Cloud FinOps Analyst

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

• Cloud Cost Analysis and Optimization

  : Monitor and analyze cloud usage and spending across platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) to identify inefficiencies, recommend optimizations, and implement strategies for cost savings tailored to research workloads, such as variable compute demands in data-intensive projects. 

• Bridging Finance and Engineering

  : Collaborate organization-wide to align cloud strategies with financial goals, promote FinOps principles, guide teams to architect cost-effective cloud solutions, and ensure transparent budgeting. 

• Reporting and Insights

  : Develop and maintain interactive reports and dashboards using tools like Power BI or similar analytics platforms to visualize spend patterns, track fund usage, and provide actionable insights on how resources are allocated across departments and research projects. 

• Cost Allocation and Governance

  : Design and enforce tagging strategies, cost allocation models, and governance frameworks to accurately attribute expenses to specific research groups, grants, or departments, promoting accountability in a multi-stakeholder environment. 

• Vendor and Pricing Strategy

  : Evaluate and advise on the use of cloud pricing models, including appropriate SKUs, Savings Plans (SPs), Reserved Instances (RIs), and Pay-As-You-Go options, guiding teams on when and how to leverage each for maximum efficiency in research and operational contexts. 

• Training and Education

  : Create and deliver training programs for users, cloud resource consumers, and the broader research community on cloud cost management, best practices for resource utilization, understanding usage metrics, and strategies to enhance cost-effectiveness and productivity. 

• Process Improvement and Function Development

  : Contribute to standing up and maturing the FinOps function by recommending automation, best practices, and cross-functional processes that integrate finance and engineering workflows in a bureaucratic, research-focused healthcare setting. 

• Stakeholder Collaboration

  : Work with diverse teams, including IT, finance, research, and InfoSec, to foster a culture of cost awareness and drive initiatives that support efficient cloud adoption while addressing challenges like inconsistent reporting or rogue subscriptions. 

Qualifications:

• Education

  : Bachelors degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field; advanced degree in a healthcare or research-related discipline is a plus. 

• Experience

  : 
• 3+ years in financial analysis, cloud cost management, or FinOps roles, with experience in a healthcare, academic, or research environment managing cloud costs for grant-funded or variable workloads. 
• Advanced expertise in cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, Google Cloud), including designing cost allocation models, leveraging pricing options (SKUs, Savings Plans, Reserved Instances), and optimizing costs for research or data-intensive environments. 
• Demonstrated success in leading FinOps initiatives, such as developing governance frameworks, automating cost reporting, or driving organization-wide cost-saving strategies. 
• Experience creating and delivering training or educational programs on cloud financial management to technical and non-technical stakeholders, ideally in a research or academic setting. 

• Technical Skills

  : 
• Proficiency in data visualization and reporting tools as well as cost management tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau, AWS Cost Explorer, Azure Cost Management, Google Cloud Billing). 
• Strong skills in Excel and data analysis; familiarity with scripting (e.g., Python, SQL) for automating reports is advantageous. 
• Understanding of cloud infrastructure, services, and pricing models (SKUs, SPs, RIs, Pay-As-You-Go). 

• Analytical Skills

  : Ability to dissect complex datasets, forecast expenses, and deliver insights that inform decision-making in a research-driven organization. 

• Communication and Training

  : Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with experience in developing and delivering educational content to non-technical audiences, such as researchers and clinicians. 

• Certifications

  : FinOps Certified Practitioner, AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner, Azure Fundamentals, or equivalent; certifications in data analytics (e.g., Power BI Data Analyst) are preferred. 

Ways to Stand Out of The Crowd

• Knowledge of research grant management and compliance in academic healthcare settings. 
• Experience with Agile/DevOps methodologies and tools like Azure DevOps for tracking FinOps initiatives. 
• Familiarity with healthcare-specific regulations (e.g., HIPAA) as they relate to cloud financial governance. 
• Ability to navigate bureaucratic environments, facilitating collaboration across territorial departments. 
• Knowledge of Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools (e.g., Terraform, CloudFormation). 
• Experience with scripting languages (e.g., Python, SQL) for data analysis or automation. 
• Familiarity with ITIL, Agile, or DevOps methodologies. 

Role & responsibilities

Preferred candidate profile