Microsoft has offices in over 100 countries and derives a significant amount of revenue from countries other than the United States. To ensure that the finance organization has a global view, there are several ways where finance employees can have a global experience. 

First, we have recently launched a Finance Global Exchange Program.  In this program, we have finance employees who swap roles with someone outside of the United States for six months and then return to their existing role.  Clearly they have to be similar roles as we do not give much time for ramping up.  However, we have found that if we extend the program for one year, the finance employees most often do not want to come back to their existing role. Instead, they want a new role.  We are in pilot phase right now with the goal of extending the program in second half of 2008.

Second, for our high potentials, we often have them do a role outside of the United States for approximately 2 years.  There is no process for this but is more on a case by case basis.

Finally, for early talent development we have a 2 year rotation program. One of their four, six-month rotations may include an international experience.

I am interested in what you do in your companies, what has been successful, and what has not.

Byron Rader, Finance Director
Microsoft Corporation