The way finance teams work has changed forever. Hybrid working is now the norm, with staff splitting time between home, office and client sites. For finance leaders, this raises a critical question: how do you keep processes moving securely when your team is distributed? Manual approvals and paper-based workflows simply do not fit this new reality.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central provides the flexibility and security needed for hybrid finance operations. With cloud access, integrated approvals and mobile capabilities, teams can collaborate from anywhere without compromising compliance. This blog explores access patterns, approvals in Microsoft Teams and mobile scenarios that keep finance processes flowing.
Why hybrid finance needs a new approach
Hybrid working introduces challenges that traditional ERP setups cannot handle. According to Gartner, organisations that enable secure remote access and automated workflows reduce process delays by up to 40% and improve employee satisfaction significantly. For finance teams, this means faster month-end close, fewer bottlenecks and stronger governance.
Key pain points include:
• Limited access to ERP systems outside the office, slowing down approvals and postings.
• Manual processes that rely on physical signatures or printed documents.
• Security risks from VPNs and shared credentials when accessing sensitive financial data remotely.
Business Central addresses these challenges with a cloud-first architecture and built-in integration with Microsoft 365 tools.
Secure access patterns for distributed teams
Business Central is delivered as a SaaS solution, meaning users can access it securely from any location via a browser or mobile app. Authentication is managed through Azure Active Directory, enabling single sign-on and multi-factor authentication for added protection.
Best practices for secure access include:
• Use conditional access policies to restrict logins based on location, device compliance or risk level.
• Enable multi-factor authentication for all finance roles to prevent unauthorised access.
• Apply least-privilege principles through role-based permissions, ensuring users only see what they need.
These measures align with Microsoft’s Zero Trust security model, which is now considered best practice for hybrid environments.
Approvals in Microsoft Teams: keeping workflows moving
One of the biggest frustrations for remote finance teams is waiting for approvals. Business Central solves this by integrating with Microsoft Teams, allowing users to approve purchase orders, vendor invoices and journal entries without logging into the ERP system.
• Approvers receive notifications in Teams and can review details instantly.
• Actions taken in Teams sync back to Business Central in real time, maintaining audit trails.
• Finance leaders can monitor approval queues and escalate delays using Power Automate workflows.
This integration reduces friction and ensures segregation of duties remains intact, even when teams are working remotely.
Mobile scenarios for finance on the go
Business Central’s mobile app extends functionality to smartphones and tablets, enabling finance teams to stay productive anywhere. Common use cases include:
• Approving purchase orders while travelling or working off-site.
• Reviewing customer balances and posting receipts during client visits.
• Accessing dashboards for cash flow and KPIs without needing a laptop.
Mobile access is secured through the same Azure AD policies as desktop access, ensuring compliance without sacrificing convenience.
Practical steps for hybrid finance success
To enable secure and efficient finance operations in a hybrid world, follow these steps:
• Review current access policies and implement conditional access for remote users.
• Activate Teams integration for approvals and train staff on how to use it effectively.
• Deploy the Business Central mobile app and configure role-based permissions for on-the-go tasks.
• Automate notifications and escalations using Power Automate to prevent bottlenecks.
• Monitor adoption and security metrics regularly to maintain compliance and performance.
Microsoft recommends embedding these practices into your ERP strategy to ensure resilience and agility in a distributed workforce.
The payoff: agility without compromise
By enabling secure access, integrated approvals and mobile workflows, SMBs can achieve:
• Faster processing times and reduced delays in finance operations.
• Stronger security through modern authentication and least-privilege access.
• Improved employee experience with tools that fit hybrid working patterns.
• Complete auditability for compliance, even in a distributed environment.
As Microsoft notes, “Business Central empowers organisations to stay connected and secure, wherever work happens.” For finance leaders, this means turning hybrid working from a challenge into a competitive advantage.
Ready to modernise your finance operations?
If your finance processes still rely on office-based workflows, now is the time to embrace Business Central’s cloud capabilities. Start with secure access and Teams approvals, then expand to mobile scenarios for a truly hybrid-ready finance function.