Bryant joined the civil service in the Straits Settlements in 1883 and, after passing the Malay language examination, his first appointment was as acting Third Magistrate, and then as Acting Collector of Land Revenue in Penang.

In 1889, he became the Acting District Officer of Province Wellesley South and Magistrate[1] before being transferred to the Dindings.

[2] After passing the Tamil language examination he was transferred to Malacca where he acted as Collector of Land Revenue, and head of the Treasury.

He then returned to Penang and spent the next ten years, from 1895 to 1905, as First Magistrate, and Inspector of Schools.

One of his last reported engagements was to officiate at the opening of the Kapitan Keling Mosque redevelopment,[4] before he retired in May 1917.