Data-Driven Finance: From Insight to Action

EY’s Myles Corson sits down with Microsoft Americas CFO, Jack Ryder to talk about the evolving role of finance. Together, they discuss integrating real-time data with human analysis as well as Microsoft’s four pillars for finance: People, Prioritization, Partnership and Protection.

Key takeaways

• Much of what drives the innovative nature of the Microsoft organization can be understood through the pillars around which the finance function organize themselves: people, prioritization, protection, and partnership.
• The vast quantity of data readily available forces the need for technology as the function needs to rely on automation for prompt interpretation of raw metrics.
• Revenue planning and forecasting models are one specific area in which Microsoft has found tremendous success and real value-add for technologies like machine learning, which enable centralization of field organizations into more effective, in-sync partnerships.
• The modern direction of finance is driving talent away from block and tackle tasks, and into insightful roles that provide data-backed direction for strategic business discussions.
• In order to properly staff this new function, recruiters are looking more closely at the adaptable, consulting-style skillset of today’s finance professional. Calculated understanding of the minutia of the technology is significantly less importance than being able to adapt and interpret outputs.
• Part of this more diversified skillset is an empathetic, whole-business viewpoint driven by prioritizing the contextualization of data. In doing so, the finance function no longer operates as an isolated department, but as an integrated part of the entire business’ health.