Westpac plans to hire 200 more business bankers over the next three years to boost its capability to support small and medium-sized enterprises in fast-growing industries.
The employment drive has potential to increase Westpac’s SME banker cohort by up to 40 per cent by the end of 2027 as the bank targets further growth in one of its strongest performing segments. The Business and Wealth division saw net profit grow by 13 per cent in FY24.
“Small businesses and SMEs are the engine room of the Australian economy, making up 98 per cent of all businesses in this country. We’re here to support more great Australian success stories in the future,” says Anthony Mathews, National General Manager, SME & Small Business at Westpac.
“The opportunity is huge,” he adds, with more than 73,000 new businesses being established across the country in 2023-24. The recruitment will support customers in growth areas such as tech and healthcare, and in flourishing communities including Cabramatta in Sydney and Toowoomba in Queensland.
One recent Westpac recruit is Will Gentle, a business development manager with commercial clients across the Sydney metropolitan area. Gentle had performed a similar role at another bank and also had prior experience as a financial broker.
“I already knew that Westpac put a big emphasis on long-term relationships, community, and small business and that really resonated with me,” Gentle says when asked about his reasons for joining the bank.
Gentle works with SMEs across a broad range of industries, from pubs and cafes to construction and property development companies.
“That diversity, and meeting different people from different walks of life, is what makes the job so interesting and keeps me motivated,” Gentle tells Wire in an interview.
The banker’s role is to help customers grow their business by supporting them with quick access to finance, cash flow solutions, as well as sharing their business planning expertise.
Strong communication skills are the secret sauce that helps to bring it all together, Gentle says.
"You have to make sure that when you’re speaking to a small business owner they know that they’re being heard and that you’ve put the time in to really understand their industry.”
It's also about building long-term relationships so that the customer knows you’ll be there for them in the good times and the bad. And it helps if you’re familiar with the community where they operate, he adds.
Gentle grew up in the Sydney beachside suburb of Cronulla and still has a number of clients based in the area.
In terms of the current operating environment for small business, Gentle says some industries continue to struggle with a shortage of skilled labour for key roles.
He also sees a lot of SMEs taking a conservative approach: “They’re not making any big moves just yet. Especially with the election in America - we don’t yet know what the ripple effect from that is going to be for the Australian economy.
“As bankers it’s our job to help guide them through these times of uncertainty and be ready to assist them when the economy improves and they’re ready to invest for growth.”
All of Westpac’s new bankers are supported with an onboarding program and the right tools for success. Roles are open to both internal and external candidates.
James Thornhill was appointed as editor of Westpac Wire in May 2022. Prior to joining the bank, he was a business and financial journalist with more than two decades of experience with international newswires. Most recently, he was a resources correspondent for Bloomberg, covering the mining and energy sectors, and previously reported on a broad range of topics from economics and politics to currency and bond markets. Originally from the UK, he’s had stints working in London, New York and Singapore, but is now happily settled in Sydney.
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