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Nerelys Ortiz

Software development

Nerelys Ortiz(she/her)

Finance Director Worldwide · Microsoft

BA Accounting University of Washington, MA Accounting University of Washington, Certified Public Accountant,

I am an experienced finance leader in the Tech industry with a proven record of establishing cross-functional partnerships to deliver results. Agile, global strategic thinker with deep expertise across FP&A, including product finance, marketing, cost management, GTM (sales/partner) in SaaS based companies. Accountable for multi-million-dollar operating budgets and end-to-end P&L management. Particularly adept at streamlining, reorganizing and shape shifting finance functions to drive the business forward. I'm passionate about people and building teams with a strong culture of inclusion, collaboration and high performance. Industry Expertise: Technology, Telecommunications, and Online Advertising/Media Technical accounting skills: US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), SEC Reporting Experience

Their story

A community college start is not a setback, Finance Director Microsoft

20 min

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Key quotes

“Finance no longer is what people think in terms of just looking at the financials or just looking at the numbers in a box. What we require now is for people to be able to interact with others, to make decisions, to look beyond the numbers and help tell the story.”

Nerelys Ortiz, Finance Director, Microsoft

“We are the best at canceling ourselves out of a role before we even give ourselves an opportunity to be considered for the role.”

Nerelys Ortiz, Finance Director, Microsoft

“It was like that one decision to kind of step out of my comfort zone — I didn't know anyone on campus — step up and apply for this leadership opportunity and then get it. Which I was surprised because I didn't know anybody.”

Nerelys Ortiz, Finance Director, Microsoft

“I looked around and I was the only Latina, the only person that had kind of my experience coming from a community college. And I said, no, I'm not going to give up. Like, that's what they want me to do. They want me to give up. I'm not giving up.”

Nerelys Ortiz, Finance Director, Microsoft

“I really want to tell the students who are seeing this video that you've got an advocate in so many of us who are paving the way for all of you to take the reins. So invest in yourself, ask the questions, seek support, and know that there's many of us rooting for you.”

Nerelys Ortiz, Finance Director, Microsoft

Career highlights

Get involved in campus clubs and step into leadership roles — even if you don't know anyone.

Joining Beta Alpha Psi and taking a leadership position is what got Nerelys noticed by PwC recruiters, leading to her first job and ultimately her career at Microsoft.

Stop canceling yourself out of jobs before you even apply.

A mentor told her that people — especially people of color — often rule themselves out of roles before giving themselves a chance. She now passes that advice on to every student she meets.

Soft skills matter more than people expect in finance — being personable and having a customer mindset is what sets candidates apart.

Nerelys says the number-one thing she looks for when hiring is whether someone is personable and collaborative, because the technical skills can be taught but the ability to connect with people is harder to find.

A community college start is not a setback — it can be part of a powerful story.

Nerelys started at Highline Community College, worked full time, graduated as valedictorian, and transferred into UW's accounting program. She credits that journey with building her grit.

Use your voice and advocate for yourself out loud — people can't champion you for opportunities you never say you want.

She reflects on times she got passed over for promotions partly because she never told anyone she was interested. Once she started speaking up, her career accelerated.

A CPA or accounting degree is incredibly versatile — you don't have to stay in public accounting.

Nerelys went from public accounting at PwC to corporate finance at Microsoft, working on global strategy, budgets, and sales incentives — using her CPA skills in a completely different context.

Student summary
Nerelys Ortiz is a Finance Director at Microsoft, overseeing the worldwide commercial business. She works alongside senior sales leaders to help them make smart financial decisions — things like where to invest, how to set budgets, and where to grow. Her team digs into the data behind Microsoft's entire product portfolio, from devices to software, and helps translate numbers into real business strategy. Finance, the way she describes it, isn't just about spreadsheets — it's about storytelling with data and having a real seat at the table where big decisions get made. Nerelys' path was anything but a straight line. Growing up in a Latino family in Seattle, she didn't have the money to go straight to a four-year university. She started at Highline Community College, worked full time, graduated as valedictorian, saved her money, and then transferred into the University of Washington's competitive accounting program as a junior. She went on to earn her master's in accounting, pass the CPA exam, and land a job at PricewaterhouseCoopers — one of the most prestigious accounting firms in the world. After five years there, she joined Microsoft and even had the chance to live and work abroad in Spain. One of the moments that changed everything for her was joining Beta Alpha Psi, an accounting club on campus, and stepping up into a leadership role. That one decision gave her visibility with recruiters, got her invited to a PwC leadership program in San Diego, and opened doors she hadn't even known existed. She's honest that she almost didn't do it — she didn't know anyone, felt like an outsider, and wasn't sure she'd be chosen. But she raised her hand anyway, and it worked. Nerelys speaks directly to students of color throughout this video. She shares what it felt like to be the only Latina in her master's program, the only Latina in meetings, and how she had to learn to advocate for herself out loud — not just work harder. Her advice is real: use your voice, tell people what opportunities you want, and stop canceling yourself out of roles before you've even applied. She also wants students to know that soft skills — how you connect with people, how you show up under pressure, how you bring your authentic self — matter just as much as technical skills in finance today. If you're a student of color who loves numbers but worries you don't have the 'right' background or path, Nerelys' story is proof that grit, community college, hard work, and one bold decision to get involved can absolutely lead to a six-figure career at a global tech company. She's rooting for you.