Spotlight On: Guy Walsh

When did you join ABN AMRO Asset Based Finance?

I started out in the industry over 30 years ago when Invoice Discounting and Factoring was largely unknown to the OMB market and even viewed with suspicion by the established banks.  Over the years the products have matured to expand to general asset based lending on fixed and current assets. The products are now widely accepted for ongoing funding and growth, Management buy ins/outs and PE involvement. I have worked for ABN AMRO Commercial Finance (and Venture) for 22 years.

Describe your role at ABN AMRO Asset Based Finance…

Meeting professional business advisors and helping structure funding solutions. My role entails working additionally with our Relationship Managers, Credit and Underwriting and legal council.

 What do you enjoy most about your work?

Asset Based Finance is an exciting industry, one where I’m continually learning, where our customers share their ambitions with us and ask us to play a role in achieving them. One of the biggest pleasures for me has always been playing a key part in helping businesses grow and achieve their aspirations.        

I love working closely with our customers and building lifelong partnerships by really getting to know them. You can’t beat a company tour for being able to truly understand a customer’s processes and learning how their new products and developments come into fruition.

What’s the biggest value-add your role brings to clients?

Experience and realism. Financial products can be complicated, they affect our customer’s businesses in a direct way. That’s why it’s important to provide our asset expertise and to make sure we are there when customers need us to help them grow their businesses.

What does a normal day of remote work look like for you?

An average day is full of virtual meetings, most of my mornings are spent speaking with business advisers and discussing opportunities. I always make sure I spend a good hour walking at lunchtime - and have set myself a challenge of walking 1000 miles in 2021 (with 430 miles walked so far!). I tend to leave afternoons for reporting and funding modelling.

How are you staying connected with your clients during these challenging times?

I’ve made a point of staying in regular contact with my customers through Teams calls and regular telephone conversations. With lockdown easing I’m  looking forward to striking a balance of two days a week going to the office and being able to move towards real face to face contact - as wonderful as technology is there is no substitute for a real life coffee meeting!

Do you have any tips to find a good work-life balance while working remotely?

A real boost to my productivity is most definitely getting out of the house and away from my laptop for one hour a day. Working at ABN AMRO Commercial Finance means all staff get to benefit from GOSH (our Go & Open up Space Hour). An hour each day is centrally scheduled into our diaries and we’re encouraged to step away from our daily routine and do something other than work.

What was your dream job as a child?

I wanted to be a Royal Navy Pilot, I got down to the last two on the selection intake but was just pipped for the job.

What makes your heart beat faster?

A good game of Squash!