Summary
Ever watched a new housing development go up and wondered how it got paid for? Join our growing Sawbridgeworth team as an Operations Apprentice and find out. Supporting our Operations Manager, you’ll help keep property finance deals moving for high-net-worth clients and entrepreneurs – with full training and real room to grow.
What you will do at work
Our Operations Manager keeps the whole business running, from client documents and lender submissions to compliance, our deal pipeline, invoicing and supporting the directors. As our Operations Apprentice you’ll work alongside her every day as your main point of contact, with oversight from our directors, learning how a deal gets from first enquiry to completion. As a small business there’s no ‘that’s not my job’ – you’ll roll up your sleeves, get involved in a bit of everything and learn fast.
Day to day you will:
- Answer the office phone and manage email enquiries from clients, prospects, lenders and other professionals.
- Keep our CRM system and deal pipeline up to date, so files are accurate and compliant.
- Request, chase and check client documents and file them correctly.
- Help prepare and submit applications to lenders and keep clients updated on progress.
- Liaise with banks, investment houses and private funds, plus solicitors, valuers and other third-party professionals, to keep transactions on track, inclusive of follow ups.
- Support compliance checks, making sure each file has everything it needs.
- Help with financial admin such as preparing invoices.
- Provide general admin support to the directors and help keep the office running smoothly.
- Calendar management for the directors and team – being proactive and letting the team know what is booked in for the day/week.
- Preparing and organising the meeting room ahead of internal meetings and 3rd parties visiting the office, alongside tidying up after.
- Learn about the financial services sector – development, bridging and term finance, how lenders assess deals and why property finance matters to the wider economy.
Training
Business administrator / Skills England
Requirements and skills
Skills
- Communication skills
- IT skills
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Customer care skills
- Problem solving skills
- Presentation skills
- Administrative skills
- Number skills
- Analytical skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Creative
- Initiative
- Non judgemental
- Patience
- Self Motivated
- Good time keeping
Qualifications
- GCSE English (Grade 3 or equivalent) – essential
- GCSE Maths (Grade 3 or equivalent) – essential
About this employer
Align Property Finance is an independent specialist property finance broker in Sawbridgeworth. Since July 2024 we’ve arranged over £176m of development, bridging, investment and Sharia-compliant finance for high-net-worth individuals, successful entrepreneurs, developers and investors – built on relationships, not volume.
After this apprenticeship
We’re a growing business – moving into a bigger office and adding to the team. This is a starting salary: work hard, learn and put the effort in and there’s a real chance of a permanent role on completion, with progression into senior operations or case management and support with further qualifications.
Things to consider
- Our office at Allen House Business Centre, Station Road, is next to Sawbridgeworth railway station, with direct trains to Harlow, Bishop’s Stortford and London. We’re expanding into a bigger office in the same building.
- College day release is one day a week at Harlow College, a short train journey away (Harlow Town).
- This is a fully office-based role – not remote or hybrid.
- Office-based – four days a week in our Sawbridgeworth office plus one day at college.
- Long periods on the computer and phone.
- A busy, deadline-driven environment – deals have completion dates and clients expect prompt replies.
- Handling confidential personal and financial information.
- A small team where everyone pitches in.
- Wants to be in the office every day and learn from the team.
- Eager to learn, curious and not afraid to ask questions.
- Not afraid to make mistakes – and learns from them.
- Organised, with good attention to detail.
- Confident and polite on the phone and in writing.
- Comfortable using computers – Outlook, Word and Excel.
- Reliable, punctual and professional.
- Discreet with confidential information.
- A can-do, roll-your-sleeves-up attitude.
- An interest in finance, property or business is a bonus but not essential.
- Dates are subject to change.