Cloud Financial Operations Specialist

001 Stride, Inc.; Town of Texas (WI); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Stride, Inc. is seeking a Cloud FinOps Specialist to oversee cloud program operations, governance, cost optimization, and financial reporting across AWS, Azure, and more.

You will partner with Technology, Data, Product, and Finance to maintain a holistic cloud view, drive cost savings, and report to executive leadership. You will lead cost governance, dashboards, and subscriptions lifecycle, collaborating with cross-functional teams and vendors.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business Administration or related field.
• 8+ years IT finance and cloud experience or equivalent.
• No licenses required.

Responsibilities

• Analyze and report cloud finances across AWS, Azure, etc.
• Identify cost-saving opportunities and implement optimization strategies.
• Develop budgets, forecasts, and variance analyses for cloud spend.

Skills

Cloud cost management

Budgeting & forecasting

Data analytics dashboards

Communication

Cloud platforms (AWS, Azure)

Problem solving

Travel readiness

Background check clearance

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance or Business Administration

Tools

CloudZero

Cloudability

CloudHealth

Microsoft Office

Job description

Job Description SUMMARY: As a Cloud FinOps Specialist at Stride, you will be responsible for managing cloud program operations, governance, cost optimization, and financial reporting activities as they relate to our cloud environment across all major platforms (AWS, Azure, etc). The Cloud FinOps Specialist will work closely with cross functional teams across the enterprise including Technology, Data, Product and Finance organizations, in additional to 3rd party vendors. The Cloud FinOps Analyst will develop and maintain a holistic view of our cloud roadmap, cloud operational health and cloud usage data to reduce costs and drive efficiencies, while providing regular updates to executive leadership.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Financial analysis and reporting to monitor finances associated with business operations and cloud Financial management of cloud usage data to implement cost savings recommendations and best practices to drive efficiencies (identify cost optimization opportunities, including rightsizing instances, utilizing reserved instances and savings plans, and optimizing storage and networking configurations).
• Identify significant cost savings through optimizations, with clear data and reporting measuring outcomes and highlighting areas of opportunity.
• Conduct capacity planning analysis and cloud budget planning; Support the business aspects of new workload migration.
• Integrate financial systems with cloud billing tools.
• Lead the development and implementation of Cloud FinOps best practices across the organization, including cost governance, budgeting, forecasting, AWS marketplace purchases, and cost allocation methodologies to accurately track spending by department, team, or project.
• Partner with finance and IT teams to develop a comprehensive cloud cost management framework, including budgets, monthly forecasts, investment cost analysis, and variance analysis.
• Design and maintain dashboards and reports to provide stakeholders with clear visibility into cloud costs and usage trends.
• Set up the AWS services plan, continuous cost optimization of the services plan, and cost tracking and reporting of the cloud resources.
• Track and manage the lifecycle of AWS Marketplace subscriptions, including renewals and terminations.
• Communicate effectively with technical and non-technical audiences to explain cloud cost concepts and recommendations, including the impact of AWS Marketplace purchases.

Supervisory Responsibilities: This position has no formal supervisory responsibilities.

MINIMUM REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s degree, preferably in a field related to Finance, Business Administration Eight (8) years of direct experience with IT Finance and cloud experience OR Equivalent combination of education and experience Certificates and Licenses: None required.

OTHER REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• A strong understanding of cloud computing concepts and best practices (AWS, Azure, GCP, etc.)
• Solid financial acumen with experience in budgeting, forecasting, and cost analysis
• Experience developing data analytics dashboards and reporting, relating to finance and operational processes
• Cloud cost management tools (CloudZero, Cloudability CloudHealth, etc.)
• Financial modeling and planning software
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with ability to interface with all levels of management and staff
• Integral experience with business projects in determining and driving process, technology and organizational changes/impacts
• Proven problem-solving and analytical skills, with the ability to apply business judgment to complex problems and make decisions
• Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project, Visio, etc.); Web proficiency.
• Ability to travel 5% of the time
• Ability to clear required background check

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. This position is virtual and open to residents of the 50 states, D.C.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

Stride, Inc. considers a person’s education, experience, and qualifications, as well as the position’s work location, expected quality and quantity of work, required travel (if any), external market and internal value when determining a new employee’s salary level. Salaries will differ based on these factors, the position’s level and expected contribution, and the employee’s benefits elections. Offers will typically be in the bottom half of the range. We anticipate the salary range to be $85,224.75 - $149,966.40. Eligible employees may receive a bonus. This salary is not guaranteed, as an individual’s compensation can vary based on several factors. These factors include, but are not limited to, geographic location, experience, training, education, and local market conditions. Stride offers a robust benefits package for eligible employees that can include health benefits, retirement contributions, and paid time off.

Job Type Regular

Incumbents will follow any other instructions, and perform any other related duties, as assigned by their supervisor. All employment is “at‑will” as governed by the law of the state where the employee works. It is further understood that the “at‑will” nature of employment is one aspect of employment that cannot be changed except in writing and signed by an authorized officer.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities Stride, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants receive consideration for employment based on merit without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state, or local law. Stride, Inc. complies with all legally required affirmative action obligations. Applicants will not be discriminated against because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. For more than 20 years, Stride, Inc. has transformed the teaching and learning experience for millions of people by providing innovative, high-quality, tech-enabled education solutions, curriculum, and programs. Stride serves learners of all ages in all 50 states and more than 100 countries. At Stride, learning is essential. It is the foundation of the human experience and we are proud of our commitment to powering learning, no matter what stage of life you are in. For more than 20 years, we’ve worked to challenge the idea of one‑size‑fits‑all education and provide personalized, online, lifelong learning at every step of the journey. Above all else, we believe in serving the communities we live in and creating space for all voices therein.