Senior Finance Manager - Search / News & AI Advertising Finance

Microsoft Microsoft · Big Tech · Redmond, WA +1 · Financial Analysis

This role is for a Senior Finance Manager within Microsoft's Search, News & AI Advertising Finance team. The primary focus is on financial planning and analysis (FP&A) for the PC & Tablet revenue of the Search business. Responsibilities include revenue ownership, financial modeling, executive communication, and business partnering. The role requires strong analytical skills and the ability to translate financial data into actionable insights for business leaders. While the team name includes 'AI Advertising Finance', the core responsibilities are financial management and analysis, not direct AI/ML development or research.

What you'd actually do

  1. Support the key rhythms of business through developing and effectively communicating analytics and insights for the PC&T Search business against forecast, budget and historical trends.
  2. Lead monthly close and forecast cycles — producing volume/rate/mix variance analysis with appropriate business drivers, waterfall analyses, and clear explanations of drivers versus prior period, forecast and outlook.
  3. Develop and maintain robust financial models that accurately capture revenue dynamics across geography & verticals.
  4. Translate financial results into clear, concise narratives for senior Finance and business stakeholders, moving beyond the numbers to explain the ‘why’, ‘so what’ and ‘what next’.
  5. Serve as the primary Finance point of contact for your PC&T portfolio, fielding revenue questions from business and Finance partners, providing timely and accurate responses.

Skills

Required

  • Master's Degree in Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, Economics, Data Science or related field AND 2+ years experience in financial analysis, accounting, controllership or finance, or related field OR Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, Economics, Data Science or related field AND 4+ years experience in financial analysis, accounting, controllership or finance, or related field OR equivalent experience.
  • Financial analysis
  • Financial modeling
  • Business intelligence
  • Analytics

Nice to have

  • FP&A
  • Strategic thinking
  • Executive communication