Sarah Craig, CFO of Flat Branch Home Loans, named a 2024 Housingwire Finance Leader Winner
Chesterfield, Missouri - Thursday, February 23rd- Housingwire, a leading source of news and analysis for the U.S. housing economy, has recognized Sarah Craig, Chief Financial Officer of Flat Branch Home Loans, as one of the esteemed winners for the 2024 Finance Leader Award. This award celebrates the accomplishments of a select 40 individuals who go beyond expectations in the housing industry.
Sarah has taken mortgage leadership to the next level at Flat Branch Home Loans as her strategic guidance through 2022 and 2023 was a key factor in the company’s success, and in being one of the few Independent Mortgage Bankers, also known as IMBs, maintaining profitability in what could be described as one of the more challenging time periods in mortgage history.
Although Sarah’s accolades surrounding the traditional functions as CFO would in and of itself deserve merit for this leadership award, she is also recognized for her trailblazer mindset. This can be seen through her leadership both in founding, and currently overseeing a 6-billion-dollar in-house Servicing Division, while also taking on the Plan Administrator role after facilitating a successful transition of Flat Branch Home Loans into an ESOP. Additionally, Sarah dedicates time as both a founding board member and current Treasurer for The Giving Branch, a 100% employee funded charitable foundation focused on serving the communities where Flat Branch Home Loans serves. Countless lives have been positively influenced through employee contributions. Sarah’s role in executing the vision of this foundation is vital towards its’ continued success.
At Flat Branch Home Loans, leadership isn’t just a passion for Sarah, but a way of life. The evolution of the mortgage industry in a post-COVID world has tested the capabilities of leadership teams across the IMB community, and Sarah shows up daily facing each trial with the only acceptable outcome being success. From developing and leading Flat Branch's P&L models, to navigating both the Finance Division and the rest of Flat Branch through the liquidity challenges that plagued the mortgage industry, Sarah's leadership was a light guiding others within the company. Flat Branch’s company values are summed up in four words: Love, Grow, Exceed, Enjoy, and Sarah excels in all four areas, but the most important would be love. Sarah shows love every day in her support for Flat Branch’s employee owners and clients. In that context, her love is contagious, and her quest for excellence motivates not just the Finance and Payroll department, but the entire company.
Congratulations, Sarah!
