Finance and operations teams are under extreme pressure to do more with less, and in a shorter time. Whether through gaining visibility into financial performance or improving how teams work across departments, many organizations are turning to Dynamics ERP systems to support these goals.
However, the software alone is not what makes or breaks an implementation. The real difference often comes down to the implementation partner. Choosing the right Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations (D365 F&O) consultant can help teams avoid delays and use the system as intended.
Why Your Choice of a Dynamics 365 Implementation Consultant Is Mission-Critical
An ERP implementation is one of the most complicated projects a finance and operations team can undertake. It touches every aspect of budgeting and reporting, as well as supply chain workflows and daily operations. When things go wrong, companies can feel the impact across their entire organization, from missed deadlines to ballooning costs. In fact, research from Gartner found that more than 70% of ERP implementations will fail to fully meet their business goals by 2027, often due to poor planning or weak change management.
This is where Dynamics 365 implementation consultants who specialize in finance and operations can make a measurable difference. A strong consultant acts as a strategic partner. They understand how finance and operations teams work and help configure the system around real processes. More importantly, they guide organizations through change, aligning stakeholders, supporting user adoption and reducing the risk of costly rework.
Choosing the right consultant is key. It will support smarter decisions, and finance leaders can deploy the software fast.
The Importance of Deep Financial and Operational Expertise
Dynamics 365 partners may bring a different level of experience to the table. While a general IT firm may understand how to deploy ERP software, finance and operations teams often need more than a technical setup. They need guidance from someone who understands how financial data flows across the business and how small configurations can have a big downstream impact.
This is where Dynamics 365 finance consultants stand apart. Specialists who focus on finance and operations are familiar with the realities financial teams deal with every day, including:
- Regulatory requirements
- Multi-entry accounting structures
- Complex financial consolidations
- Advanced reporting needs
They also understand how finance connects to operations, whether that is inventory valuation, supply chain cost tracking or revenue recognition across multiple business units.
A specialized consultant can anticipate these challenges early and design the system accordingly. When an organization has complex financial structures or growth plans, that depth of expertise helps ensure Dynamics 365 supports accurate reporting, smoother audits and better decision-making.
5 Tips for Partnering With Your Consultant
A strong ERP implementation is about choosing the right consultant and how you work with them. The most successful D365 F&O projects follow a few consistent patterns when it comes to collaboration, planning and communication.
1. Define Your KPIs Before You Begin
Before any configuration work starts, be clear on what success will look like. That could mean shortening financial close cycles, improving reporting accuracy or reducing manual processes. Having concrete goals in place helps your consultant focus on outcomes and keeps the project aligned as decisions are made.
2. Involve Your Team From Day One
User adoption can make or break an implementation. Bringing finance, operations and other key users into the process early gives consultants real insight into how work gets done today and what needs to change. It also helps teams feel invested in the system, rather than seeing it as something leaders are imposing on them.
3. Scrutinize the Implementation Approach
Some methodologies work better than others. Look for consultants who favor phased or agile implementations that deliver value early. Incremental rollouts reduce risk and allow room for feedback. They also make it easier to course-correct before small issues turn into bigger problems.
4. Prioritize Post-Implementation Support
You still have more to do after going live. There is training, optimization and ongoing support, which are critical as teams adjust to new workflows. A good consultant stays engaged after launch to help fine-tune the solution and support adoption along the way.
5. Treat Them as a Partner
The strongest results come from open communication and transparency on both sides. When consultants are treated as strategic partners, it becomes much easier to handle challenges and keep the project moving forward.
Identifying the Leaders in D365 Finance and Operations
With so many Dynamics 365 partners on the market, it is important to choose a consultant that offers a level of specialization the company needs. To narrow the field, the following list focuses on firms that consistently show strong expertise and a track record of successful implementations for finance-led organizations.
Selection criteria included a mix of:
- Verified client feedback
- Microsoft partner status
- Industry recognition
- Documented case studies
Preference was given to consultants with proven experience supporting complex financial environments, such as multi-entity organizations, regulated industries, and businesses with advanced reporting or operational requirements. Together, these factors help highlight partners that can deliver real, long-term value.
