United Kingdom
I am a Compliance and Operations specialist with over 20 years of experience across commodity trading, shipping, port agency, logistics, insurance, and risk management. My career spans global organisations including Shell, Trafigura and Ethimex, where I have built a reputation for reliability, analytical strength and the ability to manage complex operational and compliance challenges with precision. I bring deep expertise in KYC, onboarding, due diligence, financial crime controls, ABC assurance, export/import operations, and stakeholder management. I have successfully led large‑scale compliance projects, delivered assurance across global networks, and supported trading activities through accurate analysis, risk assessment and process optimisation. Known for my proactive approach, strong organisational skills and ability to work under pressure, I collaborate effectively with cross‑functional teams — from Tax, Credit and Financial Crime to Procurement, Operations and senior leadership. I am multilingual, adaptable, and comfortable engaging at all levels, from operational teams to board‑level stakeholders. I thrive in environments where integrity, accuracy and continuous improvement are essential. Whether managing onboarding pipelines, coordinating global port agency networks, resolving operational issues or driving compliance excellence, I bring a positive attitude, strong work ethic and a commitment to delivering high‑quality results.
• Operationalise & execute Know Your Customer (KYC) standards within Operations. • Prioritise, request and manage counterparty onboarding requests in/with Trading and Supply Products Business and support demand management. • Troubleshoot issues and challenges preventing effective and efficient onboarding which are generate in the initial request process and help and drive continuous improvement and innovation initiatives as part of the overall counterparty onboarding lifecycle management. • Act as business representative / focal point for issues or feedback and status of request. • Explain how E2E process works to business and set expectations on timescales. • Explain what documents are required and why. • Coordinate KYC priorities for each business. • Chase to ensure resolution of issues or delayed requests • Attach documents in SharePoint or appropriate agreed document repository. • Build business understanding and context and their requests. • Translate/or arrange to translate documents received from Counterparty. • Attend business meetings to present onboarding end to end performance. • Validate Tax number and request Tax approval if required. Collect relevant tax information upon onboarding and at relevant review times. • Request all relevant documentation including required Financial Crime documentation • Credit and where necessary conduct Counterparty outreach • Coordinate with KYC: on their checklist for Initial Due Diligence / Enhanced Due Diligence. • Coordinate with FO Data: MDN requests / W8 & W9 US tax forms / banking forms. • Support Operations frequently engage Government Intermediary (GI) entities as the business representative / focal point in the counterparty onboarding and review processes (ex: Port Agents). In these instances, additional due diligence documentation and review are required. • Handled Reverse KYC, Re-Reviews, Trigger re-views. Keeps process. • Onboarding and training new staff.
• Assist in the financial, operational and administration of the Shell Trading Port Agency network. • Management of Hub contracts. Monitoring the performance of Hubs/Agents in terms of cost and quality of service. • KPI’s and spend tracking, performance management. • Assist and attend Business Performance Reviews (BPR’s) of hub agents. • Attend physical audits to the hubs. Attend port agents / hub visits • Responsible for On boarding and Off boarding port agents / hubs. Dealing with KYC and conduct ABC assurance. • Completed successfully a port agency compliance project, which involved conducting assurance on over 550 agents / hubs. • Act as a focal point for port services and port costs for the Global Trading Network. Deal and resolve queries from stakeholders. • Extract Management Information (MI) to provide commercial advice to support Freight trading businesses and management. • Provide Monthly Direct Reports (MDR) and Cost savings report to management. • Manage Statements of Account (SOA). Check and authorise weekly Statement of Accounts for hubs, on port costs incurred. • Check and approval of Fund flows. Conduct regular fund flow reconciliations. • Manage standing deposit and resolving financial outstanding queries. • Management fees reconciliation, SOAR reports, VAT report follow up. • Deal with Port costs estimate request. Ensure Hub Agents provide consistent, current and accurate port cost data. • Perform regular auditing of online Disbursement of Accounts. Update service errors and service failures. • Created processes to our main activities. Continue improvement. • Provide data for Antwerp liner discounts and tonnage certificates to obtain discounts. • Maintain, update and distribute vessel’s list and other port agency records, such as Agency manual, ensuring its contents are always up to date. • Onboarding, coaching and training new members of staff. • Team member of Global Oil Spill Response support network.
