EMEA SMB Finance Manager

Overview The EMEA SME&C Finance team is dedicated to managing financial operations, providing insights, and supporting strategic decisions for Microsoft's Corporate Accounts and Small-Medium Business (SMB) Segments, as well as the Partner Channel. Microsoft SMB EMEA, one of three worldwide regions of Microsoft Commercial Business, encompasses five geographical units: DACH, UKI, France and Benelux (FBE), Western Europe (WE), and Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Africa (CEMA) . As the Artificial Intelligence Business Solutions (AIBS) Finance Manager for the EMEA SMB Finance team, you will be at the forefront of AI innovation and business transformation. In our rapidly evolving environment, this is an excellent opportunity to immerse yourself in the dynamic growth of our company. Your responsibilities will include end-to-end financial planning, forecasting, and performance management across the EMEA SMB AIBS business. This involves quarterly and monthly outlooks, identifying risks and opportunities, financial modeling, and aligning KPIs, assumptions, and growth opportunities with corporate strategies. As the AIBS Finance Manager, you will collaborate closely with AIBS sales, product, and finance leadership to enable data-driven go-to-market execution and decision-making. This role offers a fantastic career opportunity to gain a deep understanding of global business, utilize analytical skills, and explore Microsoft's cutting-edge systems, tools, and processes. At Microsoft, our mission is to empower every person and organization on the planet to achieve more. We come together with a growth mindset, innovate to empower others, and collaborate to achieve our shared goals. Every day, we build on our values of respect, integrity, and accountability to create an inclusive culture where everyone can thrive at work and beyond. Responsibilities Business Partnership  Develops new approaches to leverage best-in-class technology (e.g. Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Predictive Analytics etc.) to accomplish goals. Contributes to efforts to implement technology to increase productivity (e.g., report optimization) and to ensure accurate conclusions. Integrates varied data sources and assimilates the information into a comprehensive, clear narrative. Communicates results in a compelling, timely, and understandable message through storytelling. Articulates understanding and awareness of business partner situations. Develops and leverages relationships with business partners to bolster sales, and to understand and manage business risk. Designs and negotiates solutions to complex financial issues with business partners. Collects customer and partner feedback data and applies data analysis techniques to improve experience. Serves as an advocate for Microsoft and its partners. Manages balance between customer centricity, enablement of sales, and cost-effectiveness. Provides business insights and recommendations to peers and stakeholders to achieve financial goals (e.g., resource allocation, revenue management, trends, and future requirements) and drive shareholder return. Collaborates with business leaders to define action plans for financial and business analysis findings. Manages and executes processes through engagement with internal and external stakeholders. Applies advanced understanding of Microsoft Finance (e.g., financial systems, policies and procedures, key metrics, historical performance, reporting, and forecast requirements) and business (e.g., market dynamics, key metrics, Finance and Accounting reporting requirements, rules, and regulations; accounting, and control strategy) to multiple contexts and situations to evaluate results, financial models and forecasts, and to complete all filings and reporting. Develops and manages strategies to proactively mitigate, or reactively address, potential adverse effects of macroeconomic and/or geopolitical risks. Assesses potential impacts of changes.  Prioritization  Contributes to new methods and approaches to data collection, analysis, interpretation, and financial models. Provides advice and direction in evaluating suitability and reliability of data, articulate limitations, and propose solutions on data management and operations. Acts as subject matter expert for data management and operations. Provides business leader support and actionable insights during financial close periods. Reviews recurring financial reporting, forecasts and presentations. Identifies trends, and formulates action plans. Determines financial results and conducts variance analyses. Identifies causes and solutions. Collaborates to ensure execution of plans and accountability for results. Identifies causes and recommendations. Contributes to resource allocation and identifies opportunities for optimization and prioritization. Performs analysis, modeling, and research of present and future financial performance, financial plans (e.g., expected returns, pricing, investment opportunities, revenue, operational metrics, productivity metrics), and economic transactions (e.g., customer deals, commercial partnerships, acquisitions). Assists in the execution of annual business planning and forecasting process. Completes analysis, modeling, and research to support preliminary and adjusted forecast cycles. Assists with developing and testing financial models. Partners and solicits insight from business and commercial stakeholders. Develops and manages financial plans, budgets, and forecasts to support strategic decision-making.  Protect  Own Microsoft Customer and Partner Solutions ( MCAPS ) finance policy and guidance. Continue strong alignment with Internal Audit, Engineering Group Finance, Central Finance Team and other corporate partners driving risk-based compliance frameworks. Build relationships of trust and honesty to ensure compliance risks are freely discussed and handled in a timely manner. Qualifications Required Qualifications Master's Degree in Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, Economics, Data Science or related field AND significant experience in financial analysis, accounting, controllership or finance, or related field or equivalent experience.  Office presence of minimum 3 days per week. Preferred Qualifications Proven analytical skills and business acumen. Excellent partnership / people skills, with focus on collaboration, can do attitude, being hands-on, while able to land impact through others. Effective Communication (Clarity, Focus, Transparency, Timeliness). Proven collaboration and solid teamwork capability, including virtual engagement. Forecasting and Financial Planning experience. Experience & appetite to use AI and reshaping / simplifying processes for more impact.  IT/Tech industry experience. This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled. Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance with religious accommodations and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations.