5 minutes with Helen Brown-Business Analyst, Product & Engineering

Meet Helen Brown, a dedicated member of our team working on finova's Broker CRM solution.

Helen brings a passion for continuous improvement and plays a key role in shaping our software. In this interview, she shares what her typical day looks like, her career journey, and what she enjoys most about working at finova. Read on to learn more about Helen and her role in the team.

Can you tell us about your role and a typical day?

‍My role is full of variety. On a day-to-day basis, I could be participating in the planning and designs for the next big project, writing user stories for upcoming development, responding to questions and challenges as they arise and collaborating with the team to find solutions, reporting on or forecasting the progress of a project, and contributing to the organisation and administrative tasks of the product team. Every day is different!

‍What inspired you to pursue a career in this industry?

‍My career in software began on the other side of the table, as a customer making change requests to a software company! I love the nature of continual improvement that software brings, and my role allows me to be a pivotal and influential part of that process.

‍What do you enjoy most about working at finova?

‍My favourite thing about working at finova is the people I work with; the product team and the broker channel are full of great individuals who make every day a fun and fulfilling experience.

‍Can you share a recent project or accomplishment you're particularly proud of?

‍The launch of the new customer portal has been a real highlight this year; working on this project has been incredibly enjoyable, and there’s a real sense of achievement knowing it’s out and making a difference to our customers and their customers!

‍How do you stay motivated and productive while working on challenging tasks?

‍A big part of working in the product team is taking large projects, breaking them down into manageable chunks, and prioritising these to deliver value incrementally. This process is applicable in many ways and helps me keep on top of and progress the broad and varied tasks that come our way.

‍What are some of the key skills you think are important for success in your role?

‍Excellent communication and collaboration are some of the most valuable skills for this role, alongside good planning, organisation, and an ability to look at things from both the micro and macro perspectives.

‍How do you approach professional development and staying up to date in your field?

‍Software and technologies are constantly evolving, and in an increasingly digital world, I feel particularly passionate about ensuring accessibility is considered and prioritised to create inclusive solutions. This was especially important for the customer portal project, and I valued developing my understanding, sharing insights, and advocating for digital accessibility.

‍What do you enjoy doing outside of work to relax and unwind?

‍In my free time, I enjoy tinkering with Land Rovers and exploring the UK’s network of green lanes– it’s really wonderful to see so much of the countryside from this unique perspective!

‍What’s one fun fact about you that your colleagues might not know?‍

My formal qualifications are actually in Fine Arts!

Are you interested in joining finova?

‍We have great opportunities across the business. Check out our current role openings on our careers page