Richard Todd

Name: Richard Todd
Employer: Rothschild
Area of work: Investment banking
Subject: BA philosophy, politics and economics
University: University of Oxford

I didn’t take a typical route into banking: I left university not knowing exactly what I wanted to do so I spent some time working for a start-up consultancy firm, travelling around Cuba and Sri Lanka, and working for an MP in the House of Commons. I wanted a firm career direction in an area that would challenge me, so I consulted the careers service at university and did a lot of research. I chose M&A (mergers and acquisitions) because it met my requirements, and looked for a bank that was flexible enough to recruit on a case-by-case basis and see my broad experience as valuable.

My job

I work in a team that covers retail, leisure and gaming organisations. My main focus is on transactions, such as mergers and acquisitions, but I also need to get a feel for what’s happening in the sector and where we can provide advice. I stay in touch with clients on an ongoing basis, not just when there’s a big deal going on. They may have questions about the sector or want general corporate advice that I can help with. It’s not just ‘meet, greet, do deals, say goodbye’!

There’s a lot of analysis involved so it’s extremely important to pay attention to detail and be able to identify the most important points. For instance, I may trawl through a huge volume of information and need to know how to look for the most relevant points.

Highs and lows

My hours are very variable – if there’s no pressing work then I won’t work too late, but if there is I will! I leave when my work is done. The hours can be long but you get used to it quickly. The thing I like best about this job is working with people who love what they do and are very good at it. No matter who I’m working with, I’ll learn something.