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: https://www.instagram.com/julia_stoetzel/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-stoetzel/TikTok: 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.