Inside Microsoft’s AI Revolution in Finance | Alexander Gärtner (Microsoft CFO Germany)

In this episode of Junicorn talks, Julia Stoetzel speaks with
Alexander Gärtner, CFO of Microsoft Germany, about how one of the
world’s biggest tech companies uses AI to transform finance.


They cover Microsoft’s recent results, Azure’s growth, and how AI
now influences performance, planning, and daily decisions.
Alexander explains how Microsoft runs 99% automated forecasts,
uses generative AI for controlling and compliance, and relies on
a unified data platform that supports thousands of KPIs across
finance, sales, and marketing.


They also discuss how AI is shifting the CFO role toward
strategic, tech-focused leadership, what skills future finance
teams need, and why Microsoft sees AI as the next major platform
shift. If you want to understand how AI is rewriting the future
of finance at enterprise scale, this conversation is a
masterclass.





We also get into:• How middle-management bias distorted forecasts
more than the technology itself• Why process redesign must come
before applying AI or automation• How small AI pilots, like
travel-expense bots, scaled into global impact• Why more data can
sometimes reduce forecast accuracy instead of improving it• How
investor-relations teams use AI to analyze market sentiment in
real time





About the Guest:Alexander Gärtner is the CFO of Microsoft
Germany, one of Microsoft’s largest global entities. He has more
than 15 years of international experience in finance, audit, and
operations, with leadership roles at IBM across Europe, the
Middle East, and Africa. Before taking on his current role, he
served as CFO of Microsoft Switzerland and as Commercial Finance
Director in Germany. He is regarded as one of the financial
strategists in the technology sector.





About the ShowJunicorn.talk is a capital-markets podcast hosted
by Julia Stoetzel, featuring in-depth conversations with CFOs,
investor-relations leaders, and financial decision-makers shaping
the future of business. Each episode explores how modern finance
teams think about reporting, guidance, technology, AI,
communication, and value creation in dynamic global markets.





Listen to the Show:Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/@julia_stoetzel





Connect with Julia Stoetzel:Instagram:
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https://www.tiktok.com/@julia_stoetzelFacebook:
https://www.facebook.com/juliastoetzel





Connect with Alexander
Gärtner:https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexander-gaertner-46baa143/





Timestamps:02:10 How Microsoft Is Performing, Azure, AI, and
Growth04:20 How Microsoft Uses AI Across Finance07:10 The Data
Platform Behind 3,000+ KPIs10:55 Why Process Redesign Must Come
Before AI18:30 Machine Learning Forecasting, 99% Automated31:25
The Future CFO, Strategic and AI Native


Disclaimer:This video is for informational and communication
purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.