[Dynamics 365 Finance Guide]: why and for whom?
- Elise Dejour
- Sep 15
- 4 min read
[Dynamics 365 Finance Guide]: why and for whom?
What is Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance?
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance is an ERP module dedicated to the advanced financial management of companies. It allows to centralize, automate, and make reliable all financial operations: general and analytical accounting, cash flow management, bank reconciliations, fixed assets management, but also tax compliance and real-time reporting.
This module is an integral part of the Microsoft Dynamics 365 suite, and naturally integrates with other solutions such as Dynamics 365 Supply Chain, Dynamics 365 Sales, or even Power BI, which allows for a complete view of the company’s performance.
What is Dynamics 365 Finance used for?
The main objective is to improve the visibility and financial control of the company. Concretely, the module allows to cover all the needs of a modern financial management:
Automation of financial reports: no more manual exports and Excel tables. The data is consolidated in real-time and presented as interactive reports.
Cash management: thanks to automated forecasts, the CFO can anticipate liquidity needs and optimize investments.
A faster closing: bank reconciliations, recurring entries and adjustments are done automatically, which reduces the closing time (up to 50% faster according to Microsoft).
Ensure compliance: Dynamics 365 Finance adapts to local and international standards (IFRS, GAAP), which facilitates multi-country and multi-subsidiary management.
Profitability analysis by activity: by product, project, department or client
Support the strategy: the financial management becomes a strategic steering partner, relying on reliable and constantly updated data
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance transforms the finance function into a true strategic decision center.
Where does it fit into the Microsoft ecosystem?
Dynamics 365 Finance, like all other applications in the Dynamics 365 suite, is not isolated. It is integrated into the ecosystem, interconnected with the other modules, it is designed to streamline the flow of information between all departments, notably with:
Power BI: financial data is directly exploitable in visual and interactive dashboards. Example: a CFO can visualize in real time the evolution of cash flow and compare several budget scenarios.
Power Automate: manual processes are replaced by automated workflows. Example: an invoice validated in Finance automatically triggers its archiving in SharePoint and the sending of a Teams notification.
Microsoft Teams: collaboration between departments is facilitated. Example: a business controller can share a Power BI report directly in Teams with sales management to adjust sales forecasts.
Dynamics 365 Supply Chain: to link finance and supply chain and enable real-time tracking of the financial impact of inventory, purchasing and logistics.
Azure: the secure cloud hosting connected to all data, ensuring accessibility and scalability.
The interest of this interconnection is simple: each department works on a single source of data. No more need to reprocess data between departments: finance, sales, production and the logistics are connected, in an integrated environment.
What benefits for a company?
Dynamics 365 Finance allows to:
Accelerate financial closure (up to 50% faster according to Microsoft).
Reduce accounting errors through automation.
Gain visibility on profitability by product, service or project.
Master your regulatory obligations, including the nLPD in Switzerland and the GDPR in Europe.
For large groups and subsidiaries, it offers a standardization of financial processes and a consolidated view of results at the international level.
For what type of business?
Dynamics 365 Finance is designed to:
SMEs that wish to go beyond a simple accounting software and move towards an integrated solution.
Mid-caps and multinationals, thanks to its multi-currency, multi-entity and multi-country management capacity.
Regulated sectors like healthcare, finance, industry or transport, where traceability and compliance are key.
At Almakom, we also adapt it for medium-sized companies that want to structure their growth without immediately switching to an overly cumbersome organization.
Is the finance module of Microsoft Dynamics 365 secure?
Yes. Dynamics 365 Finance is hosted on Microsoft Azure, ensuring:
A high level of cybersecurity (ISO/IEC 27001, 27017, 27018).
Data sovereignty thanks to the Swiss datacenters in Zurich and Geneva.
An encryption of data at rest and in transit.
Swiss companies can thus meet the requirements of the nLPD and the GDPR, while benefiting from a sovereign cloud infrastructure.
What is the role of AI in Dynamics 365 Finance?
Integrated artificial intelligence via Copilot, Microsoft AI, allows for:
Anticipate payment delays with a predictive analysis of receivables.
Optimize cash flow with smart forecasts.
Reduce the risk of errors through automated checks.
AI has a real role to play with the finance function: fewer repetitive tasks, more strategic value.
What is the cost of Dynamics 365 Finance?
Microsoft’s official pricing for Dynamics 365 Finance starts around $180/user/month (catalog price reference).
But in practice, the cost depends:
The number of users.
Connected modules (complete ERP, CRM, business applications).
Specific integration needs.
That is why it is recommended to go through an integrating partner to define a realistic budget adapted to your priorities.
When to call on an integrator like Almakom?
At Almakom, we support companies by:
Adapting the Finance module to your real needs (rather than a standard configuration).
Integrating your existing tools (ERP, CRM, business applications).
Training your teams to ensure that the solution is adopted and used daily.
In some cases, it may be more relevant to develop a complementary business application (e.g. for sector-specific invoicing), rather than forcing an unintended use in the Finance module.
In summary, Dynamics 365 Finance is a strategic ally to drive financial performance. Accessible to SMEs as well as large companies, it combines automation, AI and compliance for a modern and connected management of your finances.
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