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EMEA HQ Opex Controller - Job Opportunity at Microsoft

Dublin, Ireland
Full-time
Senior
Posted: July 10, 2025
Hybrid
€85,000 - €110,000 per year. This estimate reflects the senior-level nature of the role, Dublin's competitive technology market, and Microsoft's premium compensation philosophy. The role's regional scope and strategic importance typically command salaries in the upper quartile of finance controller positions.

Benefits

Flexible hybrid work arrangement with up to 50% remote work capability, providing exceptional work-life balance and reduced commuting costs
Industry-leading comprehensive healthcare coverage that exceeds market standards
Extensive educational resources and professional development opportunities for continuous career advancement
Employee discounts on Microsoft products and services, providing significant cost savings on premium technology solutions
Robust savings and investment programs with competitive employer matching
Generous maternity and paternity leave policies that support family planning and work-life integration
Abundant paid time off and vacation policies that promote employee wellbeing and productivity
Corporate giving programs that enable employees to make meaningful community impact
Extensive networking and professional connection opportunities within a global technology leader

Key Responsibilities

Drive strategic operational expense optimization across EMEA regions through comprehensive budget execution oversight and variance analysis, directly impacting regional profitability and resource allocation efficiency
Lead the execution of annual business planning and quarterly forecasting processes with focus on Areas consolidation, ensuring accurate financial modeling and strategic decision-making support for senior leadership
Provide critical financial analysis and reporting during monthly and quarterly close periods, identifying key trends and delivering executive-level insights that influence regional business strategy
Spearhead cross-functional financial controlling projects aimed at process simplification and standardization, driving operational excellence across multiple business areas
Deliver strategic recommendations to EMEA Finance Community and Area finance leaders for P&L optimization, directly influencing multi-million dollar budget decisions
Ensure seamless collaboration with MCAPS P&L Finance team on operational expense and cost of goods sold initiatives, maintaining alignment across global finance operations
Develop innovative data collection and analysis methodologies that enhance financial modeling accuracy and provide competitive advantage in regional market positioning
Maintain rigorous financial compliance and internal controls oversight, ensuring adherence to regulatory requirements and minimizing organizational risk exposure
Collaborate with internal and external audit teams to ensure transparent financial reporting and maintain Microsoft's reputation for financial integrity

Requirements

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, Economics, Data Science or related field AND extensive years post-graduate financial analysis, accounting, controllership, or finance work experience OR Master's Degree in Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, Economics, Data Science or related field AND post-graduate financial analysis, accounting, controllership, or finance work experience or equivalent experience

Experience

Extensive years post-graduate financial analysis, accounting, controllership, or finance work experience

Required Skills

Financial analysis Accounting Controllership Finance work experience Budget execution Variance analysis Business planning Forecasting Financial modeling Data analysis P&L management Financial reporting Internal controls Regulatory compliance Audit coordination
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Industry Trends

Cloud computing transformation is driving increased demand for sophisticated financial controllers who can manage complex subscription-based revenue models and operational expense structures across multiple geographic regions. Microsoft's position as a leading cloud provider requires controllers who understand both traditional finance and modern SaaS financial metrics. The shift toward regional financial autonomy in multinational technology companies is creating opportunities for controllers who can bridge global corporate standards with local market requirements. EMEA operations require particular expertise in managing diverse regulatory environments and currency fluctuations. Digital transformation initiatives are increasing the importance of data-driven financial analysis and predictive modeling capabilities. Controllers must now integrate advanced analytics with traditional financial management to provide strategic insights for business growth.

Role Significance

Typically manages or coordinates with a team of 3-5 financial analysts while collaborating across multiple regional finance teams. The role serves as a key liaison between local area finance teams and corporate headquarters.
This is a senior-level position with significant regional influence, requiring extensive experience and the ability to provide strategic financial guidance to multiple business areas. The role involves direct interaction with senior leadership and substantial decision-making authority over regional financial operations.

