Each week, we dig into the memory bank of the City’s great and good. Today, Michael Helsby,
managing director of strategic direction at Paragon Banking Group takes us through his career, and his reflections on the City, in Square Mile and Me

What was your first job?

I left school at 16 to become an apprentice Electrical Control Engineer at Ford Motor Company in Halewood, Liverpool. I qualified and was working on robots, but by the age of 21 I concluded that engineering wasn’t for me, so I took myself off to Liverpool University to read Business. It was a huge decision at the time, truly life changing!

What was your first role in the finance?

I trained as a Chartered Accountant at Price Waterhouse in Manchester. I made it to audit manager before I changed direction again.

When did you know you wanted to build a career in finance?

From early on in my university days I was drawn to finance and the City, but I never believed that I’d be able to make the leap. Then one day, while I was still at PwC, a job advert to become an Equity Analyst literally dropped through my letter box. I applied and joined ING Charterhouse as a UK Bank analyst. Initially based in Liverpool, I moved down to London to join ABN Amro in 2003.

What’s one thing you love about the City of London?

The meritocracy and the range and diversity of people that you get to work with. Social mobility is hugely........

© City A.M.