Utah is known for its stunning landscapes and vibrant cities, but it’s also becoming recognized for something else—its exceptional workplaces. In 2023, Acima stands out as one of Utah’s top workplaces, thanks to its unique culture, unwavering commitment to helping underserved customers, and the remarkable ways it includes and empowers its workers.
As Chris Barton, the Chief People Officer, articulates, “Our culture is one of close connections, [we are like a] family, and through those connections, striving for excellence in innovation and execution.”
Acima, part of the holding company Upbound Group, is more than a financial technology company (FinTech), it offers solutions to underserved customers; it’s a place that fosters excellence, a sense of belonging, and inclusivity.
According to Tyler Montrone, Executive Vice President of Acima, “At Acima, we value collaborative innovation and progress designed to improve the customer, partner, and coworker experience. While this itself isn’t necessarily unique, the way we incorporate this into everything we do is what ultimately makes the difference.”
Democratizing Retail Transactions
Chris Barton explains, “We democratize retail transactions for underserved consumers [those often neglected by traditional financing institutions], providing access to essential items like cell phones, televisions, computers, washing machines, and refrigerators through lease-to-ownarrangements, filling the gap left by traditional banking and financing options.” Their commitment to making ownership accessible bridges the gap between necessity and affordability.
Customer-Centricity and Simplicity
Simplicity is central to their core values, with a dedicated emphasis on customer-centricity. Chris Barton emphasizes, “Putting the needs of the customer at the forefront of all that they do is really critical.” This unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction ensures that every product and service they offer is widely accessible, opening doors for as many customers as possible. Acima believes in keeping their services and products simple and user-friendly, enabling access to a broader audience and facilitating transactions that might have otherwise been out of reach.
Acima’s reach extends far and wide through its extensive network of third party retailers, covering over thousands of merchant locations across the nation. These retail relationships ensure that Acima’s mission touches the lives of countless individuals seeking a path to ownership. Major retailers such as Best Buy and Big O Tires are among the businesses where Acima’s leasing solution is an option.
Acima’s leasing product is seamlessly integrated into various channels. Customers can choose to walk into a physical store staffed by Acima co-workers or access their leasing solutions through the Acima website or mobile application. With over one million downloads of their mobile app, Acima has made their services accessible to a broad audience.
The Role of Leadership in Cultivating a Positive Workplace
According to Montrone, effective leaders possess the ability to transform challenges into opportunities for growth. In his words, “In my opinion, effective leaders learn to turn challenges into opportunities for growth.”
When confronted with a challenge, Montrone’s approach is rooted in collaboration and inclusivity. Tyler explains, “When faced with a challenge, I generally like to gather a group of [people with] varied perspectives together (informally) to craft a solution. This engagement and collaboration gives our team the opportunity to create relationships and trust regardless of discipline, background, or position.”
Tyler’s approach reflects Acima’s commitment to a culture of teamwork, innovation, and mutual support. Effective leadership sets the tone for such a workplace, where challenges are seen as stepping stones to growth, and inclusivity is a driving force behind success.
Supporting Diversity and Inclusivity
Acima fosters a sense of belonging and inclusivity through innovative groups like the Women’s Co-worker Resource Group. With a mission to promote gender equity and support female co-workers’ development, this group engages in education, advocacy, and leadership development. Currently, it boasts 67 female co-worker members and 23 manager and executive allies. Barton emphasizes, “Our Women’s co-worker resource group is designed to support the development and career aspirations of our female coworkers.”
A Sense of Belonging
What truly sets Acima apart as a top workplace is its emphasis on fostering a sense of belonging and inclusivity Barton proudly describes as a “family culture.” This culture is built on close connections, mutual respect, and support for each other, both professionally and personally.
Acima values its remote employees, recognizing them as integral to their success. While many team members work from different locations, they’re all part of the Acima family. To bridge the gap, Acima employs Acima Place, an internal portal that connects, celebrates achievements, and shares news with the entire workforce, no matter where they are. Acima place is used to recognize birthdays, anniversaries and important milestones.
As Chris Barton explains, “Whatever goes on in Acima Place, in terms of recognition, also appears on our office TVs.” This seamless integration ensures that Acima’s culture and values reach every corner of the company, fostering unity and a sense of belonging, regardless of physical location.
Perks and Amenities
Acima understands that happy employees are key to satisfied customers. To achieve this, they offer unique perks and amenities that go beyond the ordinary. From unlimited snacks and sodas to energy drinks, they ensure their co-workers have the fuel they need. Barton adds, “There’s multiple lounge areas with sectional large sofas and TVs and video game consoles.” These lounges create spaces for relaxation and camaraderie.
Work at Acima isn’t just about tasks and responsibilities; it’s about having fun too. They have ping pong tables in gathering areas, sparking friendly competition and providing a fun way to de-stress during breaks. Barton highlights, “We have an annual ping pong tournament.”
A Culture of Celebration and Giving Back
Celebration is built into the fabric of Acima’s. They host a monthly company-paid lunch, an annual holiday celebration, and they have Acima Spirit Week—a week dedicated to celebrating their values and uniqueness. Additionally, they actively give back to the community. For instance, Barton proudly states, “We have a charity tie-in to spirit week as well. And this past year, we did a cereal drive for the local food bank. And we had over 550 boxes of cereal that we delivered to the school food bank.”
Achieving Employee Growth and Work-Life Balance
Growth opportunities are at the heart of Acima’s success. Workers are motivated by the knowledge that their efforts can elevate their roles, broaden their horizons, and make a significant impact. Montrone emphasizes, “Acima consistently provides coworkers with new challenges, training, and opportunities. Coworkers that demonstrate interest and/or aptitude for a new assignment are given the opportunity to grow and learn new skills while in a supportive setting.”
Acima values work-life balance and offers a range of benefits to support it. Exempt-level employees and above have options for discretionary time off, allowing them to manage their personal and professional lives effectively. When employees are sick (if possible) they’re given the option to work from home. The company embraces a hybrid work model, allowing many co-workers to work three days a week from the office and two days from home, promoting flexibility and work-life balance.
Acima’s commitment to its employees extends to their families (bringing family life and work together). The company hosts an annual summer party, an extravaganza that transforms the Hogle Zoo into a fun-filled family event. Employees and their families attend, enjoying a barbecue and entertainment. It’s a testament to Acima’s dedication to creating a workplace that values not just its workers but their loved ones as well.
A Testament to Workplace Excellence
Acima, a technology-driven FinTech organization, exemplifies how a company can be both successful and deeply rooted in values that benefit employees and customers alike. As Montrone puts it, “Acima is a team. We win together, and when we don’t, we learn something new. In the end, that’s what any good team does.”
As a Utah Top Workplace for 2023, Acima is a superb model of workplace excellence, setting the standard not only in Utah but also in the broader context of top workplaces nationwide. At Acima, excellence is not just a goal; it’s a way of life.