FinOps & Cloud Cost Optimization Lead, Digital & Technology Services

FinOps Weekly; New York, Northern (NY, KY); Hybrid; USD 135,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare plans

401(k) retirement plan

Paid time off & holidays

Discretionary bonus program

Job summary

Alvarez & Marsal is seeking a FinOps & Cloud Cost Optimization Lead in New York to drive cloud financial management, governance, and cost optimization across AI workloads and large enterprise environments. You will partner with finance, engineering, and operations to deliver measurable cloud cost savings and executive-ready business cases.

The role includes building roadmaps, cost reporting, and training, with travel up to 80%.

Qualifications

• :
• 8–12+ years of experience in cloud cost management and FinOps practice development.
• Proven delivery of 15–30% cloud cost savings on prior engagements.
• Large-enterprise cloud cost optimization experience at scale.
• Experience with cloud cost modeling, optimization, and benchmarking against government and/or commercial comparables, including AI workloads.
• Experience implementing FinOps frameworks, including governance, tagging taxonomies, chargeback/show-back models, and KPI frameworks.
• Experience with workload rightsizing, auto-scaling, and commitment-based discount strategies such as reserved instances, savings plans, and committed-use agreements.
• Experience identifying and remediating orphaned or unused resources, including VM rightsizing, guardrails, and tagging automation.
• Experience with native cloud cost tools and third-party FinOps platforms.
• Experience with enterprise software licensing consolidation and optimization.
• Strong data analytics and visualization skills, with SQL, PowerBI, or equivalent.
• AI fluency, with active use of AI tools in delivery.

Responsibilities

• Develop cloud financial management strategies, roadmaps, processes, and governance.
• Build tagging, budgeting, resource accountability, and chargeback/show-back frameworks.
• Drive cost visibility through automated reporting, anomaly detection, and forecasting.
• Execute rightsizing, auto-scaling, commitment-based discounts, and unused resource remediation.
• Create KPI frameworks and executive ROI / business case models.
• Support enterprise software licensing optimization.
• Apply FOCUS, native cloud tools, and third-party platforms to FinOps delivery.

Skills

FinOps leadership

Cloud cost management

Cost optimization

Governance

Tagging governance

Budgeting

KPI frameworks

SQL

PowerBI

AI fluency

Education

Bachelor's degree

Finance/CS/MIS

Tools

AWS

Azure

GCP

Apptio

Flexera

CloudHealth

FOCUS

PowerBI

Job description

# FinOps & Cloud Cost Optimization Lead, Digital & Technology ServicesNew YorkFinOps100k – 150k29/07/2026Full-timeOnsiteFavoriteAccess Job## Job Description## About the RoleAlvarez & Marsal’s Corporate Performance Improvement practice is seeking a FinOps leader to connect finance, engineering, and operations around cloud spending decisions. The role combines strategic ownership of cloud financial management roadmaps with hands-on delivery of cost avoidance and cost reduction initiatives.The focus is on improving cloud cost visibility, governance, and accountability while supporting optimization across AI workloads and other enterprise environments. The position also requires turning analysis into executive-ready business cases and broader client deliverables.In addition to client work, the role contributes to practice development through internal training, content creation, and people development. Engagements may be full-time, contract, or project-based, and travel may be required up to 80%.## Key Responsibilities– Develop and execute FinOps strategies, processes, and governance aligned with business and mission goals. – Build roadmaps that embed cost-aware practices into engineering and architecture lifecycles. – Create KPI frameworks with clear targets and accountability measures. – Establish governance for tagging, budgeting, resource accountability, and spend guardrails. – Improve cost reporting, anomaly detection, and forecasting through automation and transparency. – Build ROI models and cost reduction business cases for executive stakeholders. – Incorporate findings into broader A&M engagement deliverables. – Support internal training, content development, and people development.## Required Skills– 8–12+ years of experience in cloud cost management and FinOps practice development. – Proven delivery of 15–30% cloud cost savings on prior engagements. – Large-enterprise cloud cost optimization experience at scale. – Experience with cloud cost modeling, optimization, and benchmarking against government and/or commercial comparables, including AI workloads. – Experience implementing FinOps frameworks, including governance, tagging taxonomies, chargeback/show-back models, and KPI frameworks. – Experience with workload rightsizing, auto-scaling, and commitment-based discount strategies such as reserved instances, savings plans, and committed-use agreements. – Experience identifying and remediating orphaned or unused resources, including VM rightsizing, guardrails, and tagging automation. – Experience with native cloud cost tools and third-party FinOps platforms. – Experience with enterprise software licensing consolidation and optimization. – Strong data analytics and visualization skills, with SQL, PowerBI, or equivalent. – AI fluency, with active use of AI tools in delivery. – Bachelor’s degree required. – Willingness to travel up to 80%.## Preferred Skills– FinOps Practitioner or FinOps Engineer certification. – Federal FinOps experience. – Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Computer Science, or MIS. – Experience building FinOps practices from scratch in large enterprises. – Rate negotiation strategy experience. – Use of AI-powered cost analytics and forecasting as a standard part of delivery.Finance## Cloud Platforms & Technologies### Cloud Providers – AWS – Azure – GCP### FinOps Platforms & Standards – AWS Cost Explorer – Azure Cost Management – GCP Billing – Apptio – Flexera – Cloud Health – FinOps Open Cost and Usage Specification (FOCUS)### Data & Analytics – SQL### Reporting & BI – PowerBI### AI Tools – AI tools for cost anomaly detection, forecasting, and optimization recommendations## FinOps Responsibilities– Develop cloud financial management strategies, roadmaps, processes, and governance. – Build tagging, budgeting, resource accountability, and chargeback/show-back frameworks. – Drive cost visibility through automated reporting, anomaly detection, and forecasting. – Execute rightsizing, auto-scaling, commitment-based discounts, and unused resource remediation. – Create KPI frameworks and executive ROI / business case models. – Support enterprise software licensing optimization. – Apply FOCUS, native cloud tools, and third-party platforms to FinOps delivery.## Benefits– Healthcare plans, flexible spending accounts, and savings accounts for regular employees working 30+ hours per week. – Life, AD&D, and disability coverage. – 401(k) retirement savings plan. – Annual discretionary 401(k) contribution, subject to eligibility requirements. – Paid time off, including vacation, personal days, 72 hours of sick time for part-time employees, 10 federal holidays, one floating holiday, and parental leave. – Vacation and personal day allowances vary by tenure and role type. – Salary range: Manager, $135,000–$160,000 annually; Director, $150,000–$210,000 annually. – Discretionary bonus program based on individual and firm performance.Management## Why You Might Be InterestedThis role offers the chance to shape FinOps strategy and execution across cloud spend management. It combines roadmap ownership with hands-on work in cost modeling, reporting, forecasting, and remediation. The position also includes executive-facing business case development and practice-building responsibilities such as training and content creation. Clear salary bands and a discretionary bonus program add additional transparency.