George Smith was an Assistant Accountant working at Orange Cyber Defense who chose to cross-train with Revolent to become a Microsoft Dynamics 365 Functional Consultant in Finance and Operations (F&O).
With nearly four years of experience in accounting at a leading cybersecurity company and an impressive resume that included experience with the ERP NetSuite, George could have easily progressed his career in accounting, so why did he choose to switch to Functional Consulting? We sat down with him to find out!
1. Where are you based and how long have you been at Revolent?
I am based in Essex, where I’ve lived my whole life! I joined on April 25th, 2022, so I’ve been with Revolent for seven months. Funnily enough, I actually started at Revolent on my birthday, which was quite a coincidence.
2. What did you do before joining Revolent?
I was an Assistant Accountant at a company which focused on cybersecurity for three and a half years. They primarily used ERP NetSuite so I got some good experience using that, plus I got to use my maths knowledge!
3. Why did you decide to cross-train with Revolent?
The main reason I chose to cross-train with Revolent is that I knew I’d be able to combine my love of maths with my love of IT. I also knew there’d be something new for me to try, which is always really exciting. In any job you want every day to be a bit different and I knew I could find that with Revolent.
4. Why did you choose Dynamics? And did you have any previous experience with Microsoft Dynamics?
No I didn’t have previous experience with Dynamics. The only financial accounting software I had used was NetSuite. But when I was approached by Revolent, I thought the chance to learn a new in-demand technology was one I shouldn’t pass up!
5. What was it like to start cross-training in a technology you had no experience in?
It was pretty great actually, the Revolent program really eases you into how the systems are used. For the first two and a half months I got to focus on gaining my certifications and getting some exposure to the software – which meant I could get used to it all before working with a client.
Plus, my experience in NetSuite definitely helped. There are plenty of similar functionalities between NetSuite and Dynamics. And in my case, I was also cross-training in a technology that – I believe – is simply far better than the one I left behind. I genuinely can’t believe how much Dynamics has to offer compared to NetSuite or other technologies. Dynamics is just so much better, it’s a really impressive piece of software.
6. What are your day-to-day duties now working on-site as an F&O Functional Consultant?
First and foremost, no one day is the same, which I love! In fact, it can be so varied that it almost makes it difficult to explain your day-to-day, because it changes so much.
At the moment I’m working on a few different things, such as writing Functional Design Documents, expanding the standard function of our system, and also tailoring it to my client’s needs.
Also, because the client I work with is fantastic, they set up specific tasks to help expand our knowledge. Our Consultancy Director has been drip-feeding us tasks since we joined, each week we receive a new task that will help us understand a new area of the system. For example, I’ve done some work on Supply Chain Management, just to understand that area, even though it’s not a core part of my duties. I really love that.
7. What certifications would you recommend to become an F&O Functional Consultant?
So I currently have 3 certifications: Dynamics 365 Fundamentals (MB920), Dynamics 365 Core Finance and Operations (MB300), and Dynamics 365 Finance Functional Consultant (MB310). I’d highly recommend you earn these certifications. While you’re never going to know everything in F&O Functional Consulting, these are a really strong base upon which to build your knowledge.
Then, after you get certified, I would definitely recommend gaining some experience in an organization. The theory knowledge is always great, but there’s a lot of practical learning to do once you start operating and tailoring systems in an actual business setting.
8. What are your career aspirations? Where do you see yourself in the next 3-5 years?
My goal is to progress into a Senior Consultant role and then become a Solutions Architect. And because the client I’m currently working with have a fantastic progression program, I see this as a real possibility in the near future.
There are people in my team that are helping me build my knowledge and experience as a Junior Consultant, so I can progress to Senior and eventually to Solutions Architect. It’s a wonderful opportunity and I feel really lucky!
9. How have you found cross-training with Revolent so far?
Honestly, I’ve absolutely loved it. The experience has been incredibly valuable. Gaining industry-recognized certifications alongside a group of your peers is a truly fantastic way to get started.
Plus the Revolent training program itself is great; our instructor helped every single one of us get through the course at a good pace and earn our certifications, in time to work with a client. And, of course, getting practical experience with a client is what really cements it all.
10. Do you have any advice for those starting out in their career that might have limited experience with Microsoft/Dynamics?
The first thing I would say is that there is no better time than now – the demand out there is wildly high. I think a lot of people don’t realize that, even if you haven’t fully passed your accountancy exams, you still cross-train into a new environment that is (in my opinion) more rewarding.
I say that because the learning opportunities in Microsoft and Microsoft Dynamics are amazing, so you’ll never be bored. I loved accountancy, but it does become incredibly routine after a while.
And with Revolent, there’s a huge amount of risk taken out of the process because you get the training, certifications, and work placement you need to succeed in this field – alongside a group of other professionals all working towards the same goal.
