary
Drafts, reviews, and negotiates commodity trading contracts, ensuring alignment with commercial terms, risk mitigation, and regulatory compliance for a physical commodity trading firm.
Key Responsibilities
- Draft, review, and negotiate sales, purchase, and supply contracts for physical commodity trades.
- Ensure contracts accurately reflect agreed commercial terms (pricing, quantity, delivery terms, Incoterms, etc.).
- Align contracts with trading strategies and operational capabilities to ensure seamless execution.
- Maintain contract lifecycle management from deal capture through to execution and closeout.
- Ensure timely issuance, confirmation, and execution of contracts to support trading activities.
- Identify, assess, and mitigate contractual, operational, and financial risks in trading agreements.
- Ensure compliance with company policies, regulatory requirements, and global trade standards.
- Review contract clauses (e.g., force majeure, indemnity, liability, dispute resolution) to safeguard company interests.
- Monitor contractual obligations and ensure adherence by internal stakeholders and counterparties.
- Partner with traders to structure contracts that optimize margins and reduce risk exposure.
- Provide insights into pricing mechanisms, cost components, and contractual implications on P&L.
- Support dispute resolution and claims management, including quantity/quality disputes, delays, and penalties.
- Ensure accurate interpretation of contract terms in financial settlements and invoicing.
- Contribute to cost recovery and revenue protection through strong contract governance.
- Liaise with traders, operators, legal teams, and finance to resolve contract-related issues.
- Coordinate with suppliers, customers, and external parties to clarify and negotiate contract terms.
- Support supplier performance management by ensuring contracts reflect operational realities.
- Develop and standardize contract templates and clauses for efficiency and consistency.
- Identify process gaps and implement improvements to strengthen contract management practices.
- Maintain contract databases and tracking systems to monitor obligations and performance.
- Provide reporting on contract status, risks, disputes, and compliance metrics.
- Support digitalization and automation initiatives in contract lifecycle management.
Qualifications & Experience
- Bachelor’sdegree in Law, Business, Supply Chain, Finance, Engineering or related field.
- 1-2 years of experience in commodity trading, contract management, legal, or commercial operations.
- Strong understanding of international trade contracts and Incoterms.
- Experience in oil & gas / commodities / shipping environment preferred.
Skills & Competencies
- Strong contract drafting and interpretation skills
- Commercial and financial acumen (P&L awareness)
- Risk identification and mitigation capability
- Stakeholder management and negotiation skills
- High attention to detail and problem-solving mindset
- Proficiency in Excel and contract management systems