At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead commercial strategy and negotiate high-value deals in a fast-paced environment.
- Company: Join Microsoft, a global leader in cloud technology and innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, benefits, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Dynamic role with excellent career advancement opportunities in London.
- Why this job: Make an impact by shaping customer-focused solutions and driving business success.
- Qualifications: Experience in commercial sales and strong negotiation skills required.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 123900 £ per year.
The ideal candidate thrives in a fast‑paced environment, bringing thought leadership, commercial judgement, and a relentless focus on customer and business outcomes across both Commercial and Public Sector organisations.
Lead the commercial strategy and negotiation of complex, high-value opportunities. Design and build innovative commercial constructs that address unique customer challenges while maximising business outcomes. Act as a trusted commercial advisor to our customers and Microsoft stakeholders, influencing business decisions through data‑driven insights, commercial expertise, and strategic recommendations. Challenge conventional thinking and apply creativity to develop innovative commercial constructs, unlocking opportunities that would not be achieved through standard deal approaches. Demonstrate thought leadership in deal making by identifying creative approaches to commercial, contractual, and financial challenges (e.g., productivity gains, financial impact to a customer, Opex versus Capex).
Excellent communication skills, influence C‑suite and senior stakeholder decision‑making through compelling commercial storytelling and strategic recommendations. Specifically, when explaining commercial structures, investment processes, T & Cs and briefing stakeholders in the business. Absolute accountability of deal management tracking deals to close. Examine deals from different angles (e.g., year over year), modelling different variables to make the most effective deal. Ensure compliance is embedded in the deal making process.
Microsoft is a dynamic, fast‑paced environment where success is driven through collaboration across a broad ecosystem of stakeholders including Account Teams, Specialist Sellers, Customer Success, Support Services, Finance, Legal, Partners, and Executive Leadership. As a Commercial Executive, you will bring strong leadership, influence, and commercial judgement to orchestrate complex opportunities, align diverse stakeholders, and drive successful customer and business outcomes. This includes:
- Demonstrating thought leadership and strategic influence across multiple stakeholders to ensure Microsoft presents the strongest possible customer‑focused solution.
- Leading collaboration and orchestration across Sales, Finance, Legal, Deal Desk, Operations, and Partner teams to shape innovative commercial constructs and deliver successful deal outcomes.
- Assessing when executive engagement and escalation is required based on the size, complexity, risk profile, or strategic importance of an opportunity.
- Building trusted relationships with senior internal and external stakeholders, influencing decisions and navigating competing priorities to achieve alignment.
- Working collaboratively with Microsoft's partner ecosystem to deliver customer‑centric commercial solutions and accelerate business growth.
- Providing feedback and influencing the development of local programmes, commercial motions, and best practices that improve deal quality and business performance.
- Sharing expertise, coaching others, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement in commercial strategy, negotiation, and deal making.
The Commercial Executive plays a key role in helping customers realise the full value of their Microsoft investment by aligning commercial strategy with business outcomes. Through deep customer understanding and strategic commercial guidance, you will help shape solutions that accelerate customer transformation while delivering sustainable growth for Microsoft. This includes:
- Developing a deep understanding of customer priorities, challenges, and desired business outcomes.
- Aligning commercial strategies and solution investments to support customer transformation goals.
- Acting as a trusted advisor to senior customer stakeholders, translating complex commercial concepts into clear business value.
- Designing commercial approaches that balance customer needs, risk management, and long‑term partnership success.
- Anticipating potential challenges and proactively identifying solutions that support successful deal execution and customer satisfaction.
Several years' experience in commercial sales, negotiation, deal shaping, or opportunity orchestration roles. Proven track record of negotiating complex commercial agreements that support customer transformation and business growth. Experience designing and optimising commercial constructs through financial modelling, scenario analysis, and strategic deal planning. Demonstrated success leading strategic opportunities from inception through to successful close, navigating governance, compliance, and stakeholder alignment. Experience influencing senior executives and C‑suite stakeholders through compelling commercial recommendations and business‑focused storytelling. Proven ability to drive alignment across Sales, Finance, Legal, Deal Desk, Operations, and Partner teams to deliver successful customer outcomes.
Exceptional communication, influencing, and analytical skills, with the ability to translate complex commercial concepts into clear, actionable insights for a wide range of stakeholders. Strong commercial negotiation skills, with the ability to develop and execute strategies that balance customer priorities, business objectives, and long‑term growth. Commercially astute and comfortable working with financial concepts, using data‑driven analysis and scenario planning to inform decision‑making and shape deal outcomes. Strong understanding of the commercial deal lifecycle, including governance, risk management, compliance, and stakeholder management. Ability to build credibility and engage confidently with senior decision‑makers, articulating commercial trade‑offs and strategic recommendations. Highly collaborative, with a proven ability to lead through influence, orchestrate cross‑functional teams, and drive alignment across complex stakeholder groups. Demonstrated thought leadership, creativity, and sound judgment when solving complex commercial and contractual challenges.
The typical base pay range for this role across the United Kingdom is £95,300.00 – £123,900.00 per year. Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation.
Microsoft is on a mission to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. Our culture is centred on embracing a growth mindset, a theme of inspiring excellence, and encouraging teams and leaders to bring their best each day. In doing so, we create life‑changing innovations that impact billions of lives around the world.
Do you want to be part of a commercial sales team at one of the largest cloud companies in the world at the most exciting transformative time in the industry? The UK Commercial Executive role operates at the intersection of commercial strategy, negotiation, and customer transformation in a fast‑paced, high‑accountability environment. The Commercial Executive is expected to demonstrate thought leadership in complex deal making, applying creativity, commercial acumen, and strategic insight to design innovative deal structures that balance customer outcomes with Microsoft business objectives. Success in this role requires exceptional negotiation skills, the ability to influence senior stakeholder decisions, and the confidence to navigate ambiguity, resolve complex commercial challenges, and drive agreement to close.
We are recruiting a number of roles for Public Sector OR Financial Services sector. Please note that this role is based in Paddington, London.
Commercial Sales Executive employer: Microsoft
Microsoft is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic and collaborative work environment in Paddington, London, where employees are empowered to drive innovation and customer transformation. With a strong focus on professional growth, employees benefit from continuous learning opportunities, mentorship, and the chance to influence high-stakes commercial strategies that impact global business outcomes. The company's culture embraces a growth mindset, fostering creativity and excellence while providing competitive compensation and benefits that reflect its commitment to employee well-being.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Commercial Sales Executive
✨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 Microsoft. 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 Commercial Sales Executive
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 Microsoft.
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 Microsoft'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 Microsoft
✨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 Microsoft.
✨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 Microsoft 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 Microsoft 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.