Top Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations Implementation Partners
With the selection criteria established, the following partners offer experience in D365 F&O and an ability to support complex finance and operational environments.
1. Winfosoft
Winfosoft is a Microsoft Gold Partner that focuses squarely on the needs of finance leaders. Rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach to ERP, the firm designs its D365 F&O implementations around how CFOs and finance teams work. That finance-first focus makes Winfosoft a strong fit for organizations looking to modernize financial operations without losing control or visibility.
Winfosoft also goes beyond technical implementation by pairing its D365 expertise with real finance leadership experience. Its teams include former CFOs and senior finance professionals who work alongside clients throughout the project, helping ensure workflows, controls and reporting structures are built with efficiency, compliance and long-term decision-making in mind.
The firm offers a set of proprietary accelerator tools that streamline core finance processes, including faster financial closes, improved forecasting and simplified global consultation. With deep knowledge of regulatory frameworks such as IFRS and GAAP, Winfosoft helps organizations embed compliance into their D365 environment.
2. Hitachi Solutions
Hitachi Solutions is a global Microsoft partner with deep experience supporting large D365 F&O implementations. As a member of Microsoft’s Inner Circle, the firm is often brought in for enterprise-level projects that span multiple regions, business units and regulatory environments. Its scale and structure make it a strong option for organizations with sophisticated operational needs.
One of Hitachi Solutions’ key strengths is its industry-focused approach. Rather than starting from scratch, the firm offers preconfigured solutions tailored to specific verticals such as manufacturing, retail and professional services. This helps reduce time and risk by building on proven frameworks that already account for common industry requirements.
Hitachi Solutions also brings advanced capabilities into the Dynamics 365 environment, including analytics, artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) integrations. These tools help organizations move toward more predictive, data-driven decision-making. With a strong global presence, Hitachi Solutions is a well-suited partner for enterprises that need international support.
3. RSM
RSM brings a business-led perspective to Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations implementations, backed by its broader experience in audit, tax and advisory services. That background makes the firm a strong choice for companies that need ERP guidance rooted in financial controls, compliance and long-term business planning.
RSM approaches implementations with a clear understanding of how finance and operations function within regulated and risk-conscious environments. Rather than focusing solely on deploying technology, its teams work to align business processes, financial practices and reporting requirements with the capabilities of Dynamics 365. This helps ensure the system supports real operational goals.
The firm is well-known for its structured, methodical implementation approach, which appeals to organizations with complex compliance requirements or limited tolerance for risk. RSM is often a good fit for companies looking for a partner that can advise on business strategy alongside technology decisions.
4. Avanade
Avanade is a global Dynamics 365 partner created through a joint venture between Accenture and Microsoft. The firm is best known for handling large Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations deployments for enterprise and multinational organizations. Its work typically sits at the intersection of business strategy, technology and industry-specific transformation.
Avanade’s strength is its ability to manage large-scale digital transformation initiatives. For Fortune 500 companies, the firm brings the structure, governance and delivery discipline needed to support highly complex layouts. This makes Avanade a strong fit for organizations that require tight coordination across regions, teams and systems.
Clients benefit from Avanade’s close alignment with Accenture and Microsoft, as it gives them access to a broad range of tools and expertise. This includes change management and user adoption support, as well as deep integrations with Azure, Power Platform and modern data platforms. As an organization pursuing end-to-end transformation alongside D365, Avanade offers the scale and resources to support that vision.
Comparing Key Features
While all these partners offer strong Dynamics 365 expertise, their strengths vary. The table below outlines key differences to help narrow down the right option.
Choose a Dynamics 365 Finance Consultant for Long-Term Success
The process of selecting a Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations partner focuses on much more than technical capabilities. Instead, the right consultant will bring a clear understanding of finance and operations. They should also align the system with actual business needs and support teams well beyond go-live. By focusing on specialization, implementation approach and long-term support, finance leaders can reduce risk and get more value from their ERP investments.
