A Supply Chain Management (SCM) Functional Consultant for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations (D365 FO) plays a critical role in helping organizations implement and optimize the D365 FO ERP system, focusing on supply chain operations. The role typically requires expertise in business processes, functional configuration, and the ability to bridge the gap between business needs and technical solutions.
Key Responsibilities of a D365 FO SCM Functional Consultant:
1. Requirements Gathering & Analysis:
- Collaborate with clients to understand their supply chain business processes and requirements.
- Conduct workshops and interviews to gather functional requirements.
- Analyse business requirements and document them into clear, actionable functional specifications for system configuration.
2. System Design & Configuration:
- Configure D365 FO modules to meet business needs in areas such as supply chain (Inventory Management, Procurement, Sales, Manufacturing, etc.) and finance (General Ledger, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Fixed Assets, etc.)
- Ensure that the configuration aligns with industry best practices and the organization's specific needs.
- Customize forms, workflows, and reports as per client specifications.
3. Implementation & Deployment:
- Oversee and support the implementation of D365 FO, ensuring that finance and supply chain functionalities are correctly configured.
- Manage the testing process (unit testing, integration testing, UAT) to ensure that the system works as intended.
- Coordinate the deployment process and assist with data migration and integration of third-party systems.
4. Business Process Optimization:
- Suggest improvements to existing business processes based on insights from D365 FO capabilities.
- Optimize financial and supply chain processes by leveraging D365 FO functionalities such as automated workflows, reporting, and analytics.
- Align the business processes with the system capabilities for improved efficiency and effectiveness.
5. User Training & Support:
- Provide training to end-users on D365 FO functionality related to finance and supply chain management.
- Develop training materials and user guides tailored to specific business processes.
- Offer post-implementation support and troubleshooting, addressing any functional issues or user concerns.
6. System Integration & Reporting:
- Work on integrating D365 FO with other systems (e.g., third-party applications, CRM systems, legacy systems).
- Create and configure financial reports, dashboards, and key performance indicators (KPIs) within the system.
- Support the setup of financial periods, year-end processes, and month-end close procedures.
7. Continuous Improvement:
- Stay up-to-date with new features, modules, and updates within D365 FO and advise clients on leveraging these for continuous improvement.
- Engage in ongoing business process assessments to ensure D365 FO continues to meet business needs.
Key Skills & Competencies:
1. Functional Expertise:
- In-depth knowledge of D365 FO Finance and SCM modules.
- Strong understanding of finance and supply chain processes, including procurement, sales, inventory management, order management, financial accounting, and budgeting.
- Familiarity with PMA , warehouse management functionalities in D365 FO.
2. Business Process Understanding:
- Ability to map business requirements to D365 FO capabilities.
- Experience with industry-specific finance and supply chain processes.
- Knowledge of best practices in finance (financial reporting, tax management, compliance) and supply chain management (inventory control, order fulfilment, demand planning).
3. Technical Skills:
- Basic understanding of D365 FO technical components (data entities, workflows, security roles, etc.).
- Experience with integrations using tools like Azure Logic Apps or Power Automate is a plus.
- Knowledge of D365 FO architecture and data model to facilitate configuration and troubleshooting.
4. Project Management & Communication:
- Strong project management skills to handle implementation timelines and deliverables.
- Excellent communication skills to collaborate with stakeholders, vendors, and technical teams.
- Ability to present complex functional concepts to non-technical business users.
5. Problem-Solving & Analytical Abilities:
- Ability to troubleshoot issues and offer solutions, especially related to finance and supply chain management.
- Analytical mindset for improving business processes and workflows through system configuration.
6. Certifications:
- Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management Functional Consultant Associate certifications are highly preferred.
- Additional certifications in supply chain management (e.g., APICS certifications) can be beneficial.