Commodities

Trading
SWITZERLAND

SALARY OVERVIEW
SALARY OVERVIEW

MARKET TRENDS

Reorganisation and cost optimisation are putting the squeeze on salaries

Following the reorganisation by large players of their support functions, we have witnessed market change with a decline
in salaries, especially in operational and back-office roles among commodities operators, shipping, clearing and general
administrative functions.
This trend has also seen more employers seeking candidates who are multi-skilled and have niche expertise.

Gaps between the soft commodities, energy and metals

There remains a significant difference in salaries between the three sectors of energy, metals and soft commodities.
Oil is still king! – so much is certain.
We have also observed large gaps in how bonus schemes affect salaries within the different sectors, and how they reflect the
size of the employing company and its appetite for and tolerance of risk.

How location affects take-home pay

There is competition at an international level between the commodities hubs of Geneva, London and Singapore. Here, the large
institutions have pools of candidates to draw on but remain focused on finding the right people.
At a national level, within Switzerland itself, there are significant differences in the salaries to be earned in Geneva, Zurich and
Zug, compared with the smaller commodities hubs such as Lausanne and Lugano.

What our clients are looking for

Clients are looking for candidates to be versatile and adaptable. Within boutique organisations, the scope of the employee’s
responsibilities has expanded. This is particularly true for trade support roles, such as finance and operations.
We also are undertaking searches on behalf of our clients for people with niche skills and specialisations within a certain
product range, that have developed an expertise in certain countries of origin, or who have built up a strong commercial
network.

What candidates expect

Salary is a key driver in attracting the best talent and it’s also true that the lifestyle enjoyed in Switzerland is a magnet for talent.
However, as the big players compete among themselves for the best people, it is not only compensation and benefits, such as
an aggressive bonus scheme, that influence the candidate’s decision. With talents and skills that make them highly mobile,
candidates also feel that they can ask for greater flexibility and clear career progression from their prospective employers.

ABOUT US

Michael Page and Page Personnel are part of PageGroup, a leading recruitment firm specialized in permanent and temporary
recruitment. We help professionals who are eager to progress in their careers with our unique consultative approach. Our
global network, combined with our unrivalled local industry knowledge, give us access to the best opportunities in the market
and to the best skilled candidates available.

METHODOLOGY

Our Salary Factsheet benchmarks profiles across Switzerland within commodities trading companies. We have observed large
gaps – discrepancies between sectors, companies’ size and sectors. The information provided in this survey comes from three
different sources: our database with more than 450’000 candidate profiles, various recruitment assignments managed by our
consultants who conduct over 30’000 interviews a year, and years of experience within the Swiss market.
 Commodities
Trading SALARY OVERVIEW
SWITZERLAND
Bonus*
Average annual salary in CHF Minimum Average Maximum
% of base salary

SUPPORT FUNCTIONS
Finance
Senior Accountant 95'000 105'000 120'000 5 to 10
Accounting Manager 120'000 130'000 160'000 5 to 15
Trading Accountant 90'000 120'000 150'000 5 to 15
Financial Controller 100'000 140'000 180'000 10 to 20
Head of Finance 160'000 200'000 250'000 30 to 50
Tax Manager 110'000 150'000 200'000 10 to 25
Tax Director 160'000 180'000 240'000 20 to 40
Internal Auditor 95'000 120'000 150'000 10 to 20
Head of Internal Audit - Compliance 160'000 180'000 230'000 15 to 30

Trade Finance
Trade Finance Officer 100'000 120'000 130'000 10 to 20
Trade Finance Manager 130'000 150'000 180'000 10 to 20
Structured Trade Finance 120'000 160'000 200'000 10 to 25
Treasury Analyst 70'000 90'000 120'000 5 to 10
Treasury Manager 120'000 150'000 200'000 10 to 20
Head of Treasury - Financing 150'000 180'000 220'000 20 to 40
Cash Manager 100'000 120'000 150'000 10 to 20
Credit Risk Analyst 85'000 120'000 160'000 10 to 20
Credit Risk Manager 140'000 160'000 200'000 20 to 40

Middle Office & Risk Management

Middle Officer - Trader's Assistant 80'000 110'000 160'000 10 to 20
Risk Manager 120'000 150'000 200'000 20 to 50

Back Office & Administration

Contract Administrator 60'000 80'000 120'000 10 to 20
Contract Manager 120'000 140'000 160'000 11 to 20
Clearing and Settlement Specialist 70'000 90'000 130'000 10 to 20

Operations & Execution

Commodities Trading Analyst 70'000 80'000 95'000 10 to 20
Commodities Trading Operator 90'000 110'000 125'000 10 to 20
Senior Operator 100'000 120'000 140'000 10 to 30
Operations Manager 120'000 140'000 170'000 10 to 40
Demurrage Specialist 70'000 110'000 120'000 10 to 20
Scheduler 80'000 110'000 130'000 10 to 20

Research
Supply & Demand Analyst 90'000 120'000 170'000 10 to 30
Head of Research 140'000 180'000 250'000 20 to 40

TRADING
Boutique Houses
Soft Commodities Trader 110'000 140'000 180'000 30 to 80
Freight Trader 110'000 140'000 180'000 30 to 80
Metals Trader 130'000 150'000 200'000 40 to 80
Energy Trader 120'000 160'000 250'000 40 to 120

Blue Chip Companies

Business Developper - Marketer 120'000 150'000 180'000 30 to 120
Freight Trader 110'000 160'000 230'000 30 to 120
Soft Commodities Trader 120'000 160'000 230'000 30 to 120
Metals Trader 130'000 180'000 280'000 40 to 130
Energy Trader 140'000 200'000 350'000 40 to 150
Head of Commoditities Platform 160'000 200'000 350'000 40 to 150

* We have observed large gaps in bonus schemes, depending on the sector, a company‘s size and its attitude to risk.

CONTACT Geneva Zurich Lausanne

Quai de la Poste 12 Bleicherweg 10 Place Bel-Air 1
1204 Geneva 8002 Zurich 1003 Lausanne
Tel: +41 (0)22 544 19 00 Tel: +41 (0)44 224 22 22 Tel: +41 (0)21 561 31 00
www.michaelpage.ch [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
www.pagepersonnel.ch [email protected]    [email protected]  [email protected]