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1.1 MB-310 Exam Structure, Skills Measured & Consultant Role
Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Finance Functional Consultant Associate MB-310
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1 Chapter 1: MB-310 Exam Overview & Financial Architecture
1.1 MB-310 Exam Structure, Skills Measured & Consultant Role 1.2 Dynamics 365 Finance Architecture, Legal Entities & Global Address Book 1.3 Hands-on Lab Strategy & Preparation Framework
2 Chapter 2: Chart of Accounts & Main Accounts
2.1 Designing Chart of Accounts & Main Account Types 2.2 Main Account Categories & Ledger Account Aliases 2.3 Balance Control Accounts & Year-End Opening Account Setup 2.4 Legal Entity Overrides for Main Accounts & Dimensions
3 Chapter 3: Financial Dimensions & Account Structures
3.1 Custom & Entity-Backed Financial Dimensions 3.2 Financial Tags: Limits, Storage & Ledger Settlement Use 3.3 Account Structures, Segment Criteria & Activation 3.4 Advanced Rules & Advanced Rule Structures 3.5 Derived Dimensions & Dimension Default Templates
4 Chapter 4: Ledgers, Calendars & Currencies
4.1 Fiscal Calendars, Period Statuses & Module Access Control 4.2 Posting Layers, Multi-GAAP Reporting & the Ledger Form 4.3 Currency Exchange Types, Rate Providers & Triangulation 4.4 Accounting & Reporting Currencies (Dual-Currency Architecture) 4.5 Foreign Currency Revaluation & Revaluation Posting Profiles
5 Chapter 5: General Ledger Journals & Allocations
5.1 Journal Names & Voucher Number Sequences 5.2 Journal Control & Posting Restriction Rules 5.3 Journal Entry, the One-Voucher Rule, Validation & Posting 5.4 Reversals, Storno Corrections & Excel Integration 5.5 Ledger Allocation Rules & the Four Allocation Methods 5.6 Allocation Processing & Periodic (Recurring) Journals
6 Chapter 6: Intercompany Accounting & Settlements
6.1 Intercompany Accounting Setup & Due-To / Due-From Postings 6.2 Intercompany Journal Processing & Multi-Company Vouchers 6.3 Ledger Settlements Configuration & Processing
7 Chapter 7: Cash and Bank Management
7.1 Bank Groups, Bank Accounts & Ledger Integration 7.2 Payment Formats, Bank FX Revaluation & Shared Payment Setup 7.3 Manual vs. Advanced Bank Reconciliation & Statement Formats 7.4 Matching Rule Sets, Reconciliation Execution & Reversals 7.5 Cash Flow Forecasting Setup & Automation 7.6 Customer and Vendor Netting
8 Chapter 8: Periodic Closing & Financial Consolidations
8.1 Financial Period Close Workspace, Closing Roles & Schedules 8.2 Year-End Close Configuration & General Ledger Balance Carryforward 8.3 Consolidations Online: Legal Entity Setup, COA Mapping & Currency Translation 8.4 Import Consolidations & Intercompany Elimination Rules
9 Chapter 9: Sales Tax & Withholding Tax
9.1 Sales Tax Engine Hierarchy, Authorities & Settlement Periods 9.2 Ledger Posting Groups, Sales Tax Codes & Calculation Methods 9.3 Sales Tax Groups, Item Sales Tax Groups & Tax Exemptions 9.4 Sales Tax Adjustments and Settle and Post Sales Tax 9.5 Withholding Tax & US 1099 Vendor Reporting
10 Chapter 10: Accounts Receivable Setup & Invoicing
10.1 Customer Master, Customer Groups & Shared Customers 10.2 Customer Posting Profiles & Account Code Precedence 10.3 Free Text Invoices, Recurring Invoice Templates & AR Charges 10.4 Sales Order Invoicing, Billing Classifications & Prepayments 10.5 Customer Payment Methods, Payment Processing & Customer Bank Accounts
