The Technology team
Our Technology team not only manage and maintain the systems that are used by our colleagues every day, they also play a key part in the delivery of our business strategies through technology.
Technology roles
Business Intelligence Analysts
Our Business Intelligence Analysts are primarily responsible for producing a series of comprehensive reports which cover all areas of the business. They look after customer, product, and staff data, as well as ensuring that the business can gain relevant insight day-to-day. They're also responsible for visualising data through QlikSense to allow non-technical audiences to understand what the data is telling them.
Database Administrator
Our Database Administrator ensures stability, security, performance, and resilience across our data estate both on premise and in the cloud.
They're responsible for configuration and maintenance of multiple SQL servers and ensure high levels of performance, availability, and security are delivered.
Data Scientists
Our Data Scientists are responsible for interacting with SQL servers to extract data and pre-process large datasets. Expertise in R or Python is crucial to gaining insights into patterns and trends that help the business devise and implement analytical solutions.
SAS, SQL, R, Python, and Machine Learning are all utilised in this role.
Infrastructure Engineers
Our Infrastructure Engineers are responsible for all the IT systems that in the main, you cannot see. This covers a wide range of technology such as Azure, AWS, Telephony, Security, Networking and much more.
They work on IT projects while assisting our service desk team in the resolution of IT incidents. These projects include office renovations, new systems, system upgrades through to IT security reviews and processes.
Developers
Our Developers are responsible for producing and maintaining bespoke software and applications. They focus on front end or back end development, depending on their skillset and experience.
Our predominant skillset includes Azure, C#, React, Blazor, .NET Core, HTML/CSS/Javascript and SQL. We have different teams who are currently working on a number of greenfield projects to modernise our existing systems.
Service Desk Engineers
Our Service Desk Engineers are our go-to people for all things IT. Whether someone has a hardware or software problem they'll be on the other end of the phone to diagnose any issues.
Test Analysts
Our Test Analysts administer a series of functional tests and evaluations that uncover any potential issues at the early stage of the agile development lifecycle. They ensure all software solutions engineered internally are verified for correctness, quality, and performance whilst increasing flow within our delivery teams through test automation. They also work closely with the business to deliver quality across the development, system testing and UAT platforms.
Product team
We have two product teams based in two offices; one located in Nottingham and the other in Greater Manchester. The Product teams consist of Product Owners, Business Analysts and Designers.
The Product teams are at the core of understanding, building and rolling out changes in the technology that we use across the business to support the company's goals.
The teams also collaborate with departments across the business including our in-house Development team, to ensure that any changes they make are communicated with others.
Our Product teams must carefully decide how to invest their time and resources. Their decisions are based on adding the most value to the business and reducing risks for both the business and customers.
UX/UI Designers
Our UX/UI Designers are responsible for the research, design and implementation of all the experiences the user has when interacting with a digital product within the business, i.e. consumer website and internal applications. A user-centered approach ensures best practices and accessibility requirements are met, improving the overall usability. UI prototypes demonstrate the functionality and design of the products, enabling user testing/feedback to help iterate and make further improvements.
Business Analysts
Our Business Analysts “bridge the gap” between our Operational and Engineering teams, improving communication and relationships and ensuring our solutions meet the needs of our customers.
Our Business Analysts have experience in working within an agile environment alongside our inhouse engineering teams.
They define plan, test, design and provide analysis in the definition and validation of technical solutions.
The benefits of working at First Response Finance
Development of our people
Ashley's journey
I'm currently employed as a Database Administrator (DBA), having embarked on my professional journey as a member of the Sales team at First Response Finance.
Recognising my passion for technology, I proactively pursued an apprenticeship programme at First Response Finance after dedicating personal time to building my skills. The programme, facilitated in collaboration with a local university and funded by the company, allowed me to complete my studies while receiving invaluable support and dedicated time during my work day to enhance my knowledge and skills.
Over the span of more than a decade at First Response Finance, I've found immense satisfaction in my role. The organisation not only offers a wealth of learning opportunities, but also boasts a supportive community where individuals are eager to assist and guide each other. I look forward to continuing my professional journey.
Collaborative workspace
Our shared common areas give you flexibility throughout your workday, giving you the option to access beautifully designed areas and top-of-the-line facilities.
We've got spaces that allow you to make private calls, collaborate as a team and tackle a project that requires focus.
For those who prefer to work in a more casual atmosphere, there are sofas and other forms of soft seating, giving you the ability to choose when and where you work.
Testimonials
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Mike - Business Intelligence Team Leader
I work here because the company value its people. Typically, in many IT roles, work-life balance can be an issue, but here that’s not the case. There are of course times when it’s necessary to do whatever it takes to get projects or pieces of work over the line or resolve issues, but these are recognised and appreciated. I have a fantastic team around me, and I am thankful every day to work with such talented, dedicated and, friendly people.
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Aaron - Senior Software Developer
Fantastic culture, great benefits! Overall, the attitude and feeling I get from employees at First Response Finance is that they all want to work here, and all want the company to do well. Along with a large feeling that the company will support you as an employee. Something I do find very rare in companies these days is that we also aim to hire people based on their personality and work ethic rather than if the skills match the job description.
Quarterly socials
Every quarter, our Tech Team are given a budget that they can use for an activity of their choice.
The team have previously had an archery lesson, tried their hand at clay pigeon shooting and gone out for meals.
The purpose of the quarterly socials is for team members to get to know each other on a different level, helping to build relationships.
Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars
Find out what people have to say about working at First Response Finance on glassdoor
This is a great platform for companies to get a real feel of what people think about working for them, with reviews being left from both current and former employees.
Our recruitment process
The initial phase of our recruitment process is an informal Microsoft Teams chat. The purpose of this call is to get to know you a little better and understand what you're looking for from your next role. This call will touch on areas of your CV and your skillset.
The second phase of the process involves us delving into your technical skills in more detail. Here we'll go into the benefits of working here, what the make up of the teams are and, continue getting to know you more. For most technical roles, this will be the final stage of our process before a decision is made.
So you can get a feel for the office environment and meet the people you could potentially be working with, you may be invited to come into the office on a day that suits you.
We'll look to make a decision as close to the final assessment as possible. We pride ourselves on giving feedback, so if you're unsuccessful, you'll be provided with specific feedback as to why. If you're successful, we'll agree a start date and get our onboarding documents issued to you.
Awards
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Best Companies
We’re so proud to have ranked 20th in the 'Best Large Companies to work for in the UK' and 2nd in 'Financial Services Best Companies to work for in the UK'!
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DCS Awards 2022
First Response Finance migrates voice, data and call centre functions to the Cloud with Node4’s hosted and managed unified communications platform.
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UK IT Industry Awards 2022
For our work with Node4, we were named as finalists in the UK IT Industry Awards for the ‘Best Financial Services IT Project of the Year’.
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Platinum Trusted Service Award 2023
Thanks to all the great reviews our customers have wrote about us on Feefo, we’ve been awarded the Feefo Platinum Trusted Service Award for excellence in customer service (again).
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RateMyApprenticeship
The top 100 rankings for RateMyApprenticeship's Best Employers and Training Providers 2022-23 have been announced, and we are very proud to have placed 34th.
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CarDealerPower Awards
Our dealer partners have voted us as ‘Finance Provider of the Year (Sub-Prime)’ in the Car Dealer Power Awards for the fourth consecutive year!
Tech stack
Our tech includes, but is not limited to:
