Jonathan James joined the team at Antony Batty & Company Thames Valley in October 2024 after nearly 30 years working for Lloyds Bank, where his last role was Commercial Relationship Director in Oxfordshire. In this article, we look at how Jonathan made the transition from banking to the world of insolvency, and why the transferrable skills between the two professions have been so important.
From three decades in banking to a new challenge
After three decades in banking, Jonathan thought he had seen most challenges the business world could throw at him. From assessing loan applications to helping companies manage cash flow, he built a career around understanding finances and supporting businesses through periods of growth and also uncertainty.
Moving into insolvency with Antony Batty & Company Thames Valley 18 months ago, has given him the chance to put those skills to work in a very different way.
“I’d spent years helping businesses secure funding and navigate financial pressures,” Jonathan says. “When the time came to leave Lloyds, it was also an opportunity to leave banking altogether and take the transferable skills and use these effectively to help companies and individuals find solutions when things become difficult.”
Putting a banking background to work in insolvency
His background in banking has proved invaluable. Years of analysing financial statements, understanding lending decisions and working closely with business owners mean he can quickly identify the causes of financial distress and communicate effectively with creditors, directors and shareholders.
“In banking, you learn that every set of accounts tells a story,” he explains. “In insolvency, it’s about understanding that story and finding the best possible outcome for all stakeholders.”
The human side of financial difficulty
The transition has also highlighted the human side of financial difficulties. Rather than focusing solely on numbers, Jonathan now spends much of his time reassuring clients, explaining directors’ duties and complex processes and helping people to move forward.
“Many clients come to us feeling overwhelmed. Being able to listen, understand and empathise and to explain options clearly and guide them through what can be a stressful period is very rewarding.”
His experience has also helped build trust with clients. Business owners appreciate speaking to someone who understands the realities of commercial finances, trade terms and professional relationships.
A natural progression, not a career change
Jonathan believes the move has been a natural progression rather than a complete career change.
“The technical aspects can be learned, but understanding businesses, building relationships and making sound financial judgements are skills that transfer directly. My banking career gave me a solid foundation, and insolvency has given me the opportunity to use that experience to make a difference.”
Advice for professionals considering a similar move
For professionals considering a similar move, his advice is simple: don’t underestimate the value of your existing experience and the tools your existing employer helped to develop.
“Banking teaches you resilience, commercial awareness and how to work with people in good times, and in bad. Those skills are just as important in insolvency as they are in finance.”
Today, Jonathan continues to draw on his banking background every day, proving that while careers may evolve, experience can only be built over time and it can become the strong foundation for helping businesses and individuals to rebuild, recover and plan for a more secure future.
Talk to Jonathan, or any of his colleagues at Antony Batty & Co. Thames Valley for Insolvency, Restructuring and Business Turnaround Advice.
