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Commercial Manager Job Description: Top Duties and Requirements

A Commercial Manager, or Financial Manager, seeks opportunities to help a company grow. They oversee and manage financials, including risks, revenue, and client relationships. Their duties include negotiating contracts with new clients, overseeing the financial aspect of projects, and monitoring employee performance.

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Commercial Manager duties and responsibilities

When writing a job description for a Commercial Manager, it is important to specify the duties and responsibilities required to excel in the role, including:

  • Identifying emerging markets and opportunities
  • Performance tracking
  • Assisting the supply chain management team with forecasting and development of various markets
  • Meeting with staff members to help interpret contracts and commercial terms
  • Developing, buying, and managing all subcontracts
  • Reviewing process documents and addressing any business concerns with Project Managers
  • Creating and maintaining accurate customer information in internal systems
  • Collecting data for teams to help with project strategy and contractual fulfillment
  • Monitoring the performance of projects
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Commercial Manager Job Description Examples:

What does a Commercial Manager do?

A Commercial Manager establishes, creates, and manages contracts with customers to support the overall growth of a business. After they have sourced new clients, a Commercial Manager works with various internal teams to lead negotiations and reach agreeable terms and conditions for both parties. Commercial Managers also work to identify areas in contracts that could pose significant risk to a company. They manage relationships between customers and the company, and prepare contract reports.

Commercial Manager skills and qualifications

A successful Commercial Manager should have various prerequisite skills and qualifications required for the duties of this job, including: 

  • Understanding of complex management practices
  • Knowledge of finance, invoicing, and scheduling systems
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills
  • Strong interpersonal skills and ability to negotiate
  • Excellent project and budget management skills
  • Ability to solve problems quickly and react to situations in a calm and effective manner

Commercial Manager experience requirements

Suitable candidates should have three to five years’ experience in sales, marketing, finance, or law. Familiarity with project management or relevant leadership role is beneficial, and strong communication skills are key. Look for candidates who have soft skills like organization, problem-solving, creativity, and leadership.

Commercial Manager training and education requirements

Look for candidates with a bachelor’s degree in law, engineering, commerce, business, or an equivalent field. Experienced lawyers are often preferable, and formal training in contract law or contract negotiation is an asset. In some industries, like construction, you may choose to seek candidates with additional certifications, knowledge, or experience in that industry.

Commercial Manager salary expectations

According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for a Commercial Manager in Canada is $88,292 per year. The salary can vary depending on experience, location, or the company that is hiring.

Job description samples for similar positions

If a Commercial Manager is not what you are looking for, some other related job descriptions include:

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Commercial Manager job description FAQs

What is the difference between a Commercial Manager and a Client Services Manager?

A Commercial Manager works with internal teams and the client to negotiate contracts. Their goal is to ensure that their business is growing, and they are not taking on any unnecessary risks with new clients. A Client Services Manager most frequently works with clients to make sure they are updated through the entire project or contract. Their focus remains on client satisfaction and retention, while a Commercial Manager’s focus is on the business’ financial growth. Both roles need to maintain healthy working relationships with their clients.

Do Commercial Managers have different responsibilities in different industries?

The primary responsibilities and job functions of a Commercial Manager role typically stay the same regardless of what industry they are working in. However, in some industries, these managers may require additional training or knowledge in order to perform the role well. In the financial industry, for example, Commercial Managers need to complete their Canadian Securities Course (CSC) in order to better understand the contracts involved.

What should you look for in a Commercial Manager's resume?

The best way to make a Commercial Manager job description stand out is to provide detailed information about the company and the kind of clients or customers it serves. Any industry-related certification requirements, like a specific law degree, are key information to include to attract the best candidates for the position. If your company provides benefits like performance bonuses or RRSP matching plans, be sure to include those as well.

Job Description Examples

Need help writing a job description for a specific role? Use these job description examples to create your next great job posting. Or if you’re ready to hire, post your job on Indeed.

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