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Andrew, Finance Manager at Microsoft : Advize Career Interview
A Finance Manager at Microsoft shares insights into a fascinating career path, beginning with a foundation in finance and computer science.
The role focuses on managing gross margins and investment strategy for cybersecurity products, treating each like a standalone company.
Day-to-day activities involve supporting product teams, mastering monthly closing, forecasting, and budgeting, while collaborating with global teams. Success hinges on curiosity, a willingness to learn, and building strong relationships.
The technical aspects of the role and exposure to cutting-edge technology are particularly rewarding.
Challenges include navigating supply chain constraints, especially with GPUs, and mastering complex financial modeling tied to infrastructure.
The tech industry offers flexibility and internal mobility, attracting those who are curious, prioritize effectively, and foster relationships.
A critical takeaway is that continuous learning and asking questions are essential, and Microsoft's collaborative environment encourages seeking help.
Entry-level opportunities for undergraduates include financial analyst roles or the FRP program, while those with advanced degrees can start at higher levels, with software engineering, business operations, supply chain, and marketing also being options.
Prioritizing tasks based on materiality is a key lesson learned, and active engagement in college life, coupled with a curious mindset, sets one up for success in this dynamic field.
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Andrew Sullivan
Finance Manager
Microsoft
Wake Forest University
Georgia Institute of Technology
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Finance
Technology
Finance
Honors Student, Greek Life Member
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Career Path of a Finance Manager at Microsoft
Andrew's career path began at Wake Forest University, majoring in finance and minoring in computer science, where he actively participated in finance-oriented clubs like the "pre Wall Street career track", which helped cultivate skills in modeling and market analysis; this led to an internship at a small window company and then to Microsoft, where he rotated through treasury, M&A, operations, and eventually found a niche in product finance supporting cybersecurity products, emphasizing the importance of understanding the product side of things and having the "computer science background".
Main Responsibilities Of A Finance Manager At Microsoft
Andrew, a Finance Manager at Microsoft, primarily manages the gross margin and investment strategy for cybersecurity products, essentially managing a P&L as if each product were a "standalone company," which involves optimizing infrastructure costs on Azure and planning GPU allocation far in advance due to current constraints, especially with the rise of AI products. This also includes pricing, customer telemetry analysis to avoid over-allocation, and investment research for potential acquisitions or organic product development, building financial projections and analyzing consumptive units.
A Day in the Life of a Finance Manager at Microsoft
A day in the life of a Finance Manager at Microsoft, as described by Andrew, revolves around supporting product teams by understanding product costs and performance, and is heavily involved in the "rhythm of business" which includes monthly closing, forecasting, and budgeting. Work also involves presenting findings in presentations using metrics, such as monthly active users or consumed units, and collaborating with global teams, balancing engineering-focused meetings with typical finance reporting.
Most Important Skills For a Finance Manager at Microsoft
For a Finance Manager role at Microsoft, Andrew emphasizes that "being curious and willing to learn" is paramount, especially when working with engineers and navigating complex products. Building strong, trusting relationships with business partners through accurate and consistent work is also crucial, as these skills enable quick adaptation and effective collaboration on projects.
Favorite Parts of Being a Finance Manager at Microsoft
Andrew, a Finance Manager at Microsoft, enjoys the technical aspects of the role because it adds complexity to the finance function and allows them to see "all the brand new products being built," along with the technology behind them. The role also provides opportunities to collaborate and "learn from a bunch of different people," including those in finance, engineering, and business operations, who are often engaged in "really cool side projects" during hackathons and are happy to share their knowledge.
Biggest Challenges Faced by a Finance Manager at Microsoft
As a Finance Manager at Microsoft, Andrew's biggest challenges revolve around both supply chain constraints and the intricacies of financial modeling in the tech space; a current significant hurdle is the GPU shortage, requiring high-level meetings with the CFO to strategize allocation to customers and internal needs, while another key challenge is that "complexity with modeling" requires deep understanding of the "actual backend infrastructure" such as Azure workloads and storage types, which goes beyond standard textbook models.
Favorite Parts Of Working In Tech As A Finance Manager At Microsoft
Andrew enjoys the flexibility that a career in tech provides, especially at a global company like Microsoft where one can "work kind of, sort of in a preferable location" and be surrounded by smart people, experiencing new technology firsthand; furthermore, the opportunity for internal mobility within a large company like Microsoft is "endless," with many options to move between roles and even departments.
What Type Of Person Thrives In The Tech Industry, According To A Finance Manager At Microsoft
To thrive in finance at Microsoft, one must be "super curious" and unafraid to ask questions, while also fostering strong relationships across diverse teams; further success is found in the ability to "ruthlessly prioritize" tasks and think strategically at a high level, rather than getting lost in granular data.
What a Finance Manager at Microsoft Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Finance Industry
Entering the finance industry as a Finance Manager at Microsoft, one will quickly realize that it's "completely okay to not know stuff," as constant learning and questioning are paramount; therefore, proactively asking questions, even seemingly simple ones, is key to fully understanding projects and fostering collaboration, since no one expects you to know everything immediately. The career professional emphasizes that it is better to ask for help upfront rather than struggling in silence, as Microsoft has a collaborative environment where people are generally willing to assist, and this approach is essential for quickly acclimating and handling any task that comes one's way.
Entry-Level Positions For Aspiring Finance Professionals At Microsoft
Andrew, a Finance Manager at Microsoft, suggests that undergraduates can consider roles such as "financial analyst" or "strictly business ops analyst," or even the "FRP program," a financial rotational program at Microsoft, and master's or MBA students have similar opportunities but start at a higher level. The career professional also mentions other entry-level positions at Microsoft that might be of interest, such as software engineering, business operations, supply chain, and marketing roles.
Significant Career Lesson from a Finance Manager at Microsoft
Andrew, a Finance Manager at Microsoft, emphasizes "ruthless prioritization" as a key lesson, explaining that while a job description may be narrow, the reality involves numerous tasks; thus, quickly assessing materiality and understanding leadership's priorities – such as tackling a "$100 million problem versus a $50 million problem" – allows one to maximize impact and focus on what is most important.
College Experiences That Helped A Finance Manager At Microsoft Succeed
To prepare for a successful career, Andrew suggests actively engaging in college life by joining clubs and meeting new people, as the interpersonal skills developed are directly transferable to the professional world where "relationships are a huge part of any business job." Moreover, Andrew highlights the importance of cultivating curiosity and a willingness to learn new things, even if it means stepping outside one's comfort zone, as this mindset is crucial for navigating the ever-evolving landscape of the technology industry.
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