11 Chapter 11: Credit Management & Collections
11.1 Credit Management Architecture & Customer Credit Groups 11.2 Risk Scoring, Credit Limits, Blocking Rules & Credit Holds 11.3 Aging Definitions, Collections Workspace & Customer Pools 11.4 Collection Letter Sequences & Interest Notes 11.5 Customer Write-Offs, Bad Debt & Write-Off Reversals
12 Chapter 12: Subscription Billing & Revenue Deferrals
12.1 Recurring Contract Billing, Billing Schedules & Milestones 12.2 Deferral Principles, Deferral Defaults & Schedule Calculation Methods 12.3 Recognition Processing, Expense Deferrals & Modifying Schedules 12.4 Multiple Element Revenue Allocation (MEA / ASC 606)
13 Chapter 13: Accounts Payable & Invoice Processing
13.1 Shared Vendors, Global Address Book & Vendor Groups 13.2 Vendor Posting Profiles, AP Parameters & Vendor Bank Accounts 13.3 Invoice Matching Setup (2-Way, 3-Way), Tolerances & Exceptions 13.4 Vendor Invoicing Methods, Journals & Invoice Automation
14 Chapter 14: Vendor Payments & Expense Management
14.1 Methods of Payment & the Vendor Payment Proposal Engine 14.2 Generating Payments, Centralized Payments & Check Lifecycle 14.3 Expense Management Configuration, Categories & Policies 14.4 Expense Reports Processing, Mobile Receipts & Intercompany Expenses
15 Chapter 15: Budgeting & Budget Control
15.1 Budget Models, Budget Codes & Allocation Terms 15.2 Budget Register Entries, Workflows & Budget vs. Actual 15.3 Budget Transfer Rules & Processing Budget Transfers 15.4 Budget Control Configuration, Cycles, Rules & Budget Groups 15.5 Budget Funds Available, Over-Budget Permissions & Document Budget Check 15.6 Budget Planning Framework, Organization Hierarchies & Planning Processes 15.7 Budget Plans, Scenarios, Allocations & Generating Register Entries
16 Chapter 16: Fixed Assets Configuration & Transactions
16.1 Fixed Asset Groups, Asset Records & Group/Book Mapping 16.2 Depreciation Profiles: Methods & Conventions 16.3 Fixed Asset Books, Derived Books & Posting Profiles 16.4 Fixed Asset Acquisition Pathways 16.5 Depreciation Proposals, Multi-Company Runs & Fixed Asset Budgets 16.6 Fixed Asset Disposals: Sale, Scrap & Disposal Accounting 16.7 Fixed Asset Splits, Transfers & Reclassification 16.8 Asset Leasing (IFRS 16 / ASC 842)
1.1 MB-310 Exam Structure, Skills Measured & Consultant Role
Key Takeaways Explain This Topic AI
The MB-310 exam measures enterprise financial configuration proficiency across 40–60 questions in 100 minutes, requiring a scaled passing score of 700/1000 ($165 USD fee, free annual renewal via Microsoft Learn).
Financial Management is the most heavily weighted domain (35–40%), followed by Accounts Receivable & Subscription Billing (15–20%), Accounts Payable & Expenses (10–15%), Budgeting (10–15%), and Fixed Assets (10–15%).
Question formats encompass single and multiple-response multiple choice, build list/reorder processes, drag-and-drop mappings, and comprehensive multi-scenario case studies.
Dynamics 365 Finance Functional Consultants serve as core solution architects who translate complex business accounting requirements into standard ERP configurations across the Microsoft Success by Design lifecycle.
A successful study strategy balances theoretical Microsoft Learn knowledge with extensive hands-on lab configuration in Contoso demo environments (USMF, DEMF).
