The Drive to Achieve

The worlds of finance and medicine are two fields that do not share an abundance of similarities, but for Abbasali Nathoo, Client Services Executive at high-end automotive finance provider JBR Capital, his education in both of these spaces has provided him with a particular skillset. Here, Abbasali explains how an inquisitive mind and a determination to learn can lay the foundations to achieve success. 

You’ve only been with JBR Capital for a matter of weeks. How have you settled into the team?  

“It’s been super-fast-paced so far, which I really enjoy. I’ve been able to get around to all of the teams and spend time with them, learning what they do and how that feeds into our responsibilities within the Client Services team. Each team has taken the time to teach me what they do, which has made my role so much clearer. For example, I know exactly which documents, information and details the Credit team will need before I hand a client’s application over to them.” 

This is your first role in high-end automotive finance. Is there anything that has surprised or particularly interested you so far? 

“I’d say that my previous roles gave me good experience of dealing with different characters and personalities, which I think will be a useful skill to bring over to this industry. But one thing that has stood out to me so far has been the speed with which clients can get behind the wheel of their dream car. In certain cases to go from receiving an application and the reality of the customer driving the car home the next day still amazed me. 

“I’ve found each deal fascinating, as no two are the same. I’ve quickly learned that each client has different requirements, and we need to make sure they receive a tailored offer that is the best for them.” 

What inspired you to pursue a career in high-end automotive finance?  

“I studied economics at Middlesex University, and I knew I wanted to do something that involved finance, so the initial interest was always there. Admittedly, while I was studying at Middlesex, I also enrolled in medical school, as everything was being taught online due to the pandemic. Therefore, I’d study economics in the day and then medicine in the evening, which was an interesting and challenging combination. However, the timeframe for studying each of these didn’t quite tally up, so I made the decision to pursue a career in finance once I’d graduated at Middlesex.” 

Were there any skills you picked up from your medical studies that have been useful in your finance career? 

“The psychological aspect of studying medicine has definitely come in handy. I completed a course at the Royal College of Surgery, and the skills I learned there – interacting with people from different walks of life and our individualities – are skills I use every day. 

“My medical studies and my previous finance experience taught me that attention to detail is essential, and that is something that is definitely a necessity in my new role. Making sure that we have all the correct and relevant details for a client’s finance application is fundamental, and this means being meticulous when creating all proposals and ensuring our colleagues have everything they need to make the correct decision to get the client into their dream car as quickly as possible.” 

What are you most excited to learn in your new role here at JBR Capital? 

“I’m looking forward to immersing myself with the clients, brokers and dealers. We’ve started some training to prepare for working more closely with them. These relationships are integral to the business, so I’m excited to spend more time providing as much support as possible.” 

Away from work, how do you like to wind down and spend your free time? 

“I like to spend a lot of my time in the gym. It’s a really good routine for me to stay healthy, and similarly, I spend a lot of time playing football. I play every Friday with friends, but I’ve also been playing after work with some of the team here, which is a great way to get to know my new colleagues.  

“I also volunteer at a youth centre on Sundays, offering career and general life advice to local kids and teenagers. I went there when I was younger, and it had a positive impact on my life, so I see it now as a way of giving something back. 

 “I’ve always had a passion for everything automotive, so I like to spend some time tinkering and working on cars. I’m currently helping my friend restore a BMW 428: we’ve already replaced the engine and re-coded the ECU. It’s certainly useful having an interest in cars in this line of work, and the cars we see clients owning definitely motivate me to keep working hard, and hopefully, I’ll be able to achieve something similar.”