FinOps Lead

Curtin University; Canning; On-site; AUD 153,000 - 168,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous benefits

Superannuation matching

Health and wellbeing services

Job summary

Curtin University is seeking an experienced FinOps leader within the Digital Platforms Team to shape cloud financial management and drive cost efficiency across university cloud services.

You will lead a team, implement governance, and partner with stakeholders to embed value, accountability and continuous improvement in cloud consumption.

Qualifications

• Experience in FinOps, cloud financial management, or cloud cost optimisation.
• Strong budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting and cost optimisation practices.
• Knowledge of AWS or Azure cloud platforms, including billing and consumption insights.
• Experience implementing FinOps practices such as chargeback/showback and cost governance.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, communication and leadership capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a FinOps team to deliver cloud financial management outcomes.
• Develop and implement strategies to optimise cloud costs and improve value from cloud investments.
• Provide clear visibility into cloud spend across compute, storage, apps and services.
• Develop cost allocation, tagging standards and chargeback/showback frameworks for transparency.
• Leverage data to analyse spend trends and advise executive stakeholders.
• Collaborate with technology and business leaders to promote efficient cloud utilisation.
• Lead education and continuous improvement initiatives for FinOps practices and tools.

Skills

FinOps

Cloud cost optimisation

Cloud billing & governance

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Tools

AWS

Azure

Job description

Job Reference: 1700919

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced and commercially minded FinOps leader to play a key role in shaping Curtin University’s cloud financial management capability. This is an exciting opportunity for someone with strong technical insight, sound financial judgement, and the confidence to influence change in a complex digital environment.

Working within our Digital Platforms Team, you will lead cloud financial operations and help ensure Curtin gains maximum value from its cloud investments through strong governance, transparency, accountability and continuous improvement.

As a trusted leader in Curtin’s cloud journey, you will champion a cost-conscious culture across the university, partnering with technical and business stakeholders to embed value, efficiency and financial responsibility into the way digital platforms and services are designed, delivered and operated.

This role brings together cloud expertise, financial acumen, stakeholder engagement and people leadership, offering the chance to make a visible impact as Curtin continues to mature its digital strategy and cloud capability.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a FinOps team to deliver strategic cloud financial management outcomes and uplift FinOps capability across the university.
• Develop and implement strategies to optimise cloud costs, improve value from cloud investments and support financially sustainable cloud consumption.
• Provide clear visibility and insight into cloud spend across compute, storage, applications and broader cloud services.
• Develop and enforce cost allocation models, tagging standards, and chargeback/showback frameworks to improve financial transparency, governance and accountability.
• Leverage data insights to analyse spend trends, identify optimisation opportunities and provide informed recommendations to executive stakeholders.
• Collaborate with technology leaders and business stakeholders to promote efficient cloud utilisation, support practical change and strengthen financially responsible practices.
• Lead education, engagement and continuous improvement initiatives to champion FinOps principles, build cloud financial literacy and mature cloud financial management tools, reporting platforms and cost monitoring capabilities.

Selection Criteria

We are seeking an experienced leader with strong financial operations expertise, the ability to influence at a strategic level, and a solid understanding of enterprise cloud environments.

You will bring:

• Demonstrated experience in FinOps, cloud financial management, technology finance, or cloud cost optimisation within a complex enterprise environment.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, and cost optimisation practices.
• Working knowledge of cloud platforms such as AWS and/or Microsoft Azure, including cloud billing, consumption, and optimisation principles.
• Experience implementing or managing FinOps practices such as chargeback/showback models, cloud spend reporting, and cost governance frameworks.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills, with the ability to influence and educate both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Proven leadership capability, with experience driving strategic initiatives, leading teams, and building collaborative relationships across an organisation.
• A proactive and strategic mindset, with the ability to identify opportunities, drive continuous improvement, and shape organisational direction.

Role Requirements

• As this is a continuing (permanent) role, you will require permanent work rights in Australia to be considered
• Successfulapplicantswill be subject to a National PoliceClearance, and background, integrity, and reference checks to Curtin’s satisfaction

Your new Team: Digital, Technology & Solutions, Platforms

The Platforms Team is the engine room of Curtin University’s digital ecosystem. We design, build and operate the core technology platforms that underpin the entire university - from cloud infrastructure and automation to data, integration, and foundational digital services. Our work enables every faculty, researcher, student and staff member to innovate, connect and succeed.

This is a unique opportunity to shape and mature FinOps capability within one of Australia’s leading universities. You will have the opportunity to influence enterprise-wide cloud financial strategy, drive meaningful operational efficiencies, build a community of practice, and help embed a culture of financial accountability and cloud optimisation across the university.

The role offers a rare combination of strategic influence, leadership responsibility, and the opportunity to make a visible impact within a large and evolving digital environment.

About Curtin University

Curtin University proudly stands among the top one percent of global universities according to the ARWU 2025 rankings. We are an energetic, dedicated team of academics and professionals working together to provide global solutions through quality graduates and innovative research. Curtin is a welcoming space where integrity, respect for one another, courage, excellence, and impact are essential to everyday life.

First Nations people, those identifying as LGBTQIA+, parents, carers, people of all ages, abilities and genders, and people of diverse ethnicity, nationality and faith are encouraged to apply. Our aim is to create a workforce that reflects the diversity of the community in which we live. For more information, please visitour Diversity and Inclusion page - https://staff.curtin.edu.au/discover-curtin/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-at-curtin/

What We Offer You

This Continuous G10 level role attracts a remuneration of $152,905 - $167,669 + 17% superannuation.

Situated on Whadjuk Nyungar Country, our vibrant Bentley campus includes an art gallery, gym, childcare and medical centre, bus station, accessible parking and endless food options including a supermarket. Aside from the vibrant campus life, we offer more than just a job. Curtin offers a wide range of generous benefits, including additional leave, salary packaging, health and wellbeing services and an array of discounts for retail, travel and much more.

For more reasons to work at Curtin, please visit https://staff.curtin.edu.au/discover-curtin/

Applications close: 8pm (AWST), Wednesday, 11 November 2026

Please note we are not accepting applications from recruitment agencies, at this time.

Curtin reserves the right at its sole discretion to withdraw from the recruitment process,