Key Projects

Implementation of financial process standardization across EMEA regions Development of advanced forecasting models for operational expense optimization Cross-functional collaboration on major business planning initiatives Financial systems integration and automation projects Regulatory compliance enhancement initiatives

Success Factors

Advanced financial modeling and analytical capabilities combined with strong business acumen to translate complex financial data into actionable strategic insights for senior leadership decision-making. Exceptional cross-cultural communication and stakeholder management skills to effectively collaborate with diverse teams across multiple countries and time zones while maintaining alignment with corporate objectives. Deep understanding of international financial regulations and compliance requirements, particularly within the European market, to ensure adherence to local statutory requirements while maintaining global consistency. Proven ability to drive process improvement and standardization initiatives that deliver measurable efficiency gains and cost optimization across large, complex organizational structures. Strong project management capabilities with experience leading cross-functional initiatives that require coordination between multiple business units and geographic regions.

Market Demand

High demand driven by digital transformation acceleration and the critical need for experienced financial controllers who can manage complex, multi-jurisdictional operations in the technology sector.

Important Skills

Critical Skills

Advanced financial analysis and modeling capabilities are essential for this role as you'll be responsible for managing complex budget processes and providing strategic insights that directly influence multi-million dollar investment decisions across the EMEA region. Cross-cultural communication and stakeholder management skills are crucial given the need to collaborate effectively with diverse teams across multiple countries, time zones, and business cultures while maintaining alignment with corporate objectives and local market requirements. Deep expertise in international financial regulations and compliance frameworks is vital for ensuring adherence to varied regulatory requirements across European markets while maintaining consistency with global Microsoft standards and SEC reporting requirements.

Beneficial Skills

Advanced data analytics and business intelligence capabilities would provide significant advantage in developing innovative financial models and predictive analytics that could differentiate your contributions and accelerate career progression within Microsoft's data-driven culture. Project management certification and change management experience would be valuable for leading the process standardization and automation initiatives that are increasingly important in modern financial operations and digital transformation efforts. Cloud computing and SaaS financial metrics understanding would enhance your ability to contribute to Microsoft's core business strategy and provide more insightful analysis of the company's subscription-based revenue models and customer success metrics.

Unique Aspects

This role offers direct exposure to Microsoft's global financial operations and strategic decision-making processes, providing exceptional visibility into how one of the world's largest technology companies manages its international expansion and market penetration strategies.
The position provides unique experience in managing financial operations across diverse regulatory environments and economic conditions, offering valuable expertise in international finance and cross-border business operations that is highly transferable to other multinational organizations.
Working within Microsoft's EMEA headquarters provides access to cutting-edge financial technologies and methodologies, including advanced analytics platforms and AI-driven financial modeling tools that represent the future of corporate finance.
The role offers significant networking opportunities within the global technology industry, given Microsoft's extensive partner ecosystem and strategic relationships with other major technology companies and enterprise clients.

Career Growth

Career progression typically occurs within 3-5 years for high-performing individuals, with opportunities for advancement accelerated by successful delivery of major financial initiatives and demonstrated leadership capabilities.

Potential Next Roles

Regional Finance Director for EMEA operations with broader P&L responsibility and team management Corporate Controller role at Microsoft headquarters with global scope and strategic planning responsibilities Chief Financial Officer position at mid-size technology companies leveraging Microsoft experience Senior Finance Director roles in other major technology companies with international operations

Company Overview

Microsoft

Microsoft Corporation stands as one of the world's largest and most influential technology companies, with a market capitalization exceeding $2 trillion and annual revenues surpassing $200 billion. The company has successfully transformed from a traditional software company to a leading cloud computing and enterprise services provider, with Azure, Office 365, and other cloud services driving substantial growth.

Microsoft maintains a dominant position in multiple technology sectors including cloud computing (second largest globally), productivity software (market leader), and enterprise services. The company's consistent financial performance and strategic acquisitions have solidified its position as a technology industry leader with strong competitive advantages.
Microsoft's EMEA operations represent one of the company's largest and most strategically important regions, contributing significantly to global revenue and serving as a key growth driver for cloud adoption and digital transformation initiatives across Europe, Middle East, and Africa markets.
Microsoft has cultivated a growth mindset culture that emphasizes collaboration, innovation, and inclusive leadership. The company's recent cultural transformation under CEO Satya Nadella has created an environment that values continuous learning, empowerment, and diverse perspectives while maintaining high performance standards.
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