Robert Kirkwood

Operations Associate

United Kingdom16 yrs 10 mos experience

Highly Stable

Key Highlights

12+ years in operational risk and controls leadership
Expertise in regulated trading environments
Proven track record in process and control transformation

Stackforce AI infers this person is an expert in Energy Trading with a focus on operational risk and compliance.

Contact

Skills

Core Skills

Operational Risk ManagementControl FrameworkRegulatory ReportingTrading Operations

Other Skills

Business ContinuityChange ManagementRegulatory ComplianceGovernanceRisk ManagementInternal ControlsContinuous Process ImprovementStakeholder ManagementTeam LeadershipCompliance (GRC)

About

I’m an operational risk and controls leader with 12+ years’ experience in regulated trading and commercial environments, specialising in the design and embedding of control frameworks, governance and risk management (financial and non-financial). I bring deep end-to-end trading lifecycle knowledge spanning front, middle and back office activities, with a track record of delivering complex change. This includes new product, system and regulatory change programmes across Energy (Gas, Power, LNG), Emissions and Oil trading environments, as well as leading cross-business process and controls transformation initiatives across 10 Trading & Supply businesses, improving consistency and operational effectiveness in high-risk areas. My background spans commodity trading with strong exposure to ETRM platforms (Aligne / Endur) and related trading systems, and a practical understanding of how processes, controls and data operate across the full lifecycle. I focus on improving processes, controls and systems to strengthen risk management and business resilience while supporting commercial outcomes.

Experience

16 yrs 10 mos

Total Experience

5 yrs 7 mos

Average Tenure

Current Experience

Shell

5 roles

Control Lead - Trading & Supply, Commercial Operations

Promoted

Aug 2021 – Mar 2026 · 4 yrs 7 mos · London Area, United Kingdom

Led the design and enhancement of operational and compliance risk, process and control frameworks across high-risk trading activities, spanning 10 Trading & Supply businesses
Drove control improvements across front-to-back trading processes, systems and reporting, strengthening governance, consistency and risk mitigation
Partnered with trading, operations and second-line teams to embed control frameworks into business processes, improving MI and operational resilience
Acted as first-line lead for business continuity, coordinating scenario testing, incident response and remediation across operations and technology
Delivered governance reviews and continuous improvement initiatives across control frameworks, reducing duplication and enhancing control effectiveness

Business ContinuityChange ManagementControl FrameworkRegulatory ComplianceGovernanceRisk Management+4

Team Lead Confirmations and Regulatory Reporting - Crude & Products Trading

Sep 2020 – Jul 2021 · 10 mos · London Area, United Kingdom

Led a team of 8 delivering trade confirmations and EMIR regulatory reporting across global Crude, Products and Derivatives trading desks, covering a maternity leave assignment
Owned regulatory reporting and confirmation processes, ensuring accuracy, timeliness and robust control across high-volume trading activity
Maintained operational performance and control through pandemic disruption and organisational change
Oversaw key financial controls (SOX & KNS), managing internal and external audit activity

Team Lead Confirmations and Regulatory Reporting - Energy & Emissions Trading

Aug 2016 – Aug 2020 · 4 yrs · London Area, United Kingdom

Led a team of 7 delivering trade confirmations and regulatory reporting across EU Gas, Power, LNG and global Emissions trading desks, supporting high-volume and growing trading activity
Owned embedding of EMIR & REMIT regulatory reporting within the team, ensuring compliant and accurate delivery across complex trading environments
Enhanced 4 financial risk (SOX & KNS) controls, strengthening control design, governance and process effectiveness, and achieving zero audit findings throughout tenure
Managed complex confirmations across physical and financial products, supporting front office activity and mitigating operational and contractual risk
Delivered continuous improvement initiatives across confirmations, regulatory reporting and control processes, improving efficiency, consistency and risk management

Regulatory ReportingTeam LeadershipTrading OperationsContinuous Process Improvement

Transaction Reporting Analyst (EMIR / REMIT) - Energy & Emissions Trading

Promoted

Dec 2015 – Jul 2016 · 7 mos · London Area, United Kingdom

Delivered EMIR and REMIT transaction reporting across Energy and Emissions trading desks, ensuring accurate, complete and compliant reporting of trading activity
Supported implementation of a REMIT reporting solution, working with IT, operations and compliance teams to transition processes into BAU
Investigated and resolved reporting exceptions and data quality issues, improving reporting integrity and reducing operational risk

Regulatory ReportingTeam LeadershipTrading OperationsContinuous Process Improvement

Contracts (Confirmations) Co-ordinator - Energy & Emissions Trading

Dec 2013 – Nov 2015 · 1 yr 11 mos · London Area, United Kingdom

Prepared and issued trade confirmations across Energy and Emissions trading desks, ensuring accuracy and timely execution of contractual documentation
Liaised with trading, operations and counterparties to resolve discrepancies and support smooth trade settlement across the trading lifecycle
Maintained strong control and documentation standards, supporting effective risk management and audit readiness, while identifying opportunities to improve processes and ways of working