Offa has strengthened its home finance division with four new hires as it looks to scale its Home Purchase Plan and buy-to-let offering.
The Islamic property finance provider has added two home finance advisers, a further adviser with extensive experience, and a support specialist to its direct team, reflecting continued growth across its residential and investment propositions.
Hamza Mahmood joins as a home finance adviser, bringing experience from the conventional finance sector. He said: “I have joined Offa to use my banking expertise in order to elevate the service provided to customers in the Sharia-compliant finance world.”
Shajia Sultana has also been appointed as a home finance adviser. She said: “It is important for me to work in a role that aligns with my values and principles. Coming from a background as a mortgage adviser, I am able to bring my existing experience into a space that offers ethical, Sharia-compliant solutions, allowing me to support clients in a way that is both professionally fulfilling and personally meaningful.”
Osaama Hussain joins as a home finance support specialist, having previously worked in the conventional mortgage market. He said: “I was keen to join Offa because the company’s values hugely aligned with my own personal values from a spiritual perspective as well as providing a vital service to the community.
“I believe Offa is just getting started in the Islamic home finance space and I can see myself progressing at the company to be part of what’s to come – providing greater access to halal finance for our customers.”
Nagina Haroon, who has 15 years’ experience as a mortgage adviser, also joins as a home finance adviser. She said: “I was keen to transition away from conventional finance and to support customers with halal financing solutions. Offa is a company with major growth plans so it is an exciting time to join.”
The new hires report to Qasim Sajad, senior home finance manager at Offa, who said: “These appointments reflect our continued investment in high-calibre talent and our ambition to enhance the breadth and depth of our advice offering.
“By bringing together advisers with complementary skill sets and varying levels of experience, we are well positioned to support a wide range of clients – from first-time buyers to those with more complex financial requirements.”
PRODUCT EXPANSION DRIVES HIRING
The recruitment follows a period of product development for the lender, including the launch of its Home Purchase Plan earlier this year, designed as a Sharia-compliant alternative to a traditional residential mortgage.
The firm said offers on the product can be produced within an hour in some cases, supported by a paperless application process.
Offa has also expanded its proposition for property investors, having launched a bridge-to-let product in July 2025, combining short-term bridging finance with a follow-on buy-to-let facility.
The business has also grown through acquisition, including the purchase of Bank of Ireland’s Alburaq Sharia-compliant home finance portfolio.
HEADCOUNT DOUBLES AMID GROWTH PLANS
The latest appointments come after the lender more than doubled its headcount to over 50 in the past year, as it continues to expand its presence in the UK Islamic finance market.
Offa said it plans to continue hiring as it builds out its distribution and support capabilities for brokers and borrowers seeking Sharia-compliant finance solutions.
Pictured (clockwise from top-left): Shajia Sultana, Osaama Hussain, Nagina Haroon and Hamza Mahmood.
