AI Economics & FinOps Lead

Willis Towers Watson; Reigate; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

Hybrid working

Private healthcare

Life insurance

Group income protection

Pension with matched contributions up 

Volunteer day

EV car scheme

Share scheme

Cycle-to-work

Dental and optical cover

Job summary

Willis Towers Watson is seeking an AI Economics & FinOps Lead for its hybrid Reigate-based team to maximise value from AI and GenAI spend through governance, consumption optimisation and token economics.

You will lead the Token Economics group, drive cloud/AI cost efficiency and partner with Engineering, Product and Finance to align usage with business goals, delivering measurable financial outcomes and robust reporting.

Qualifications

• Experience in AI/ML or GenAI cost management, including token-based consumption models.
• Experience with Azure is strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of token pricing structures across major providers (Azure OpenAI, etc.).
• Experience translating cloud and AI consumption data into accountable financial outcomes.
• Strong reporting and analytical abilities with attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Token Economics working group and the FinOps operating model for AI and cloud spend.
• Drive cost efficiency by analysing cloud/AI spending and implementing ROI-focused improvements.
• Own governance, standards, accountability and decision rights for FinOps in AI and cloud.
• Improve cost allocation, tagging, showback/chargeback to assign consumption to products and teams.
• Partner with Engineering, Product and Finance to align usage with business goals and drive token-efficiency strategies.
• Provide training and documentation to empower teams to manage cloud resources.

Skills

AI/GenAI cost management

FinOps

Power BI

Azure Cost Management

Token economics

Cost governance

Data visualization

Stakeholder communication

Analytical ability

FinOps Certified Practitioner

Job description

Description

This is an exciting opportunity to join as an AI Economics & FinOps Lead within the Insurance Consulting and Technology (ICT) line of business. The primary focus is to maximise the business value of AI and GenAI expenditure through active governance, consumption optimisation, unit economics and value measurement, while retaining core FinOps responsibility for the wider cloud estate. The role will provide insightful reporting and analytics, improve financial accountability and ensure token-based consumption is actively governed and optimised.

This position is hybrid working, with a requirement to be in office two days a week in the Reigate office.

At WTW, we believe difference makes us stronger. We want our workforce to reflect the different and varied markets we operate in and to build a culture of inclusivity that makes colleagues feel welcome, valued and empowered to bring their whole selves to work every day. We are an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive work environment throughout our organisation. We embrace all types of diversity.

The Role

• You will be the go-to expert for AI tool and model usage, advising teams on best practices and optimisation strategies, while leading the Token Economics working group and supporting the wider FinOps operating model across cloud and AI spend.

• Drive cost efficiency by analysing cloud and AI spending, identifying areas for improvement, and implementing solutions that maximise return on investment and business value.

• Own and evolve the FinOps operating model for AI and the wider cloud estate, establishing clear standards, governance, accountability and decision rights.

• Improve cost allocation, tagging, showback or chargeback and ownership so that cloud and AI consumption can be attributed to accountable products, platforms and business teams.

• Partnering with Engineering, Product and Finance to align cloud and AI usage with business goals, and drive cloud-related strategic initiatives inc. token-efficiency techniques such as prompt optimisation, context-window management, caching, model tiering/routing, and batching - to reduce consumption without degrading outcomes

• Comparative analysis of LLM/model across providers and tiers, to inform model selection and routing decisions.

• Provide comprehensive training and documentation to empower teams to manage their own cloud resources effectively.

• Continuously research and evaluate new Azure services and AI platform capabilities to identify opportunities for innovation, cost optimisation and faster value realisation.

• Maintain a balanced optimisation pipeline covering AI consumption and traditional cloud levers, including reservations and savings plans, commitment utilisation, rightsizing, storage, scaling and workload scheduling.

• Develop and implement AI FinOps and Token Economics frameworks, including policies, controls, processes and best practices covering AI governance, model lifecycle costs, token economics and alignment with the wider cloud FinOps operating model.

• Create metrics, financial dashboards and reports that provide insights and forecasts to technical teams and senior leadership, including AI unit economics, token usage efficiency, and value-realisation KPIs.

• Lead cloud and AI forecasting, budgeting and variance analysis, providing actionable recommendations to improve planning accuracy and control unplanned expenditure.

• Conduct regular FinOps maturity assessments across AI and cloud workloads, maintaining a prioritised roadmap for governance, optimisation and continuous improvement.

• Stay updated with the latest trends and best practices in cloud cost management and AI cost governance

• Communicate effectively with stakeholders at all levels, including leadership.

Qualifications

What you’ll bring

• Excellent communication and collaboration skills to engage with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

• Demonstrable experience in AI/ML or GenAI cost management, including token-based consumption models, together with practical experience of FinOps or cloud financial management. Experience in Azure is strongly preferred.

• Working knowledge of LLM/GenAI pricing structures (input/output token pricing, context caching, batch vs. real-time discounts) across major providers (Azure OpenAI, Anthropic, etc.)

• Experience with token usage monitoring or metering tools

• Familiarity with performance optimisation practices, such as instance rightsizing, workload optimisation, and model inference efficiency.

• Working knowledge of Azure Cost Management, cost allocation and tagging, forecasting and budgeting, and commitment-based discount management.

• Experience translating cloud and AI consumption data into accountable ownership, optimisation actions and measurable financial outcomes.

• Strong reporting, problem-solving and analytical abilities, with attention to detail.

• Proven hands-on experience in Power BI, or similar tools, and data integration techniques.

• Ability to translate complex data into clear, meaningful visual insights for technical and non-technical audiences.

• Ability to work independently and drive financial accountability within a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

• FinOps Certified Practitioner or equivalent is highly desirable; AI and cloud certifications, together with practical exposure to AI value tracking, are also advantageous.

What we offer
Enjoy a benefits package designed to help you thrive, both professionally and personally. You'll receive 25 days of annual leave plus an extra WTW day to relax and recharge. Our comprehensive health and wellbeing offering includes private healthcare, life insurance, group income protection, and regular health assessments, all giving you peace of mind. Secure your future with our defined contribution pension scheme, featuring matched contributions up to 10% from the company.

We support your growth and balance with hybrid working options, access to an employee assistance programme, and a fully paid volunteer day to make a difference in your community. On top of these, you can opt into a variety of additional perks including an electric vehicle car scheme, share scheme, cycle-to-work programme, dental and optical cover, critical illness protection, and much more. Start making the most of your career and wellbeing with a range of benefits tailored for you.

Equal Opportunity Employer
We’re committed to equal employment opportunity and provide application, interview and workplace adjustments and accommodations to all applicants. If you foresee any barriers, from the application process through to joining WTW, please email [e-mail]