He began work as a bank clerk in Switzerland, moving to his firm’s headquarters in Paris in 1750. He rose to hold the office of director-general of French finances on two occasions. During Necker’s first term (1777–81), his social and administrative reform programmes aroused the hostility of the court and led to his forced resignation. While in office for a second time (1788–89), he recommended summoning the States General, resulting in his dismissal on 11 July 1789. News of this angered the people and was one of the factors which resulted in the storming of the Bastille three days later.