Q&A with Beverley Young, Customer Relationship Specialist
Beverley Young is a Customer Relationship Specialist (CRS) who has worked for Close Brothers Business Finance for over 10 years.
In this Q&A she discusses her journey with the business and explains how she works with Brokers to meet their customers’ requirements.
Briefly tell us about your role and what you do…
I joined Close Brothers Business Finance in December 2012 as a Business Support Advisor. My main role was to load proposals onto the system to be reviewed by the underwriting team. My role has developed considerably since, and as Customer Relationship Specialist (CRS) I also managed pay outs and proposals. I really enjoy my job and have recently been promoted to Supervisor.
As Supervisor I have a wider remit, supporting the CRSs with any questions and queries, training needs within the department, audit checks each month and helping out with proposals, raising documents and pay outs when needed. This has felt like a very natural progression and something that has been very fulfilling.
What was your journey to Close Brothers Business Finance?
My career in finance started when I worked as a supervisor in Financial Services for the NHS, I later moved into the Management Accounts section when my son started school.
After this, I worked part time at Rugby & North East Warwickshire Relate as an Office Manager. This role involved completing their monthly and annual accounts, line managing volunteers and co-training with our counsellors in schools. Relate was funded by the government for Young People’s counselling and I was part of the project team for the pilot – it was a service that was greatly needed!
After 16 years at Relate I left to relocate to East Yorkshire to be with my partner and was lucky enough to secure my job at Close Brothers Business Finance in December 2012.
What do you enjoy the most about your role?
It’s hard to pick one thing that I enjoy most about my role, but if I had to choose, then I think it would be the training aspect. I find it very satisfying to watch someone’s confidence grow as they settle into their role. I always try and think about the kind of questions I would ask and ensure that I’m always approachable and available. Everyone always asks ‘can I ask a stupid question?’, but no question is a stupid question – that’s how we learn!
Give us an example of an interesting deal that demonstrates how we work with our Brokers
I have recently processed a complex deal that involved new shareholders purchasing a business. There were a lot of assets involved, including several settlements of agreements and monies going to the solicitor’s ESCROW account. I worked closely with both the Broker Development Manager and the Broker to meet their customer’s tight timeframe. We collated all documentation within agreed timescales, and the deal went through successfully.
Tell us something about you that not a lot of people know.
Most people that I work with know pretty much everything there is to know about me – I love keeping fit and healthy, lifting my kettlebells and riding my bike. I ride Zwift, a virtual cycling programme, in the winter months and during the drier, warmer months I cycle over the beautiful Yorkshire Wolds. Many years ago I rode for the Royal Leamington Spa Cycle Club, I raced Time Trials with the Rugby Velo, and was sponsored by a strength and conditioning club. I even rode with Victoria Pendleton!
