SEFE |

"There are many doors which can open for you inside the company while on the scheme: I've gone from the Commercial Operations team to my current role as part of the Digital Trading team - and you'll always be pushed to be the most capable version of yourself whichever team you're a part of"

"As part of the Risk Graduate Scheme, I got to work alongside my current colleagues: like-minded individuals who all create a great working environment. I also gained hands-on experience in various cross-development projects which enabled me to contribute meaningfully to the company's success as a whole"

A current graduate in Quantatitve Risk, Thu Hoai Ngo shares her thoughts on her experience at SEFE Marketing & Trading.

What course did you study and where?

I studied Banking and International Finance at CASS Business School, City, University of London (Bayes Business School).

What Graduate Scheme did you join?

I joined the Risk graduate scheme.

What was a typical day like as a SEFE Marketing & Trading Graduate Trainee?

At the moment, I’m on my first rotation in operational risk. This rotation provides a holistic view of the company’s operations, processes, and controls, allowing for a comprehensive understanding of how different departments function within the organization.

The diversity of tasks in operational risk ensures that no two days are alike, keeping the work environment dynamic and engaging. Analysing and evaluating the company’s risk management control, as well as identifying potential areas for improvement, contribute to a well-rounded experience in risk management.

The subsequent rotations in market conduct, middle office, credit risk, and market risk promise to further enrich your knowledge and skills. Each rotation exposes you to a different areas of risk management and enhance your knowledge in those areas.

Beyond the daily responsibilities, the company provides various training platforms and programs that facilitate continuous learning. These initiatives not only deepen your understanding of the energy market but also enhance the specific skills required for your role.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

One of the aspects I find most enjoyable about my job is the continuous opportunity for learning and growth. Each day presents new challenges and tasks that require me to delve into different processes and controls. This constant exposure to diverse tasks not only keeps my work interesting but also allows me to expand my skill set and knowledge base.

How did your degree prepare you for your role?

My degree has been instrumental in preparing me for my current role. The risk module in particular provided me with a solid foundation in understanding various types of risks. Additionally, my degree emphasized the development of soft skills such as teamwork and communication. These skills have been invaluable in my role as they enhance overall productivity

How has your role developed post scheme?

The application process was 4 months. After I completed online test, I was invited to a short video interview with managers working in the department. It is then followed by a half day assessment centre and Q&A with a recent graduate.

What advice would you give to somebody just starting on a grad program in the organisation?

Don’t hesitate to seek clarification when you are unsure about something. It is better to ask and gain a clear understanding than to make assumptions that could lead to mistakes.

Keep an open mind and stay curious about various aspects of your role. The more you learn, the more versatile and adaptable in your role

Are you an ambitious graduate looking to further your career with a forward-thinking global business? Visit our graduate hub page to find out more about our graduate recruitment programme.

From graduate trainee to managing a multi-skilled team, Lead Power Operator Andrey Selikhov talks us through his SEFE Marketing & Trading journey over the last eight years.

What course did you study and where?

I studied Economics at University College London and graduated in 2012.

What Graduate Scheme did you join?

I joined the Gas & Power Operations graduate rotation within the Front office.

What was a typical day like as a SEFE Marketing & Trading Graduate Trainee?

It wasn’t easy to start my first full-time job, surrounded by very experienced people, a lot of them much older…and a lot more serious than myself. The first few days were all about learning as much as possible and attempting to appear very busy on my computer. However, it only took a week or two before becoming fully immersed in the environment, the role, and the usual ‘trader banter’. Within weeks, my typical day involved shadowing the shift operator and before I knew it, I was already doing my first shifts within the Gas Operations team.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

The relationships, the excellent office environment, the unpretentious vibe, and everyone’s dedicated work ethic have made working in the company extremely enjoyable. SEFE Marketing & Trading is the only place I have ever worked, and I have never seriously considered moving on.

How did your degree prepare you for your role?

While some core aspects of my economics degree made understanding the supply/demand-side fundamentals of gas and power a lot easier, I thought I’d use my degree a lot more than I ended up doing. That said, there are many courses you can and should take at university that can be directly applied to jobs within the front office. Econometrics and statistics modules, for instance, are essential for jobs within Analytics teams, while coding modules – Python in particular – are a great foundation for emerging trader-analyst roles.

