Case studies: Manager: David

David graduated with a degree in economics. He now works as a manager for an international investment bank...

During both school and university I intended to take a career in financial services where I could use my skills and competence in both mathematics and English. I've always loved the opportunity to read extensively, and enjoy expressing myself through composition. Tending to have a fairly logical and detailed thought process, I found mathematics particularly interesting at school.

Initially, I thought about a number of career paths, such as teaching, broadcasting and human resources, but ultimately I decided that financial services offered me the best all round basis to utilise my skills. There also seemed to be a wide range of roles to explore, from working in a high street bank through to trading as a money market dealer in an international investment house in the City.

Through my school careers service, I attended a few open days with UK banks and liked the fairly structured career programme they offered to graduate trainees. They seemed to demonstrate measurable dates for learning and development, and provided a clearly staged programme for career development.

Having decided to follow a career in financial services, I chose a degree which would give the best possible background to work in the financial services sector, as well as the opportunity to demonstrate a commercial focus to my studies. Success, I hoped, would provide me with ability to join a management training programme.

I graduated with a 2.1 in Economics from the University of London and took my first job in a UK clearing bank as a management trainee on a graduate training programme.

Here, I gained experience in both UK and international banking, immediately commencing study for Associateship of the (ACIB). This is a prerequisite for management career bankers.

I worked in a number of domestic banking branches in North London, working through general customer banking duties and foreign exchange, and built a good understanding of the money markets through buying and selling securities. I enjoyed working on international matters and requested a move to the bank's international division after two years.

I was transferred to a role working in the processing and handling of international payments in the City, a very exciting, busy, non-stop environment. In this world you do feel you are at the centre of global financial activity. Any changes which take place in the economic or political environment have an immediate effect on the financial markets.

Following a period in that division I moved to equity trading, then investment management and finally mergers and acquisitions. Each of these roles was gradually developing my all-round ability to progress into banking management. I loved the variety of different roles, the frequent challenges to achieve tasks, to meet tight deadlines and the feeling that your work was at the centre stage of the global financial market.

My role and responsibilities have grown - and so have my financial rewards. The skills and knowledge I've gained through my career have enabled me to work across different sectors of the commercial world, including banking, finance and HR, and provided me with a clear understanding of the business requirements of a fast-moving working environment.