Commercial Analyst
This page gives you the real story about what it's like to be a Commercial Analyst (with insights from people actually doing the job).
Your goal: Decide if this sounds interesting enough to explore further, or if it's clearly not for you. Both answers are useful!
It will take about 5 minutes to read through - by the end, you'll know if this is worth exploring or if you should look at something else.
What is this job?
A commercial analyst looks at projects and ideas to work out if they'll actually make money. They build financial models that show what something will cost, what it might earn, and whether it's worth doing.
Companies need people who can take complex projects and turn them into clear numbers. Will this new product make a profit? Should we build a factory here or there? What happens if energy prices go up?
Think of it like being a problem solver with spreadsheets. You're not just punching numbers into a calculator. You're figuring out which numbers matter, what they mean for the business, and whether an idea makes sense financially.
The job sits between different teams. Engineers tell you what they need to build, sales teams tell you what customers want, and you work out if the numbers add up to make it worthwhile.
What do they do day to day?
You spend a lot of time with spreadsheets, but not in a boring way. You're building models that answer real questions the business needs to know.
Building and updating financial models:
- Taking project details and turning them into a model that shows costs and revenue
- Updating assumptions when things change (new prices, different timelines)
- Testing different scenarios to see what happens if things go well or badly
- Making sure your models reflect what's actually happening
Working with other teams:
- Talking to engineers about what a project needs and what it'll cost
- Discussing with sales about revenue expectations
- Presenting findings to managers who make the final decisions
- Questioning assumptions to make sure everyone's being realistic
Problem solving:
- A project doesn't look profitable, can you find a way to make it work?
- Costs are higher than expected, where can savings be made?
- Numbers don't match up, what's actually going on?
- Looking for creative solutions when the obvious answer doesn't work
Where you work:
- Most companies offer flexible working, some office days and some from home
- Varies by company, some want you in more, others are fully remote
- Office work is usually at a computer rather than on site visits
- You might visit project sites occasionally to understand what you're modelling
How much do they earn?
Salaries vary depending on the company, location, and your experience level. Here's what commercial analysts typically earn in the UK:
Entry Level (Graduate or Apprentice): £25,000 to £32,000 per year
Starting out, learning the role
With 1 to 4 Years Experience: £29,000 to £40,000 per year
You've got the basics and are building expertise
Mid Level (5+ Years): £40,000 to £55,000 per year
You're experienced and handle complex projects
Senior Level: £55,000 to £70,000+ per year
Leading teams or specialising in a niche area
What affects your salary:
- Location: London pays significantly more than other UK cities
- Industry: Energy, finance and technology typically pay higher than retail or public sector
- Company size: Larger companies often have higher salaries and more structured progression
- Specialisation: Developing expertise in a particular sector can boost your pay
Remember: These are approximate figures and can vary. The progression is clear though, you can see your salary grow as you gain experience and take on more responsibility.
You'll Be Successful In This Career If...
You're comfortable with numbers
Not in a pure maths genius way, but you need to be happy working with data, building models, and spotting when something doesn't add up. You should find satisfaction in getting the numbers right and seeing patterns.
You're naturally curious about how things work
When someone gives you a number, you want to know why it's that number. What drives it? What could change it? You're the person who asks "but why?" until you actually understand what's happening.
You enjoy seeing real results from your work
This isn't abstract theory. The analysis you do helps decide whether to build that wind farm, launch that product, or expand into that market. You like knowing your work leads to actual things happening in the real world.
You like solving puzzles with constraints
The best commercial analysts enjoy the challenge of making something work within limits. You've got a budget, a timeline, and some fixed costs - how do you make it profitable? It's creative problem solving but with clear boundaries.
You can explain complex things simply
Your model might have hundreds of rows, but you need to tell someone in two minutes whether they should do the project or not. You can take complicated analysis and make it clear to people who aren't finance experts.
The Bottom Line
If you're good with numbers, enjoy problem solving within constraints, ask lots of questions to understand how things really work, and want to see your analysis lead to real decisions, then commercial analyst could be a strong fit for you.
The routes to the role:
University degree then graduate scheme:
- Any degree works, but finance, economics, business or maths are common
- Many companies run 2-year graduate programmes for commercial analyst roles
- You rotate through different teams to learn the business
- Starting salary around £25,000 to £32,000
Business Analyst apprenticeship then progression:
- Level 4 Business Analyst apprenticeship is a common entry point
- Build analytical skills and business knowledge
- Can progress into commercial analyst roles
- Takes 18-24 months
Degree apprenticeship:
- Earn while you study for a finance or business degree
- Takes 4-6 years to complete
- No university debt
- Several large companies offer these (banks, energy companies, consultancies)
What helps:
- Strong maths at GCSE/A-level
- Being able to explain why you're interested in this specific role
- Understanding what commercial analysts actually do (most applicants don't)
- Any experience with data, spreadsheets or financial analysis
Insights from people who do the job
Emil Solberg Mikkelsen
Commercial Analyst at
Vattenfall