Last updated: August 2026
1.1 MB-310 Exam Structure, Skills Measured & Consultant Role
Quick Summary: The Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Finance Functional Consultant Associate ( MB-310 ) credential validates your ability to configure, automate, and optimize enterprise financial business processes within Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance. This section dissects the exam blueprint, scoring mechanics, question topologies, functional domain weights, implementation methodology, and proven study techniques needed to achieve a passing score of 700 or higher.
1. Exam Structure & Administrative Mechanics
The MB-310 exam is an intermediate, associate-level certification administered globally through Pearson VUE (both at authorized physical testing centers and via online proctoring). It serves as the industry-standard benchmark for enterprise financial consultants, solution architects, and senior ERP business analysts implementing Dynamics 365 Finance.
Key Exam Parameters
Exam Parameter Specification Candidate Impact & Strategy
Question Count 40–60 questions Varies depending on the presence and length of case studies.
Exam Duration 100 minutes (120 min seat time) Leaves approximately 1.5 to 2 minutes per standalone item; pace case studies carefully.
Passing Score 700 / 1000 (Scaled) Microsoft uses scaled scoring; difficult items are not penalized more, and there is no penalty for guessing.
Exam Fee $165 USD Standard regional commercial pricing (academic and partner discounts may apply).
Credential Validity 1 Year (Annual Renewal) Renewable annually at no cost via an unproctored assessment on Microsoft Learn.
Prerequisites None formal Strong recommendation: Fundamental understanding of ERP principles (or MB-300 foundation) + 1–2 years hands-on D365 Finance experience.
Retake Policy 24h (1st) / 14 days (subsequent) 24-hour wait after 1st attempt; 14-day wait for attempts 2 through 5; maximum 5 attempts per rolling 12-month period.
Note
Microsoft exams do not employ negative marking. If you are uncertain of an answer, eliminate obviously incorrect options and make an educated selection. Never leave any question unanswered before submitting a section.
2. Question Types & Exam Topologies
To pass MB-310, candidates must be prepared for diverse item formats that test both theoretical knowledge and real-world implementation mechanics:
Multiple Choice & Multiple Response: Single-answer radio buttons or multi-select checkboxes (e.g., "Which two posting profiles must be configured?" ). Partial credit is awarded on multiple-response questions where you select subsets of correct answers.
Case Studies (1–2 per exam): Complex, real-world business scenarios presented with multiple tabbed exhibits ( Company Overview, Current Environment, Requirements, Planned Changes, Technical Constraints ). Case studies typically contain 4 to 8 questions.
Important
Case study sections are isolated testing blocks . Once you complete a case study and click Review -> Finish Section , you cannot return to those questions later in the exam. Always verify your answers before leaving the case study block.
Build List and Reorder (Drag-and-Drop Sequence): You must drag procedural steps from a source pane into an answer pane and arrange them in the exact sequential order (e.g., steps required to configure a fiscal calendar, run a foreign currency revaluation, or execute a year-end closing process).
Dropdown / Area Select: Interactive forms or simulated screens where you select the appropriate configuration parameters, ledger accounts, or setup options directly from dropdown menus within a sentence or table.
Hot Area / Matching: Matching business requirements on the left with the correct Dynamics 365 Finance module, parameter, or posting profile on the right.
3. Skills Measured & Domain Weightings
The MB-310 exam syllabus is organized into five core functional domains. Understanding the weighting enables targeted study prioritization:
Domain Domain Title Exam Weight Primary Focus Areas
1 Implement Financial Management 35–40% Chart of accounts, financial dimensions, account structures, ledgers, currencies, exchange rate providers, journals, intercompany accounting, cash & bank management, bank reconciliations, sales tax, financial period close, and year-end close.
2 Implement Accounts Receivable, Credit, Collections & Subscription Billing 15–20% Customer master setup, posting profiles, free text invoices, sales order invoicing, customer payments, credit limits, aging snapshots, collections cases, write-offs, billing schedules, and revenue/expense deferrals.
