Independent Assurance
Most CFOs have never run a D365 programme before. They place enormous trust in their system integrator — and the SI is incentivised to deliver the build, not to protect what matters to finance. By the time the system goes live, hundreds of decisions have been made on behalf of finance that never got the scrutiny they deserved. Assurance changes that.
The Challenge
The Finance Lens Gap
Programme assurance exists in most large implementations. But it is typically provided by the same firms running the delivery, or by generalist advisors without a finance specialism. Nobody is exclusively focused on protecting value for finance — applying an independent, evidence-based lens at every critical decision point across the programme lifecycle.
How It Works
What Assurance Delivers
A structured programme of independent stage gate reviews, mapped to Microsoft's Success by Design framework, that apply a pure finance lens from baseline through to post go-live realisation — grounded in transaction data, not interviews and assumptions.
1
Finance Exposure Summary
A rapid entry diagnostic deployable at any stage of a programme. Establishes what has been decided on behalf of finance, what remains unresolved, and where the risk sits — completable within one week from documentation alone.
2
Baseline Review
Transaction data analysis across O2C, P2P, and R2R to establish how finance processes actually operate today. Produces the anchor metrics against which post go-live improvement will be measured.
3
Design Review
Tests whether the functional design addresses the root causes identified at baseline — not just whether requirements have been documented. Identifies design drift before it is built into the system.
4
Conformance Review
Tests whether what is being built matches what was designed — finance controls, approval workflows, and configuration decisions examined against the agreed functional design.
5
Readiness Review
Stress tests whether finance can operate the system from day one — period end close, intercompany, reconciliation, and reporting examined before go-live. Produces an independent go, proceed with conditions, or stop verdict.
6
Realisation Review
Measures whether committed process improvements have materialised post go-live against the pre-programme baseline. Produces a value scorecard quantifying what was delivered against what was promised.
Key Outcomes
From Data to Verdict
Assurance engagements are fixed-fee, independently delivered, and grounded in transaction data from the client's own ERP. Tierpoint holds no delivery contracts and no vendor relationships. Our sole interest is the CFO's.
Connect
We access your D365 event log and programme documentation directly, establishing an evidence base before any assessment is made.
Review
Each stage gate is assessed against a defined framework — finance controls, design integrity, process performance, and programme risk examined through a pure finance lens.
Report
Findings are delivered in a clear, board-ready format with a specific verdict the CFO can act on — not a list of observations with no clear conclusion.
Protect
Where risks require escalation, we provide the CFO with the independent evidence needed to challenge decisions, reset expectations, or change course before it is too late.
Get in touch
Read to add independent protection to your implementation?
Schedule a 30-minute discovery call to discuss your situation and how Retained Advisory can provide the independent perspective you need.
Get in touch
Let’s discuss how independent assurance, finance-led delivery, and practical optimisation can unlock measurable value from your Dynamics 365 investment.
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