• Provided advisory and technical support to Group Insurance Manager and the Structured Finance, Chartering and Operations departments where required. • Managed and pursued claims. Presented claims’ analysis reports for management to improve processes & performance. • Risk management: monitored risk exposure, trade positions and costs associated. • Vetted Vessels evaluated and assessed vessels to be used. Obtained certificates validity. Assessed and approved worldwide storage facilities. • Reviewed Due Diligences. Dealt with KPI’s. Communicated regularly with managers, P&I Clubs, Solicitors, Brokers & Underwriters. • Coached and trained Staff. Prepare and conduct local & international presentations. It required international travelling. • Entered, analysed and reviewed Insurance declarations for all the group oil transactions & worldwide storage facilities. • Approved & booked insurance invoices, managed the monthly reconciliations. Recovered over $8 Million for the company.
• Responsible for all the Operations, Logistics and Supply chain. Dealt with the company’s import/export contracts management, suppliers & customer’s queries. Overseen the opening of purchases & sales orders. • Prioritized, planned, organized & followed up worldwide loading/deliveries by Sea, Road and Rail.Appointed surveyors for loadings & deliveries. Communicated & negotiated prices with surveying companies. • Managed & negotiated all Transport & Warehouse facilities contracts including terms & conditions. Contract management through KPI’s. Negotiated freight & storage rates including Insurance policies. • Approved & graded all Logistic related suppliers & storage facilities. KPI’s. • Maintained close relationship with providers & customers. Claims & Risk Management. Disputed & dealt with demurrage claims, negotiated settlements. • Managed & optimised Stock/Warehouse positions. Responsible for tanks storage & warehouses. • Resourced new warehouse facilities, visited premises. Analysed & Reported Stock Position & Operations status • Involved in Business Development, travelled national & internally, attended fairs, exhibitions & conferences. Visited regularly Insurance companies, warehouses, transporters & carriers within Europe. Conduct BPR’s and start new projects. • Developed & improved a freight rates system. Controlled ERP system & arranged upgrades. Implemented process. • Analysed Logistic systems record and ensured accuracy & daily completeness. Prepared quotes for traders & gave them support. Liaised with accounts department on invoices inquiries. • Reduced the overall costs, monitored Logistics spend & ensured deliveries on Budget. P&L accounts: Checked Credit limits, issued releases against pledges, warrants & tenders. Authorised signature for payments & finance. Reviewed L/C’s operations. Supervised & approved documents. • Line managed a team of 3 logistics staff. • Resolved operations & logistics problems.
• Assisted the Operations Manager in all shipments on the pre-fixtures & post-fixtures. Chartering. Liaised & communicated regularly with Owners, Shippers, Captains, Brokers, Insurance, Port Agents & Bunkering Co. to update bunker prices. • Appointed & nominated agents. Responsible for insurance cover. Declared vessels to P&I clubs and assured their cover. • Prepared Vessels Costing, Hire Statements, Lay time calculations & reports. Issued payment instructions, confirmed invoices & credit notes. Dealt with vessels Disbursements Accounts, Charter Parties, LC’s, BL’s, Manifest Stowage plan, vessels certificates & LOI’s. Liaised and Communicated with Banks for documentation control purposes & issued U. letters. • Credit Controller. Issued & authorised invoices. Gave support to the Accountant & IT Manager & handled accounts. • Resolved some IT Problems and reported them to the engineer when needed. Liaised with Shipping Lines, Freight Forwarders. Requested and prepared Freight rates indications to Customers. Analysed, reviewed & confirmed all relevant documentation. • Temporary supervised 1 member of staff. • Combined the above duties by working as Senior Secretary for the Managing Director. Maintaining Diaries, Preparing Agenda, organizing travel and accommodation. Preparing letters and responses on behalf of Directors. Receive visitors, maintain updated the filling system. Dealt with inquiries and resolved office & logistics problems. Managed office administration issues. Maintained records of staff annual and sick leave.