 A chartered accountant, Cameron became principal agent to the Calcutta branch of HSBC, following which he acted as manager of its Shanghai branch, where he served until 1890.Cameron's success in reorganizing the bank was rewarded by his appointment as a director before he returned to Britain, where he became chairman of the bank in the City of London.Cameron was appointed KCMG at the end of 1901 for his "services to overseas banking", and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (FRGS) in February 1902.