Back Office Analyst
1 day ago
Houston
Job DescriptionBack Office Analyst- Contract- Houston, TX This role operates in a fast?paced trading environment, requiring the ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a team. Strong communication skills are essential for effective interaction with colleagues, other departments, and external counterparts, while strict adherence to industry and contractual deadlines is necessary to meet company obligations. Problem?solving responsibilities include reconciling discrepancies and resolving counterpart issues by proactively seeking out the information needed. In addition, compliance with regulatory frameworks such as the Dodd?Frank Act, Sarbanes?Oxley Act, and other applicable rules demands diligence, accuracy, and attention to detail in all reporting and monitoring activities. ActivitiesTrade Management & Validation • Manage trading counterpart portfolio and verify deal sheets/reports in the BOOK system, • Confirm daily trades with counterparts/brokers and validate exchange positions and limits, • Perform daily trade checks, reconciling confirmations against internal recordsSettlements, Invoicing & Reconciliation, • Issue and reconcile invoices within deadlines, resolving discrepancies with Operations/Middle Office, • Agree settlements, provide payment instructions, and deliver cash forecasts to Treasury, • Support Accounting with debt reporting, accruals, and analyze settlement statements in Simba systemsConfirmations & Documentation, • Process and record confirmations in the BOOK, chasing outstanding items daily, • Review confirmations/settlements for pricing and volume adjustments, • Collaborate with IT to automate confirmation processesRegulatory & Market Monitoring, • Report OTC trades within 24 hours to meet Dodd?Frank requirements, • Monitor market/regulatory changes and ensure compliance with audit standardsCounterpart Onboarding & Support, • Lead onboarding of new counterparts and provide support on trade queries, • Mentor junior team members and assist colleaguesProjects, Reporting & Improvements, • Contribute to projects, management reports, and ad hoc analysis, • Support new product/market implementation with compliant process documentation, • Drive process/system improvements, assess operational risks, and define mitigating measuresResponsibilitiesThis role is responsible for ensuring the timely and accurate processing of trade confirmations, invoicing, and payments in accordance with contractual and legal requirements. Daily checks are conducted to maintain the integrity of the trading book by verifying entries and transactions against brokers, exchanges, and clearers. The position requires proactively identifying and resolving trade verification errors, escalating issues when necessary to mitigate risk. Effective communication with both internal teams and external counterparts is essential to ensure transparency, timely updates, and collaborative problem solving. The role also demands ownership of issues, driving resolution, and contributing to continuous improvement while upholding the highest standards of compliance, accuracy, and accountability to safeguard against financial and reputational risk. Financial • The Back Office processes approximately 250,000 trade confirmations and 35,000 invoices and payments annually., • Counterparties include upstream and downstream affiliates as well as major energy companies across Europe, the U.S., the Middle East, and Asia., • Clearing houses represent a turnover of more than USD 12.9 billion.Non?Financial, • Operate within Back?Office operations in Houston, as part of Global Risk Control, • Work across multiple product types, including natural gas, ethane, shale gas, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)., • Provide support and conduct testing for system developments and enhancements., • Participate in regular internal and external audits and ensure compliance with regulatory obligations., • Contribute to regular projects and initiatives aimed at process improvement, system upgrades, automation, and regulatory adaptation, often requiring cross?functional collaboration with Risk, Operations, Treasury, and IT teams.CompetenciesProfessional Skills, • Ability to work under pressure while meeting strict deadlines., • Strong attention to detail and accuracy in an environment where errors carry financial and reputational risk., • Effective and proactive communication skills with a customer service mindset., • Demonstrated ability to drive innovation, manage change, and improve processes.Technical Skills, • Advanced computer proficiency with strong IT skills., • Expertise in Excel (including VBA)., • Knowledge of Python for data analysis and process optimization., • Skilled in Power BI for interactive dashboards and reporting., • Experience with Alteryx for data preparation and automation., • Familiarity with Power Automate for workflow automation., • Ability to develop new tools to secure and optimize processes and build reports adapted to evolving business needs.Qualifications, • Undergraduate degree in Accounting, Finance, Mathematics, Energy, or a business?related major., • 2?3 years of experience in the Gas, LNG, and Energy markets with a strong data analysis component., • Knowledge of energy commodity markets is highly desirable.HOUAC49 #ZRCompany DescriptionAbout Burnett Specialists Burnett Specialists is a top-ranked, 100% employee-owned recruiting firm with over 50 years of expertise in connecting top talent with exceptional companies. Headquartered in Texas, we specialize in placing professionals in Accounting, IT, HR, Marketing, Engineering, Sales, Legal, Supply Chain, and Administrative roles across major cities, including Houston, Austin, Dallas, San Antonio, and El Paso. With a proven track record of responsiveness, cost savings, and full-spectrum staffing solutions — from temporary and temp-to-hire to payrolling and direct hire placements — we are committed to exceeding expectations and delivering unparalleled results. As a Woman-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE), we take pride in building long-term relationships with our clients and candidates while fostering integrity, professionalism, and community involvement. Visit us at: Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram for the latest job opportunities and industry insights!About Burnett Specialists\r\nBurnett Specialists is a top-ranked, 100% employee-owned recruiting firm with over 50 years of expertise in connecting top talent with exceptional companies. Headquartered in Texas, we specialize in placing professionals in Accounting, IT, HR, Marketing, Engineering, Sales, Legal, Supply Chain, and Administrative roles across major cities, including Houston, Austin, Dallas, San Antonio, and El Paso.\r\n\r\nWith a proven track record of responsiveness, cost savings, and full-spectrum staffing solutions — from temporary and temp-to-hire to payrolling and direct hire placements — we are committed to exceeding expectations and delivering unparalleled results.\r\n\r\nAs a Woman-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE), we take pride in building long-term relationships with our clients and candidates while fostering integrity, professionalism, and community involvement.\r\n\r\nVisit us at: us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram for the latest job opportunities and industry insights!