Business Manager

Business Manager (General Manager Office) Role type: Contractor Reports to: General Manager Duration: 6–12 months, with potential extension Location: Hybrid, Redmond, WA Required: Experience working at or with Microsoft as a Business Manager Role Summary: We are seeking a highly organized, execution‑oriented Business Manager (Contractor) to support the General Manager and leadership team. This role acts as the operational backbone of the business, driving budget management, business rhythms, leadership alignment, and executive‑ready communications. The ideal candidate is comfortable operating with senior leaders, thrives in ambiguity, and can independently orchestrate complex business processes across multiple stakeholders. This role is not administrative— it is a hands‑on business operations role focused on clarity, execution, and business cadence. Key Responsibilities Business & Financial Management Own and manage the business budget , including: Annual and quarterly planning Forecasting, tracking, and variance analysis Partnering with Finance to ensure accuracy and compliance Prepare executive‑ready financial summaries and insights for leadership reviews. Drive accountability on spend, headcount, and investment decisions. Business Rhythms & Operating Cadence Plan, run, and continuously improve core business management processes, including: Monthly Business Reviews (MBRs) Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs) Strategic planning sessions Set agendas, manage pre‑reads, capture decisions and action items, and ensure follow‑through. Act as the central point of coordination across functions to keep the business operating on a predictable, high‑quality cadence. Executive Communication & Content Create and maintain PowerPoint templates and narratives for: Business plans Landing calls Leadership readouts Strategy and execution updates Turn complex inputs into clear, concise, executive‑ready storytelling aligned with Microsoft leadership standards. Ensure consistency in messaging, metrics, and visuals across leadership‑facing materials. Leadership Orchestration & Alignment Act as a trusted partner to the General Manager by: Orchestrating across leaders on priorities, dependencies, and decisions Driving clarity on ownership, timelines, and outcomes Surfacing risks and tradeoffs early Serving as a connective tissue between teams, enabling leaders to focus on strategy while ensuring execution stays on track. Operational Excellence Identify opportunities to streamline processes, reduce friction, and improve operational rigor. Establish and maintain documentation for core business processes and rhythms. Manage ad hoc strategic and operational projects on behalf of the GM as needed. Required Qualifications 8+ years of experience in business operations, program management, finance, or chief‑of‑staff‑type roles Familiarity with Microsoft business rhythms (MBR/QBR models, landing calls, etc.) Proven experience supporting senior leaders or executives Strong financial acumen with experience managing budgets and business metrics Advanced PowerPoint skills with a demonstrated ability to build executive‑level narratives Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail Ability to influence without authority and work effectively across diverse stakeholders High degree of judgment, discretion, and professionalism Preferred Qualifications Experience partnering closely with Finance, HR, and Strategy teams Comfort operating in ambiguous environments with minimal direction Success in This Role Looks Like The leadership team operates with a clear, predictable, and effective business cadence Budget and planning processes run smoothly, with no surprises Leadership meetings are well‑structured, decision‑oriented, and action‑driven Executive materials are consistently high quality and require minimal rework #J-18808-Ljbffr The ANDERSEN Agency