sˈænfɚdz kɚɹˈɪɹ æt bˈæŋkɚz tɹˈʌst bɪɡˈæn ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɪksti wˈʌn æz ɐ kəmˈɜːʃəl bˈæŋkɪŋ ˈɑːfɪsɚ, ænd hiː wʌz pɹəmˈoʊɾᵻd θɹuː ðə ɹˈæŋks kˈʌlmᵻnˌeɪɾɪŋ ɪnðə pəzˈɪʃənz ʌv tʃˈɛɹmən ænd tʃˈiːf ɛɡzˈɛkjuːtˌɪv ˈɑːfɪsɚɹ ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi sˈɛvən.
Sanford's career at Bankers Trust began in 1961 as a commercial banking officer, and he was promoted through the ranks culminating in the positions of chairman and chief executive officer in 1987.