Position profile: business banking specialist
Rebecca Lucas A Fin, State Manager, Retirement Living & Aged Care, Adelaide Bank Ltd
How did you get to where you are today?
After completing two years of a bachelor of Applied Economics from the University of South Australia I decided to complete my final year on a part time basis whilst commencing a new position with BankSA in late 1999.
My introductory position with BankSA was as a teller in the branch network whilst completing my degree. After 18 months, I successfully gained a position as Trainee Analyst in the bank’s commercial banking area, focusing on small business clients with funding requirements such as small term loans, overdraft facilities and leasing/asset purchase facilities. My client’s were solely South Australian based. After six months I ‘graduated’ to a Commercial Analyst and worked in this position until I left Australia mid 2001 on a
working holiday visa.
I gained a position at the Royal Bank of Scotland in their Corporate Banking division, within a team that specialised in cash flow funding to portfolios of top-end hotels, restaurants, health clubs etc in London. This environment gave me invaluable exposure to larger corporate clients and much larger financing structures.
After 18 months in this position, in late 2002 I moved back to Adelaide as an Assistant Manager at Adelaide Bank in the Aged Care team. This team specialises in providing funding to clients who are constructing or acquiring retirement villages and aged care facilities nation wide. I was in this position for 12 months before the opportunity arose for the State Manager position, which I have currently been doing since.
What does a typical day involve for you?
A typical day involves assessing applications for finance (analysing financial statements, perusing valuation reports, perusing quantity surveyor reports, analysing and undertaking demographic studies, recognising and mitigating risks involved in proving finance to specific developments), liaising with solicitors, valuers, clients and managing a team of direct reports.
Given I am responsible for Victoria and Western Australia, I am regularly travelling to these states to meet current and prospective clients to discuss their future financing requirements.
What interpersonal skills are essential for your role?
You need to be a people person with good communication skills, have an approachable manner and possess good negotiation skills.
What sort of person is good in this role and type of organisation?
Self motivated people who enjoy working in a team environment but are also able to be self sufficient. You need to possess a quite out-going personality and be results driven.
What do you find the most rewarding about your current role?
The most rewarding part of this position is to witness a client’s expansion and success in part due to the trust you have displayed in them by providing substantial finance facilities.
To see a parcel of land morph into a retirement village or aged care facility with happy residents is very rewarding.
I also enjoy the freedom of my position to travel interstate on a regular basis and meet many different people, from small operators of aged care facilities to directors/CEOs of large public listed companies.
What do most people find challenging/difficult about a role like this?
Whilst the constant travel can be a great way to ‘escape’ the office, it can become very wearing.
Other challenges include negotiations with clients, but this is normally a small part of the transaction, and is all part of building a strong relationship with that client.
What were you looking for in an employer when took your current role?
Stability within the working environment, flexibility and a team structure.
What types of benefits are essential to attract the best people?
A certain degree of flexibility with working hours, competitive bonus structure and competitive maternity leave arrangements.
What other jobs and career paths could you consider in the future?
I have an interest in financial planning and am currently studying towards the appropriate diploma.
How do you keep up to date?
I read the Australian Financial Review on a daily basis, as well as any retirement/aged care specific journals and articles.
Are you considering any study professional development in the future?
I am currently studying towards a diploma in financial planning.
Why did you become a member of Finsia?
To have access to industry events/seminars and to access a financial planning course. I am currently on the Young Finance Professionals (Finsia) committee which has recently been founded. We hope to bring together a wide variety of young finance professionals in Adelaide for the purpose of networking.
What tips for success can you give for an aspiring business banking specialist?
Be dedicated to your current position and you will find that opportunities will arise. Create good working relationships with your peers and management. Respect for others will take you in the right direction.