In 1972, he joined the research department of the Central Bank of Cyprus. In early 1974, he moved to the Bank of Cyprus to work in planning and project analysis. His international career took off in 1975 when Sarris was employed by the World Bank. In the course of his career, his work covered a broad range of sectors in Africa, Latin America and East Asia. His duties included supervision of the design of the overall country strategies of the Bank, the provision of advice on policy issues for economic and social development, the elaboration of programmes for structural adjustments and the development of economic policy dialogue between the Bank and the national authorities of countries seeking World Bank assistance. At the end of 2004, he retired from the World Bank as Department Director.

During Sarris’ first tenure as Minister of Finance, Cyprus prepared for and introduced the euro as its national currency. An aggressive austerity programme helped turn a fiscal deficit of 6.3% in 2003 into a surplus of 1.2% in 2008, and reduced inflation to 4.7%.

In September 2005, President Tassos Papadopoulos appointed Sarris Minister of Finance, a position he held until the change of government in March 2008.

On 15 October 2011, Sarris was accused by the internationally unrcognized entity of Northern Cyprus of sexual misconduct with a minor and was detained for three days. Northern Cyprus had previously made similar allegations.

In 2012, between January and August, Michael Sarris took a more active role in the recovery of Cyprus Popular Bank. Cyprus Popular Bank made unwise investments in Greece and urgently needed €1.8 billion ($2.25 billion) in bailout money in 2012.

Sarris was reappointed Minister of Finance by President Nicos Anastasiades on 28 February 2013. He resigned on 2 April after completing talks on a controversial bailout package for Cyprus.