At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead strategic deal execution and optimise processes for high-value transactions.
- Company: Fortinet, a leader in cybersecurity with a dynamic finance team.
- Benefits: Hybrid work model, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with a focus on innovation and cross-functional teamwork.
- Why this job: Make a significant impact by transforming the Deals Desk function in a fast-paced environment.
- Qualifications: 7-12+ years in sales finance or deal desk roles, strong financial acumen required.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
Position: Hybrid (4 Days in Office)
Experience: 7-12+ years
Fortinet is expanding its Finance Deals Desk, a strategic function designed to accelerate sales and provide a competitive advantage.
We are seeking a Senior Manager to join our established team of senior professionals.
This role will focus on shifting from traditional deal support to a sophisticated, data-driven commercial framework, enabling our Sales teams to close complex, high-value deals faster by navigating internal processes and providing clear, consistent guidance.
As a Senior Manager, you will be a key partner to Sales and Finance leadership, responsible for operationalizing, executing, and managing our new unified commercial framework.
You will champion the transition toward standardized, risk-based threshold approvals and rapid deal triage processes, ensuring that escalations are driven by genuine economic risk rather than procedural bottlenecks.
You will assist in the ongoing governance of our commercial decision matrices, providing vital feedback to refine these rules and driving consistency and predictability across all global transactions.
This is a high-impact, senior individual contributor opportunity for a self-motivated professional to help elevate and scale our growing Deals Desk function.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategic Deal Execution & Advisory
- Act as the primary financial advisor to Sales leaders on large, complex, and non-standard transactions, providing strategic guidance on deal structuring to maximize profitability and ensure compliance.
- Lead the deal review process, applying a unified commercial framework to ensure all key business controls (such as margins, discounting, and renewals) are consistently assessed for economic risk.
- Serve as the key escalation point for complex, high-risk, or non-standard deals, preparing concise business justifications and risk assessments for executive review.
- Champion and operationalize rapid triage methodologies to quickly classify deals and streamline the approval workflow, enabling Sales to focus on customer-facing activities.
- Process Optimization & Scalable Governance
- Partner with Finance and Operations leadership to operationalize and recommend improvements to the Deals Desk's decision matrices and threshold-based routing rules, providing structured feedback to help refine them in alignment with Fortinet’s financial goals.
- Execute and maintain lean, scalable processes that enhance the efficiency and velocity of the Field Sales teams while maintaining rigorous, audit-ready compliance.
- Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) for the Deals Desk function, focusing on deal velocity, approval consistency, and risk mitigation.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration & Influence
- Drive strong cross-functional alignment with Legal, Revenue Recognition, Order Management, and other internal teams to ensure a seamless and predictable order-to-cash cycle.
- Collaborate closely with peer Senior Managers and Finance leaders to ensure global consistency in deal execution and process application.
- Sustain Field Sales accountability across all deal lifecycle requirements and hold cross-functional partners accountable for their deliverables to ensure timely execution.
Required Skills & Qualifications
- Experience: 7-12+ years of progressive experience in a deal desk, sales finance, or revenue operations role within a global technology or cybersecurity company.
Proven experience operating successfully as a senior-level individual contributor.
- Commercial
- Framework
Execution: Extensive experience executing and managing structured, rules-based commercial frameworks.
Deep understanding of how to balance margins, discounts, and commercial terms in everyday deal cycles.
- Industry
Knowledge: Deep, thorough understanding of standard and non-standard hardware and software selling models (including Saa S, subscription, term, perpetual, consumption, and on-demand).
- Financial Acumen: Strong understanding of software revenue recognition principles (ASC 606) and the impact of non-standard contract terms on financial outcomes.
- Technical Proficiency: Strong experience with Salesforce (SFDC) is required. Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
- Collaboration & Influence: Strong cross-functional influencer with the ability to gain organizational buy-in for process transformation.
Proven ability to build consensus with peers and hold cross-functional partners accountable.
- Problem-Solving: An innovative and strategic thinker who can "think outside the box" to structure winning deals while protecting the company's financial interests.
- Communication: Exceptional verbal, written, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate complex financial concepts clearly and concisely to executives, sales, and operational teams.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Sr. Manager, Finance Deals Desk in Reading
✨Tap into Campus Networks
If you're still in uni, don’t forget to engage with your campus's career services and attend finance-related events. Banks often do presentations and recruitment drives on campus, so put yourself out there and make use of these opportunities to show off your passion for the field.
✨Get Certified
Consider pursuing relevant certifications like the CFA or ACCA while you’re job hunting. They not only beef up your CV but also connect you with professional bodies which can lead to networking opportunities and even job openings in banking and financial services.
✨Connect on Professional Platforms
Join finance-focused groups on platforms like LinkedIn and engage in discussions. This can really help you stand out from the crowd, allowing potential employers to see your knowledge and interest in industry trends. Plus, you might stumble upon job postings shared exclusively within the group.
✨Apply Directly and Be Proactive
Don’t shy away from reaching out directly to firms like Fortinet. Use their websites and apply through them, but also consider following up with a polite email to express your enthusiasm. Being proactive can make a huge difference in getting noticed in the competitive financial services sector.
We think you need these skills to ace Sr. Manager, Finance Deals Desk in Reading
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Numbers!:In the banking and financial services world, quantifiable achievements are key. Make sure your CV highlights your grades in relevant subjects, any financial certifications you hold, and specific projects where you've delivered measurable results. Employers love to see how your skills translate into real-world success.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Role:When applying for a full-time position, your cover letter should make a direct connection between your experience and the job description. Don't just state your enthusiasm for finance—dive into how your background in banking or financial analysis sets you apart. Let your passion shine through while being specific about what you can bring to Fortinet.
Include Relevant Financial Software Experience:If you've worked with financial modelling tools or software like Excel, SAP, or specific analytical tools during your studies or internships, bring that up! Highlighting your proficiency can really make your application pop and show you're ready to hit the ground running in a full-time role.
Research and Reflect:Before hitting that 'apply' button on Fortinet's website, do a little digging. Look up their recent projects, values, and culture. Reflecting their ethos in your application can make a huge difference and show you’re genuinely interested in being part of the team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Fortinet
✨Brush Up on Financial Analysis Skills
Make sure you're well-versed in financial concepts and analytical techniques relevant to banking and financial services. Get comfortable with tools like Excel for modelling or financial forecasting, as technical questions in this area are common during interviews with Fortinet.
✨Prepare for Case Studies
Expect to tackle case studies that demonstrate your problem-solving skills in real-world banking scenarios. Familiarise yourself with the types of problems you might face—think risk assessments or investment evaluations—and be ready to articulate your thought process clearly.
✨Show Your Passion for Finance
Since this is a full-time position, employers at Fortinet will be keen to see your genuine interest in finance. Be prepared to discuss recent industry trends or news articles that excite you, showcasing your enthusiasm and engagement with the field.
✨Network with Industry Professionals
Before your interview, reach out to current or former Fortinet employees on platforms like LinkedIn. They'll offer unique insights into the company's culture and the interview process, which can give us a delightful edge in showcasing a good fit for the team.