Role: Director of Property Management
Company: Colliers International
Track Record: ‘Always put yourself in the shoes of the person you are dealing with. Trying to understand where that person is coming from makes situations far easier to deal with,’ she says.
What do you do?
I work in the property management team, managing a variety of properties including retail units, shopping centres, offices and industrial units on behalf of our clients.
What does your job entail?
Property management covers everything from billing and collecting rent, maintaining properties, running service charges for buildings with shared areas, inspections, insurances, dealing with tenant queries and applications and reporting to landlords.
As a property manager you always tend to be involved with lease renewals and lettings, and in particular how to minimise unnecessary landlord void costs in respect of vacant units.
I also do a lot of work reviewing and updating internal procedures – at the moment we are in the middle of updating our property management software and so I’m currently spending quite a bit of time looking at that.
Is it 9-5.30?
Definitely not! We are very hands on with our management approach and so spend a lot of time in the properties we manage. Many of these are located in Scotland, England and Wales so there are a lot of very early flights involved in this job.
How did you get your current post? How did you get into this line of work?
When I graduated I went to work at Grant Thornton as a trainee corporate tax advisor. After a few years and having qualified as a chartered tax adviser I realised that it wasn’t for me.
Having been through all of the exams I was reluctant to move out of the sector, but one of my clients was a large property management firm in London and they suggested a move into property. I took them up on their offer and loved it instantly.
It was while I was working in London as a property manager that I met a very nice man from Northern Ireland. We got engaged and relocated to Belfast about three and a half years ago. At the time Colliers needed a property manager.
Outline your career to date.
I worked at Grant Thornton for five years, then at Cheval Properties Ltd for four years, and have now been at Colliers for about three and a half years.
Tell us about your qualifications/training.
I have definitely sat my fair share of exams! I did a degree in maths and statistics, completed the ATT exams (Association of Taxation Technicians), the CTA exams (Chartered Tax Adviser) before doing a diploma in estate management and then finally doing the APC and becoming a chartered surveyor. I have no intention of doing anything else now.
What do you like most about your job?
You never know what is going to come up on any given day. Property management is extremely varied.
Where is the most interesting place your job has taken you?
I would love to say some exotic location, but probably to Coronation Street for a corporate event.
What qualifications are required for your job – personal and professional?
Ideally you should be MRICS qualified but personal skills such as attention to detail, making responsible decisions and working on your own initiative are just as important.
What is the best advice you ever received?
Always put yourself in the shoes of the person you are dealing with. Trying to understand where that person is coming from makes situations far easier to deal with.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I love to travel, and am always planning the next trip. About a year ago I started pilates and I now do that a couple of times a week. I also spend a lot of time in the shops…
Tell us an interesting fact about yourself.
When I was trying to work out whether a career in tax was for me, I took a six-month career break and travelled around the world.
Who has inspired you most in your life?
It sounds cheesy but I have to say my mum. She didn’t have an easy start in life, but she certainly lives every moment to the full – something I admire her for.