3 Implement and Manage Accounts Payable and Expenses 10–15% Vendor master setup, vendor posting profiles, 2-way and 3-way invoice matching policies, invoice automation, payment proposals, centralized vendor payments, prepayments, and Expense Management.
4 Manage Budgeting 10–15% Basic budgeting, budget models, budget codes, allocation terms, budget register entries, budget control rules, budget cycle models, calculation of budget funds available, and over-budget user permissions.
5 Manage Fixed Assets 10–15% Fixed asset groups, books, depreciation profiles, FA posting profiles, acquisitions (via journals & POs), depreciation runs, disposals (scrap/sale), derived books, and Asset Leasing (IFRS 16 / ASC 842).
- Deep Breakdown of the 5 Domains
- Domain 1: Implement Financial Management (35–40%)
As the foundational backbone of the exam, this domain accounts for more than one-third of all questions. You must master:
Core General Ledger: Designing shared Charts of Accounts (COA), Main Account Types ( Asset, Liability, Equity, Revenue, Expense, Total, Balance sheet ), Financial Dimensions ( Custom vs. Entity-backed ), and Account Structures with branching Advanced Rules.
Fiscal Calendars & Currencies: Configuring fiscal years, operational periods, closing periods, accounting currency vs. reporting currency, exchange rate types, and automated exchange rate provider integration.
Journals & Posting Controls: Journal names, journal control (restricting posting to specific user groups or account types), posting restrictions, intercompany due-to/due-from accounting, and reversing entries.
Cash & Bank Management: Bank accounts, bank transaction types, bank groups, manual reconciliation, and Advanced Bank Reconciliation (importing ISO 20022 XML, BAI2, or MT940 files with automated matching rules).
Taxation & Periodic Closing: Sales tax jurisdictions, authorities, settlement periods, sales tax codes, sales tax groups, item sales tax groups, foreign currency revaluation, and the Financial Period Close Workspace.
Domain 2: Accounts Receivable, Credit, Collections & Subscription Billing (15–20%)
Focuses on revenue realization and receivables management:
AR Core: Customer posting profiles (summary accounts, settlement accounts), terms of payment, cash discounts, payment schedules, and charge codes.
Invoicing & Payments: Free text invoice templates, recurring invoices, sales order packing slip and invoice posting, customer payment journals, settlement of open transactions, and payment fee configuration.
Credit and Collections: Credit limits, credit management hold rules, blocking reasons, aging snapshot generation, collections workspace, dispute management, interest notes, collection letters, and write-off processing.
Subscription Billing: Recurring billing schedules, contract management, milestone billing, revenue and expense deferrals (recognition schedules, straight-line vs. event-based recognition), and multi-element revenue allocation under ASC 606 / IFRS 15.
Domain 3: Accounts Payable and Expenses (10–15%)
Covers procurement settlement, invoice control, and employee expenses:
AP Core & Invoicing: Vendor posting profiles, terms of payment, invoice matching policies (2-way price/quantity matching vs. 3-way matching including product receipts), price tolerances, invoice register/approval journals, and Pending Vendor Invoices.
Automation & Centralized Payments: Vendor invoice automation (automatic receipt submission, matching validation, background posting), centralized payments across multiple legal entities, and vendor payment proposals.
Expense Management: Expense categories, payment methods, expense policies, receipt capture, per diem rates, mileage tiers, intercompany expense reports, and travel requisitions.
Domain 4: Manage Budgeting (10–15%)
Addresses fiscal governance and financial control:
Basic Budgeting: Budget models (sub-models, top-level models), budget codes ( Original budget, Amendment, Transfer, Carryover ), allocation terms, budget register entries, and workflow approvals.
Budget Control: Activating budget control on account structures, defining budget cycle models (fiscal years/spans), configuring budget control rules, determining budget funds available (formula incorporating actual expenditures, unposted actuals, encumbrances, and pre-encumbrances), and setting over-budget tolerances/permissions for specific user groups.
