Me and my job: Welcome to your new home

Margaret Richardson, ANZ senior mobilemortgage manager.

Name: Margaret Richardson
Job title: Senior mobile mortgage manager
Company: ANZ Bank,Tauranga

What does your job involve?

The main role of my job is to approve all types of home lending, whether you are first-home buyers, current ANZ customers, customers wanting to purchase a rental property or are looking to refinance from other banks or financial institutions.

My job title of a mobile mortgage manager is two-fold.
One, it means that if you aren't able to meet me in the bank I can visit you at your place of choice, like at your office, workplace or home. Two, I work after hours, so I can come to you out of work, which is great for families or for people who can't meet up during normal working office hours.

What's the most challenging aspect of your role?

I am employed by the ANZ bank to bring in new home lending customers, so the most challenging aspect of my job is to meet people who need home loans.

To help me with that, ANZ has a referral incentive called Friend get Friend. If you refer friends, family or workmates to me and they take out an ANZ home loan you both get $250 credited to your account.

So, if you know of anyone needing a home loan...

What's your proudest work moment?

Every time I can help someone into a home is a proud moment for me. I especially love helping first-home buyers _ to be able to help them through the whole process of buying a home should be simple but exciting and not a scary moment, as it quite often is for first-home buyers.

There is nothing quite like buying your first home and, to me, I think it should be a memorable lifetime moment.

What training/experience have you had to prepare for your role?

My background has always been banking, as a personal banker, in business banking and now in my role of five years as a mobile mortgage manager, which I love. Longevity in the job has been my experience, which has led me towards being an experienced home-loan lender.

For investment lending - being an investment property owner myself, gives me that understanding of rental properties, which is an advantage for people who are looking at getting into rental properties or have rental properties themselves.

I am a member and on the committee of the Tauranga Property Investors Association, which keeps you up to date with what's happening in and around the rental property market.

What's the best piece of career advice you've received?

If you work hard success will come to you.

What's the most important thing your current role has taught you?

Never judge a book by its cover and good listening skills.

How would you describe your work wardrobe?

I'm not to sure if I've ever met someone who actually likes their work uniform, but ours is practical, easy and one which I am proud to wear.