How has your role developed post scheme?

After six months in Gas Operations, the team became (and still is) 24/7. I joined the shift team for a further six months, to experience the fun of the night shift. While I thoroughly enjoyed them (as well as 3 am curries), I was glad to be moved to Power Operations as part of my rotation in September.

If I’m being honest, I really didn’t like it at first. But things improved after the first year, and even more so after that. Since I joined the team eight years ago, I’ve seen a lot of change. The team that started with doing purely continental electricity operations now also trades UK Power, optimises physical power stations, creates and runs systematic trading strategies and works with dozens of people within the company on improving the underlying IT systems. I now manage this team and I am happy to say that I absolutely love my job. I’m grateful to SEFE Marketing & Trading and to everyone that I have worked with over the years that have made my career here so special.

What advice would you give to somebody just starting on a grad program in the organisation?

Look at yourself in the mirror and imagine the person and the professional that you want to be. And then every day, make sure the way you sit, the way you talk and what you spend your time on reflects that image. And most importantly: Don’t ever sit at your desk, pretending to work until 17:00 or whatever time your manager approves of. You are paid to work, not to pretend to work. Study the details, talk to your colleagues, and fall in love with your work environment, wherever you are, because it is much easier earning a living when you are happy.

Are you an ambitious graduate looking to further your career with a forward-thinking global business? Visit our graduate hub page to find out more about our graduate recruitment programme.

The views, opinions and positions expressed within this article are those of our third-party content providers alone and do not represent those of SEFE Marketing & Trading. The accuracy, completeness and validity of any statements made within this article are not guaranteed. SEFE Marketing & Trading accepts no liability for any errors, omissions or representations.

During his graduate experience, James spent time on three of our cutting-edge trading desks. Find out more about his journey with us, below.

What course did you study and where?

I studied History and Economics at the University of Manchester.

What Graduate Scheme did you join?

I joined the Front Office Gas and Power Trading graduate scheme.

What was a typical day like as a SEFE Marketing & Trading Graduate Trainee?

During the 18 months I was on the graduate scheme I sat on three different desks on the trading floor, each for six months at a time, with my day varying significantly from role to role. During my time on the Retail Trading desk, I would start early when the markets opened. I’d then run models which forecasted customer demand so that the trader knew what their hedging profile would look like that day. I would spend the rest of the day either analysing the gas market or pricing up customer deal flow for the team.

During my second rotation in Power Analytics, I analysed the European power market and worked with the lead analyst to come up with strategies for the desk to trade off.

My final rotation was in Power Operations, which included optimising UK power assets and trading around these on a short-term basis. Outside of the trading floor we had scheduled sessions where we learnt more about the commodity markets and could work on areas such as our presenting skills.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

The opportunity and responsibility that you’re given at SEFE Marketing & Trading is brilliant, whether it’s on the graduate scheme or later in your career. I was given work from day one that really made a difference and I had the right level of support to succeed. As your career progresses you’ll end up working with some incredibly smart people with many years of experience, and they’re always willing to help and answer questions, providing insights and advice that enable you to progress.

How did your degree prepare you for your role?

Economics gives you a good grounding for many roles within finance, and especially within my current role, as the market is driven by many of the concepts that I learnt about. Previously, I spent a lot of time scanning papers, efficiently selecting the relevant points which is really useful when scanning central bank speeches, for example, picking out the relevant market moving parts. In addition to the intellectual side, my degree was a great way of getting to know working in teams which is so critical in a trading environment, as you’re often needed to collaborate with others, sharing views and ideas along the way.

How has your role developed post scheme?

After the graduate scheme, I stayed in Power Operations for a couple of years, which is what my last rotation was in. Towards the end of 2018, I joined the FX desk as an FX trader. Our role on the desk is split between hedging the currency exposure of the commodity desks as they trade in their respective market, and proprietary trading. SEFE Marketing & Trading is excellent at promoting within when it comes to all front office roles, especially on the commercial side.

What advice would you give to somebody just starting on a grad program in the organisation?

