Islamic property finance fintech Offa continues hiring spree
Offa, the UK’s leading Islamic property finance fintech, has announced a new round of staff appointments as the business continues to expand its service offering.
Sagheer Malik, group chief commercial officer & managing director of retail finance at Offa, said: “Offa is experiencing a period of exciting growth, and it’s essential we continue building a team that combines industry expertise with shared values. These new hires reflect our ambition to lead the way in ethical, Sharia-compliant finance – delivering innovation, impact and exceptional service. There is much more to come.”
Mohammad Mia joins Offa as business development manager – bridging & development finance. He has 15 years’ experience in banking across multiple roles within retail, commercial and bridge finance. Explaining why he chose to join the company, Mohammad said: “I found that my diverse banking experience aligns well with Offa, whose ethical values and commitment to community resonate deeply with my own professional and ethical principles. I aim to build upon Offa’s strong foundation to pioneer innovative Islamic financial solutions that deliver tangible value and foster greater financial inclusion.”
Khalid Rahman is Offa’s new broker support specialist, serving as the primary point of contact for intermediaries and providing dedicated support throughout the finance application process. He brings more than a decade of experience across the financial and public sectors, having worked for HSBC, Al Rayan Bank, and the Ministry of Justice. He said: “I was drawn to Offa because of its innovative and ethical approach to Islamic finance, combined with its commitment to making property finance more inclusive and impactful for a wider audience. I am committed to providing exceptional support to our broker partners while continuing my professional growth and contributing meaningfully to Offa’s ongoing success.”
Jass Ratu joins Offa as underwriter, with more than a decade of experience in mortgage underwriting with Lloyds Banking Group and Precise Mortgages, specialising in Buy-to-Let for limited companies. He said: “I joined Offa as it’s leading the way in a niche market with an ethical finance approach and innovative products, and because it has a completely different financing paradigm. I hope to utilise my experience and adapt it to this new approach to financing. I feel the market for the products is relatively untapped and I want to be at the forefront as things take off.”
Qadeer Malik is home finance advisor at Offa, having worked for 16 years in the finance industry – most recently as a mortgage broker at Countrywide. Prior to that, he was a mortgage advisor at NatWest Bank. He said: “I love Offa’s startup nature and I have a desire to work in the Sharia-compliant finance sector. I’m excited about the potential for rapid growth, which will allow me to become an expert in my field and advance my career. My long-term goal is to become an expert in home finance advising and share my knowledge and experiences with others.”
Ruth Chiu, who joins Offa as financial crime analyst, moved to UK two years ago and spent a year at Unipart Group. She had more than a decade of anti-money laundering experience in Hong Kong prior to this for institutions including Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan, Merril Lynch and Credit Suisse. She said: “I was attracted by Offa’s friendly work environment and the helpfulness of everyone. I hope to contribute effectively and strengthen the company in preventing and detecting financial crime.”
Mehwish Ahmed has joined in a customer support role. She previously worked at Amplifi Capital as a loan underwriter and prior to that with State Bank of India as a mortgage case manager. She said: “What stood out for me about Offa is that it’s fully Sharia-compliant and has a different, modern way of doing things. I wanted to be part of a team where I could contribute meaningfully while also growing professionally. I felt this aligned perfectly with my career goals and values.”
Farhan Ahmed is Offa’s new underwriter – bridging finance, with more than 20 years’ experience in property and finance. He said: “I joined because I wanted to be part of a pioneering team redefining ethical finance through Sharia-compliant funding. Offa’s forward-thinking approach, cultural alignment, and ambitious growth plans strongly resonate with me. I aim to support the business’s continued growth by applying sound underwriting principles, enhancing broker relationships, and ensuring deals are delivered with speed, transparency, and integrity.”
Offa, the first company to launch Sharia-compliant bridge finance in the UK, recently announced that first time buyers can now get buy-to-let (BTL) finance and the minimum age required dropped to 18-years-old. BTL applicants will also only need to earn £18,000 per annum. The company also recently purchased Bank of Ireland’s Alburaq Sharia-compliant home finance portfolio in a landmark deal, and announced it had received FCA authorisation to provide Islamic home purchase plans.
Offa received £230m of sharia-compliant funding for its BTL product, offering significant capacity for the business to expand and diversify its financial propositions in the UK property market. The company follows an ethical finance model designed in accordance with Islamic finance principles, which means not charging interest and investment into sectors deemed harmful to society – such as alcohol, tobacco, animal testing and the arms trade.