Domain 5: Manage Fixed Assets (10–15%)
Covers capital asset lifecycle management and statutory compliance:
Fixed Asset Core: Asset groups, value models/books, depreciation profiles ( Straight line service life, Reducing balance, Manual, Factor, Consumption ), depreciation conventions ( Half year, Full month, Mid quarter ), and Fixed Asset Posting Profiles ( Acquisition, Depreciation, Disposal sale, Disposal scrap ).
Asset Lifecycle Transactions: Acquisition proposals, acquisition adjustments, monthly depreciation runs, asset transfers across dimensions or legal entities, asset splits, reclassifications, and derived book automation.
Asset Leasing: Configuring lease books, lease groups, payment schedules, initial recognition (Right-of-Use Asset and Lease Liability), monthly amortization, interest accruals, and lease modifications/terminations under IFRS 16 and ASC 842.
4. The Functional Consultant Role in Enterprise Implementations
A Dynamics 365 Finance Functional Consultant plays a pivotal bridging role between corporate finance executives (CFOs, Controllers, Accounting Managers) and technical developers/solution architects. +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
- | Enterprise Dynamics 365 Finance Implementation Lifecycle |
- +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
- | 1. INITIATE | 2. IMPLEMENT | 3. PREPARE | 4. OPERATE |
- | - Project Charter | - Core Config | - Data Migration | - Go-Live |
- | - Scope & Strategy | - Gap-Fit Analysis | - UAT Validation | - Hypercare |
- | - Success by Design| - Solution Design | - Cutover Rehearsal| - Continuous |
- | Readiness Review | - Integrations/DMF | - End-User Training| Updates |
- +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
- Core Responsibilities Across Project Phases
Discovery & Architecture (Initiate): Conduct business process workshops to capture accounting requirements; align corporate legal structures with standard D365 entity modeling.
Configuration & Design (Implement): Set up General Ledger parameters, Chart of Accounts, subledger posting profiles, workflow approval hierarchies, and budget control policies. Perform gap-fit analysis and specify extensions only when standard out-of-the-box functionality cannot meet statutory requirements.
Data Migration & Testing (Prepare): Define data migration templates via Data Management Framework (DMF) for opening balances, master data (Customers, Vendors, Fixed Assets), and open subledger transactions. Lead User Acceptance Testing (UAT) and cutover simulations.
Deployment & Stabilization (Operate): Support financial cutover, validate opening trial balances, oversee initial month-end close procedures, and configure continuous monitoring.
Implementation Methodologies: Sure Step & Success by Design
Microsoft implementations adhere to Success by Design , a prescriptive framework delivered by Microsoft FastTrack and certified implementation partners:
Initiate Phase: Solution Blueprint Review to validate overall architecture, legal entity strategy, and integration topology.
Implement Phase: Iterative Sprint Reviews, Data Model Reviews, and Security Architecture Reviews.
Prepare Phase: Go-Live Readiness Review, Cutover Assessment, and Performance Testing.
Operate Phase: Post-go-live operational health checks and service updates management.
5. Proven Exam Strategy & Preparation Framework
To maximize efficiency and guarantee exam success, follow this strategic roadmap:
Prioritize High-Weight Domains: Allocate 40% of your study time to Financial Management (Domain 1). Scoring exceptionally well on General Ledger, dimensions, bank reconciliation, and sales tax creates an insurmountable buffer for passing.
Deconstruct Case Studies Methodically: When approaching a case study, read the questions first before reading all exhibits. This primes your brain to scan the exhibits for specific parameters (e.g., "Company B requires 3-way matching with a 5% unit price tolerance" ).
Think in Postings: For every configuration feature you study (e.g., vendor invoice posting, asset disposal, customer prepayment), always identify the exact debit and credit entries generated in the General Ledger.
Hands-On Muscle Memory: Reading documentation is insufficient. You must physically configure posting profiles, trigger journal validations, execute foreign currency revaluations, and test budget blocks in a Contoso demo environment.