Be a sponge! Take in everything and don’t feel afraid to ask questions as people are always willing to take the time to help you learn. Building relationships is important too; so much of a working environment is about how well you get on with people, as well as being a team player. Open yourself up to as many areas of the business as you can, so you really get a feel for where your interest lies and where your skills are best suited. And most importantly, work hard and have fun!

Are you an ambitious graduate looking to further your career with a forward-thinking global business? Visit our graduate hub page to find out more about our graduate recruitment programme.

The views, opinions and positions expressed within this article are those of our third-party content providers alone and do not represent those of SEFE Marketing & Trading. The accuracy, completeness and validity of any statements made within this article are not guaranteed. SEFE Marketing & Trading accepts no liability for any errors, omissions or representations.

After joining the Finance Graduate Scheme in 2021, Trenaay is now a Corporate Controller at SEFE Marketing & Trading. Here she tells her story of the last few years.

What course did you study and where?

I studied Accounting and Finance at De Montfort University in Leicester.

What Graduate Scheme did you join?

I joined the Finance graduate scheme back in 2021.

What was a typical day like as a SEFE Marketing & Trading Graduate Trainee?

At the beginning of my graduate scheme at SEFE Marketing & Trading I attended many business-related training sessions, which included training and introduction sessions across Power Trading and Trading Risk, to have a better understanding of the wider business environment and trading industry. I also took part in a two-day trading simulation, where we were able to experience the role of a trader, which was quite fun and gave an insight into trading.

During my Finance graduate scheme I had three rotations, each for around six months at a time, and my day varied from role to role. The different areas including Finance Planning and Management Reporting, Group Reporting and Accounts Payable.

From being involved in budgeting and month-end reporting for senior management with Planning and Management reporting team, to assisting in the audit of our financial records with Group Reporting and helping with invoicing and payments for Accounts Payable, I would say I was able to be fully immersed in the different areas of finance within SEFE Marketing and trading.

It was an enjoyable experience as I was able to see which area of finance I enjoyed or didn’t quite enjoy, as well as giving me time to reflect on where I would potentially see my career going after the graduate scheme.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

Interacting with different department and building relationships, as everyone is very friendly and supportive. The company also supports with accounting qualification, which means the work I do links to what I’m studying, as well as offering a great work life balance.

In Finance things are constantly changing especially with the industry of SEFE. I enjoy the fast-paced nature of my role, for sure there can be a few mundane tasks that have to be completed but generally everyday there is something new to be investigated, especially during month-end. I always feel as though I am continuously learning and improving myself.

How did your degree prepare you for your role?

As I studied Accounting and Finance in University, my degree supplied me with theory knowledge of the world of finance which has been helpful when I started my career. My degree has also helped with soft skills, such as the importance of working in teams which is a large part of the work environment. Every day I am speaking to a variety of stakeholders and so it is important have the confidence to step out of your comfort zone and be comfortable with interacting with even the most senior colleagues.

How has your role developed post scheme?

Having completed my different rotations within finance, post-scheme I was offered a role within the Trading UK Accounting team. I started as a Trading Controller, which allowed me to support the team with analysing gross margin balances, and taking ownership in working on my own projects.

Trade Accounting is very investigative which is both challenging and demanding, in a way that ensures the work is never boring. Through this area of Finance, I have also been gained more commercial developments within and outside the business, for example the power market due to the nature of my tasks, which has been interesting and insightful.

What advice would you give to somebody just starting on a grad program in the organisation?

Ask questions, it’s best to ask them now and get clarification early on as usually someone will have the exact same question – don’t be afraid to speak up!

Get to know the business as a whole, not just the area you’re working in. Business is very collaborative and someday that information will be useful to you.

Be confident – you are not expected to be an expert. If you are unsure people are always supportive and they want to see you succeed,

Expand your network. It can be daunting but speak to as many people as possible in your department and in other departments.

Are you an ambitious graduate looking to further your career with a forward-thinking global business?

The views, opinions and positions expressed within this article are those of our third-party content providers alone and do not represent those of SEFE Marketing & Trading. The accuracy, completeness and validity of any statements made within this article are not guaranteed. SEFE Marketing & Trading accepts no liability for any errors, omissions or representations.