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Rising Star: Telephone BDM, Emma Brown, Accord

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  • 30/08/2019
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Rising Star: Telephone BDM, Emma Brown, Accord
This week’s rising star speaking to Mortgage Solutions is Emma Brown, telephone business development manager at Accord Mortgages.

 

What does your role entail and how long have you been doing it?

I started as a telephone business development manager (BDM) in July 2017 on a secondment and was made permanent a few months later. My role is all about building relationships with intermediaries and being the support for both new and ongoing mortgage applications. It’s a fantastic feeling knowing you have been part of a client’s journey to find their dream home.

 

What attracted you to working in the property finance sector?

I really wanted a challenge and something completely different from what I was doing. Maths was not a strong subject for me at school so I never imagined I would be working for a building society or helping brokers with mortgages. I have always been a people person which really helps in my role.

 

What were you doing in the five years before starting here?

I worked for Carphone Warehouse selling phone contracts and insurance. It was a customer facing role which really built my confidence. I loved to see the regular customers who popped in for a chat but I still had targets and deadlines to hit while making sure customers were getting the correct deal and best customer service.

 

What personal talent is most valuable in doing your job?

My personality. I just love to talk, in fact my colleagues would say I never stop talking. I also love to ask questions, which definitely proves useful in my job.

 

What personal talent would you most like to improve on?

I need to get better at celebrating success. This role is really busy and it can be easy to forget the impact you are having. I need to take the time to acknowledge my achievements and of course look at ways I can improve even further.

 

What is the most memorable property case you’ve been involved in?

It was the day of completion for a new build application and I got a call from the broker to say there was an issue and the whole chain might collapse. I stepped in, contacted the solicitor and together we managed to get the chain back on track. The broker was so pleased that he posted a personal thank you on LinkedIn, which was a really lovely gesture.

 

Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?

I would love to progress to a field-based BDM. I really enjoy my job and it would be great to further develop the relationships with my brokers. There is no better feeling than starting a case for a broker who has never used Accord before and I’m keen to build a much broader network of contacts.

 

If present-day you could go in time back and tell yourself something five years ago, what would it be?

To believe in myself and that anything is possible if you put your mind to it.

 

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve tackled so far in your career?

When I first started on secondment I definitely put pressure on myself to perform as well as the person who had previously been in the role. There was a lot to learn and I was so keen to do my best and add real value. I must be doing okay though, as I’m still here.

 

If you could have one superpower, what would it be?

I would love to be able to read peoples’ minds. It would be great to know what my brokers really thought of me.

 

And finally, what’s the strangest question you’ve ever been asked?

In all honesty people don’t usually get a chance to ask me questions as I’m too busy asking them. So, the strangest question I have ever asked someone would be: “If you were a crayon, what colour would you be and why?”

 

 

 

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