Movers and Shakers: Jacaranda Finance announces new HR hire
Brisbane-based FinTech lender Jacaranda Finance, who specialises in quick loans, has appointed Matthew McFarlane in the newly created role, Head of People & Culture.
McFarlane will be responsible for maintaining Jacaranda Finance’s workplace culture as well as bringing in and nurturing talent to propel the company to greater heights in the FinTech space.
“There’s an incredible culture [at Jacaranda Finance] already, testament to the leadership team’s efforts to date, so I’m eager to take that great work and scale it up to meet our ambitions for the business,” said McFarlane.
“Daniel [Wessels] and the whole leadership team here have an inspiring vision that really attracted me, so I’m really looking forward to turning that into a vehicle with which to bring our team along on the journey.”
Jacaranda says the role is a natural next step in the progression of company, with people and culture forming a crucial part of its success.
“We see people and culture being one of the most important departments in the company,” said Daniel Wessels, CEO and founder of Jacaranda Finance. “Jacaranda Finance has built up a bit of a reputation for hiring the best in field talent that Queensland has to offer, and it made sense for Matt to lead the team that attracts and hires our talent.”
“Matt is going to be in charge of recruiting the best talent QLD has to offer, working on engagement strategies for our team that fit in with the company culture and working on building the company’s culture.”
Amidst the uncertainty brought about by COVID-19, maintaining employee confidence has been key for many businesses.
“We’re only as good as our people! So, we’re looking forward to Matthew helping build and maintain strong teams to support our growth as market conditions recover.”
With a degree in psychological science, McFarlane has previously worked at SilverRail and Shine Lawyers and is ready to venture into the FinTech industry.
“I’ve enjoyed working across the fast moving consumer goods, legal, and software development industries, and am now excited to take on the FinTech space with my role at Jacaranda Finance,” said McFarlane.
The new hire also comes at a time when FinTech companies are looking towards innovative strategies to attract and retain talent. According to Willis Towers Watson, the key to expansion in the FinTech space is the availability of talent in areas such as blockchain, big data analytics, cyber security, and applications development. But there is a high demand for these particular skills which has made it around 60% more difficult for employers to hire and keep talent who possess them.
As a result, one of the main goals for McFarlane will be finding, attracting, and growing talent at Jacaranda Finance.
“I will be focused on presenting a really genuine and appealing opportunity to prospective talent, having that talent be led by world-class leaders, and equipping the team with every skill they’ll need to help our business succeed.” said McFarlane.
