What are the finance and operations apps?
Microsoft uses "finance and operations apps" for its enterprise ERP products, sold as software as a service on Azure. Its service description names five solution areas: Dynamics 365 Finance, Human Resources, Supply Chain Management, Commerce and Project Operations. They share one platform, so a general ledger posting, a warehouse movement and a project cost all land in the same system. Customers do not run the servers. They decide, with an implementation partner, how the business logic is configured.
Human Resources used to run on its own infrastructure. Microsoft has since merged it, and all of its capabilities are now available in finance and operations environments. Project Operations sits across both worlds, so on a project you may share it with Customer Engagement people. Most consultants specialize. Finance and Supply Chain Management are where the bulk of the work is.
How do they relate to Dynamics AX?
These apps grew out of Dynamics AX. Microsoft still publishes upgrade guidance for AX 2012 customers moving to Dynamics 365 Finance, Supply Chain Management and Commerce, with code migration done through Lifecycle Services. Back in 2019 the certifications still said "Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations", and the old core exam was called "Unified Operations Core". You will still see both names in job adverts.
This history matters for your career. Many clients are still on AX 2012 or have only just moved. Upgrade projects need consultants who can map old AX setups to the current apps, run test passes and mock cutovers, and coordinate the functional and technical teams through go-live. If you have AX experience, it still counts.
What does the consultant actually configure?
On a Finance project you set up the chart of accounts, financial dimensions, legal entities, posting profiles, tax, accounts payable and receivable, credit and collections, cash and bank management, fixed assets, budgeting and consolidation. Microsoft's own role description for this work also lists cost accounting, asset leasing, revenue recognition and expense management. You run workshops, write the design, build the setup, write test scripts and train key users.
The job is mostly configuration. Microsoft's service description describes four common shapes: standard out-of-the-box setup, setup with ISV solutions, setup with customer-specific extensions, or a mix of these. When you hit a gap, you decide whether a setting, an ISV product, Power Platform or developer code fills it. Good consultants push back on custom code because every extension has to be tested again with each update.
Who hires them, and which background fits?
Two kinds of employer hire for this role. Microsoft partners staff implementation projects. End users, meaning the companies that run the software, hire in-house consultants to support and extend it after go-live. Partner work means more projects and more travel. End-user roles go deeper into one business.
Microsoft says a Finance consultant needs a foundational understanding of accounting principles and of how finance connects to manufacturing, retail and supply chain. That is why accountants, controllers and finance systems analysts move into this role well. People from operations or logistics tend to go toward Supply Chain Management. Developers usually take the technical route instead.
Pay
USD a year, before tax. D365 Market advertised pay, US adverts that state pay, snapshot 2026-11-05: 14 Dynamics 365 Finance adverts from 12 employers, and 48 Dynamics 365 adverts overall. This is advertised pay, not earnings. The sample is small and leans toward US states with pay transparency laws. Refer to the Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations salary guide for figures from live adverts.
What you need
- Accounting knowledgeMicrosoft expects a foundational grasp of accounting principles and financial operations. Ledger, tax, payables and receivables come up in every workshop.
- MB-310 certificationPassing MB-310 earns Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Finance Functional Consultant Associate. It is an intermediate, proctored exam that lasts 100 minutes.
- Exam scopeMB-310 covers financial management, accounts receivable with credit, collections and subscription billing, accounts payable and expenses, budgeting, and fixed assets.
- Annual renewalMicrosoft lists a 12-month renewal frequency for this certification, so plan to renew it every year.
How to get there
- Before year 1Build the finance baseGet experience in accounting, finance operations or a finance systems team. Learn how ledger, payables and receivables work in a real business.
- Months 1-6Learn the appsWork through Microsoft Learn's free finance and operations modules and the MB-310 course content. Get hands-on time in a trial or sandbox environment.
- Months 4-9Pass MB-310Take the Finance Functional Consultant Associate exam. It is offered in English and Japanese through Pearson VUE.
- Years 1-3Join a project teamStart as a junior or associate consultant at a partner, or in-house at an end user. Expect to own setup areas such as fixed assets or payables.
- Years 3-6Lead a workstreamRun finance design workshops, own the solution design and manage testing through go-live.
- Year 6+Move to lead or architectSenior consultants move into lead consultant, solution architect or project manager roles.
Open now on D365 Market
Questions people ask
Is Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations a single product?
No. It is the trade name for a family of ERP apps on one platform. Microsoft lists them as Finance, Human Resources, Supply Chain Management, Commerce and Project Operations.
Which certification should a Finance and Operations consultant take?
For finance work, take exam MB-310. It earns Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Finance Functional Consultant Associate and is renewed every 12 months.
Do I need Dynamics AX experience?
No, but it helps. The apps grew out of AX, and many clients are still upgrading from AX 2012, so AX experience is useful on migration projects.
Do Finance and Operations consultants write code?
Functional consultants mostly configure the apps, design processes and test. Custom extensions go to developers, though the consultant decides when code is really needed.
Where does Human Resources fit?
Dynamics 365 Human Resources has been merged onto the finance and operations infrastructure. All of its capabilities are now available in finance and operations environments.
How much does the role pay in the US?
In US adverts on D365 Market as of November 2026, Dynamics 365 Finance roles show a median of $165,295 a year, with the middle half between $127,000 and $177,325. That is advertised pay from only 14 adverts.
Sources
- Microsoft Learn: Dynamics 365 Finance Functional Consultant Associate certification
- Microsoft Learn: Course MB-310T00-A, Manage Financial Operations with Dynamics 365 Finance
- Microsoft Learn: Service description for finance and operations apps
- Microsoft Learn: Dynamics 365 Human Resources customer merge overview
- Microsoft Learn: Describe Dynamics 365 finance and operations apps
- Microsoft Learn: Upgrade from AX 2012 to Dynamics 365 Finance
- Microsoft Learn: Code migration and upgrade home page
- Microsoft Learn: Dynamics 365 certification and exam names are changing (2019)
- D365 Market: advertised salaries
