COFFEE BREAK WITH...Julian Lewis, Finance Consultant - Christie Finance

When did you join Christie Finance?

September 2025.

Where were you when you accepted your role at Christie Finance?

My partner and I had just picked up a rental car from Enterprise, after having been stuck at Reading Services for about 6 hours due to my car engine giving up the ghost on the M4. It was the uplift we needed after a disastrous day!

What was your first job?

My first full time role out of university was with L&C as a mortgage broker where I started my CeMAP qualification.

In a couple of sentences, can you tell us a bit about your job at Christie Finance?

I’m a Commercial Finance Consultant, helping clients with trading businesses to obtain secured lending. It’s however not just about securing some good terms, it’s also about holding a client’s hand to support them with quirky twists that can happen in most cases.

What’s your favourite thing about Christie Finance?

There is a common theme here where we champion good relationships, with clients and lenders alike, but also internally. This is crucial for building true synergy and cementing meaningful relationships.

What's a favourite project that you’ve worked on at Christie Finance so far?

I have had a client with a Beautiful Restaurant in Somerton that I have been building a relationship with over the past year, however they were let down by a lender changing their lending appetite. Since joining Christie Finance, I have been able to leverage the strength of the brand and through the established relationships with lenders I have obtained more favourable terms for them.

What’s been the biggest challenge of your career so far?

Stepping away from almost a decade of being with a Private Bank and transitioning into the self-employed field to start up a brokerage has been a steep learning curve. The learnings over that period have been invaluable for my development and has given me a good insight into the stresses my clients face when running a business.

What’s been a highlight of your career so far?

I have assisted in structuring the lending for some well-known names and the greatest takeaway for me is building such strong relationships with my clients, to a point where they can feel comfortable to refer me to friends and family as a trusted advisor and advocate.

Who in your industry do you feel most inspired by?

All the consultants within my team bring different approaches to what they do, and this is encouraging as the ‘right way’ is delivering the right outcome for a client whilst being my natural self.

Tell us a bit about your life outside work – what are your hobbies?

There are foodies, and then there is me. My favourite cuisine changes daily.

I’m naturally a very sporty individual, although, I’m a retired striker from my youth, now a defender bringing back the glory days of Rio Ferdinand & Vidic. (Manchester United Fan of course)

I am always confident that I could run 100m in under 11 seconds after watching track & field events!

What’s your hometown? Where do you live now?

Born in Dudley, West Midlands. I now live in sunny Bristol.

Where’s the best place you’ve been on holiday?

Jamaica has always been the best place I have visited. The weather, the beaches, the food & the music.

What’s your biggest pet peeve?

Poor manners and inconsiderate individuals.

If you could live and work in any city, where would you go?

Toronto, Canada.

What would be your desert island meal?

Jamaican Patties – cheesy beef!

What’s your favourite film?

The Matrix/ The Shawshank Redemption (Anything with Denzel Washington)

What is your favourite movie quote?

“Do you think that’s air you’re breathing?” – The Matrix/

“Feel the rhythm, feel the rhyme, get on up, it’s bobsled time!” – Cool Runnings

What news source do you read every day? 

BBC News & Sky Spots.

What is one thing on your bucket list?

To see the Northern Lights.

What’s your social media platform of choice?

LinkedIn.

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