A HIGHWORTH man whose first job was in McDonald's has become the youngest ever fellow of the Personal Finance Society.

Vito Faircloth, 22, whose parents and two sisters still live in Highworth, has passed 19 exams in 22 months to gain the honour.

“It felt amazing,” said the former Cirencester College student. “It’s the highest accreditation you can get in the industry.”

Vito, who studied for the exams in subjects like pensions and company finances in his spare time, said: “It’s taken some late nights and early mornings along the way.”

Keith Richards, chief executive of the Personal Finance Society, said: “Vito’s achievement is truly remarkable and I congratulate him on becoming part of Personal Finance Society history by qualifying as its youngest ever fellow.”

There are just under 2,200 fellows of the Personal Finance Society.

But the high-flyer, who currently works as a wealth manager at top city firm, Investment Quorum, might never have made it in the industry.

“I’d only ever been a B-grade student,” Vito says.

His first job was in McDonald's, when he was 15.

“I didn’t want to have to rely on my parents, so I went in and started on the chicken nuggets,” he said.

He found a passion for finance whilst studying at college and was offered an internship at London investment firm St James’s Place in Cirencester.

“I used to be very shy, even to the extent that I wouldn’t want to put my hand up in class,” he said.

“My main fear was presenting. I had to give a presentation at the end of my internship to the Board of Trustees and I blanked.”

Eventually it was a big presentation that helped cure him of his public speaking fear.

Vito was invited to give a presentation in front of a thousand people in London, talking about a web app he had developed with a fellow student.

“It went so well that there was a standing ovation at the end,” he said.

Ian McLarty, head of innovation and growth at Cirencester College, taught Vito for a year.

He said: “Vito was very career-minded. “He knew what he was trying to achieve and was proactive in the way he went about it. He was a role model for other students.”

After graduating from college the high-achiever joined Attivo Group, a financial planning company in Cheltenham.

This year the Chartered Insurance Institute named Vito their “achiever of the year” for the Cheltenham and Gloucester area.

A move to City firm Investment Quorum followed in August where he advises on investments.

He said: “I want to be one of the leaders in the financial services industry in the UK. Within five years I want to be leading a company.”

Vito’s next challenge is to mentor students in his home town.

He plans to set up a charity in the new year, getting Swindon entrepreneurs to give talks to students about their experiences in business.

Anyone interested in being involved should contact Vito through his LinkedIn page.

“We’re looking for anyone who’s really passionate about what they do,” he said.