What's your job about?
I work for ANZ Bank in their Agribusiness banking department. In my role I work alongside a Relationship Manager to assist our portfolio of Agribusiness customers with their business banking needs. This includes debt financing, deposit management and account maintenance.
The work I complete changes day to day which is one thing I love about the job. One day you could be out visiting clients (which is definitely a highlight of the job) and being able to see first-hand their businesses and how we can make a positive impact, to the next day, sitting in front of the computer preparing documents, assessing transactions with your manager, analysing financials and of course checking emails.
What's your background?
I grew up on our family dairy farm on the South Coast on NSW. I would catch the school bus from the dairy to my local school until year 9 when I went to boarding school in Canberra. I then attended Charles Sturt University to study a Bachelor of Agricultural Business Management at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga and applied for the ANZ Agribusiness Graduate program. I did not think I would apply to be an Agri Grad but saw huge benefit being able to broaden my agribusiness knowledge, service Agri customers as well as enhance my knowledge into different agriculture industries through the rotations. A few months later, I received a call offering me a position that I could not turn down. I currently an Assistant Manager in Gippsland VIC since rolling off the Graduate 6 months ago. While I was on the grad program my first rotation was in Gippsland VIC, which was predominantly dairy based but due to COVID-19 saw myself working back at home on the farm in NSW. For my second rotation, it was refreshing starting back in the office and gaining insight into both agribusiness and commercial clients in Southern Highlands, NSW while finishing the program with my final rotation located in South West Vic where I was exposed to mainly cropping and sheep farming enterprises.
Could someone with a different background do your job?
Absolutely, anyone who has is willingness to learn, is inquisitive will be suited for the job. I think it is beneficial having a background in the agriculture industry being apart of an Agribusiness section of the bank but I did not think I would apply to be an Agri Grad but saw huge benefit being able to broaden my agribusiness knowledge, service Agri customers as well as enhance my knowledge into different agriculture industries through the rotations and had no prior knowledge of banking at all which is learnt on the job.
What's the coolest thing about your job?
My favourite part of the job if most definitely being about to connect with our clients on a daily basis, which are predominately farmers and being able to see how we are contributing to meet their business needs and helping them achieve their goals. It is very rewarding being able to go visit customers on farm and listening to their ideas and about their business. While on the graduate program it was beneficial in every rotation, I also loved that we were posted around Australia based off the agricultures industries in the region, so by the end of the program we have knowledge not just about one industry but many such as to dairy, sheep, poultry, wool, beef, cropping and horticulture.
What are the limitations of your job?
When I started my job, it was during a pandemic. This was challenging at time as I was not able to visit customers and work in the office, but technology enabled everyone to adapt and continue to work, learn and communicate. I personally now enjoy flexible working since being back in the office, at times it nice to have the flexibility to work from home for a day or two during the week and coming back into the office to work collaborative with colleagues and visit clients
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