Meet Helen Zheng, Business Development Manager at Xceda

Helen brings extensive experience across the New Zealand and international financial services sectors, including residential, investment, business, commercial, construction, and institutional lending. She also previously owned and operated her own financial advisory business in New Zealand, giving her a strong understanding of the adviser perspective.

For Helen, working with advisers is about being practical, responsive, and solutions focused.

“I genuinely value putting in the extra effort to help advisers achieve successful outcomes while building long-term relationships,” Helen says.

When advisers bring a scenario to Xceda, Helen’s first step is to understand the full context of the transaction, then provide clear and constructive guidance on how the deal may be structured.

“I try to be clear, responsive, and constructive, offering options and workable solutions wherever possible rather than focusing only on limitations,” she says.

Helen most commonly assists advisers with residential investment lending, equity release for business funding, residual stock lending, property flips, and open bridging mortgage finance.

To help assess a scenario efficiently, she encourages advisers to provide clear information upfront, including borrower background, loan purpose, security details, servicing position, and exit strategy.

Helen believes Xceda is valuable to advisers because of its responsiveness, practical approach, and willingness to consider structured or non-standard transactions.

“Advisers appreciate having direct access to decision makers who understand both credit policy and real-world deal dynamics,” she says.

For Helen, the most rewarding part of the role is working collaboratively with advisers to find practical solutions for their clients.

“I really enjoy the problem-solving aspect of the role, particularly where a tailored or structured approach is needed,” she says. “I also value the face-to-face relationships and personal interaction. In today’s fast-paced, AI-driven world, genuine human connection still makes a real difference.”

That people-focused approach also reflects Helen’s life outside of work. Away from the pace of lending, she enjoys spending time with her children, being involved in their activities, and finding quiet moments to reset.

One of her favourite ways to unwind is on the couch with her cat, Chester, or simply watching the sun go down with a gin and tonic.

It is a small glimpse into the calm, patient and steady approach Helen brings to her role, qualities that help her support advisers as they work through complex scenarios and find practical ways forward for their clients.

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