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Folu Akerele
Nottingham
Summary
Experienced Senior Business Analyst in financial services, specializing in product development and strategic roadmaps. Delivered mortgage solutions at THE NOTTINGHAM BUILDING SOCIETY, resulting in a 95% customer retention rate via AI-enhanced strategies. At Barclays, utilized data insights to enhance customer experience through process improvements. Expertise in agile practices, stakeholder engagement, and AI application, with a focus on innovative financial solutions.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior Business Analyst
THE NOTTINGHAM BUILDING SOCIETY
04.2020 - 12.2025
- Product development lead for a mortgage solution for foreign nationals and returning experts with limited UK credit history, enabling international credit use across 14 countries. Expanded mortgage customer base by 32% and grew mortgage balance by 18.6%.
- Led the product roadmap of a Mortgage Retention Capability in partnership with Eligible AI, enhancing customer engagement through personalised retention offers. Achieved a 95% customer retention rate, optimising competitive mortgage rates, and improving customer loyalty.
- Delivered the Beehive Money digital platform, replacing legacy systems, and launching tax-free digital savings products. Expanded the digital savings portfolio, boosting customer engagement and retention, leading to a 22% increase in the business savings balance.
- Proactively identified opportunities for process improvement, leading to reduced application turnaround times.
Customer Experience Analyst/Business Analyst
Barclays
03.2018 - 03.2020
- Provided tailored financial guidance to customers on banking products, assisting them in managing their finances, improving savings habits, and making informed borrowing decisions, ensuring they selected the best financial solutions for their needs.
- Creating process improvement initiatives, identifying operational inefficiencies, and providing recommendations for enhancing customer experience.
- Analysis of customer financial behaviour to identify patterns and provide data-driven insights to optimise their financial well-being.
- Collaborated with internal teams to enhance digital banking features, supporting customers in navigating Barclays' online and mobile banking platforms.
- Collaborated with stakeholders to refine customer journey mapping, improving financial advisory services through data insights and process automation.
- Recognised, documented and escalated IT problem trends, preventing commonly occurring issues.
- Managed stakeholder relationships, facilitating effective communication between technical teams and business users.
Real Estate Analyst
Bello & Co Estate Surveyor & Valuers/CITEC Estates
12.2011 - 11.2017
- Valued property by assessing size and condition against benchmarks.
- Assessed complete properties and specific property improvements to determine market values.
- Prepared thorough, accurate valuations of special residential properties.
- Examined properties first-hand, collected measurements, and reviewed historical documents to complete thorough valuations.
- Preparation of valuation reports and proposals.
- Followed-up with prospects and hot leads to obtain exclusives and drive new sales.
- Advised clients on market conditions, prices, mortgages, and legal requirements affecting property deals.
- Created and maintained a database of clients, keeping them informed of relevant properties and market updates.
- Conducted due diligence on land acquisitions, including legal compliance, environmental assessments, and zoning regulations.
- Conducted comprehensive financial analyses to assess viability of potential development projects.
Education
BSc (Hons) - Estate Management
COVENANT UNIVERSITY
06.2010
Skills
- Agile & scrum methodologies
- Data Analysis & Decision-Making
- Stakeholder management & Communication
- Product Strategy & Roadmap Development
- AI & Automation Implementation
- Financial Services & Market Research
- Customer engagement
- Stakeholder relationship management
Certification
- Certificate in Mortgage Advice and Practice (CeMAP®) in View- April 2026
- Certified SAFe Product Manager / Product Owner
- Scrum Product Owner Certification
Websites, Portfolios and Profiles
LinkedIn
Interests
Timeline
Senior Business Analyst
THE NOTTINGHAM BUILDING SOCIETY
04.2020 - 12.2025
Customer Experience Analyst/Business Analyst
Barclays
03.2018 - 03.2020
Real Estate Analyst
Bello & Co Estate Surveyor & Valuers/CITEC Estates
12.2011 - 11.2017
BSc (Hons) - Estate Management
COVENANT UNIVERSITY