Cloud FinOps Lead

AXA XL Global Technology (GT) division is undergoing significant transformation, simplifying the application landscape across geographies and business units, migrating to strategic cloud platforms, and redefining operating models to support emerging technologies and process changes. The Cloud FinOps function focuses on ensuring that AXA XL’s cloud spend is well understood, governed, and managed.

As Cloud FinOps Lead, you will be responsible for managing cloud cost optimisation strategies and resource allocation, driving financial planning and analysis, monitoring key performance indicators, and guiding the FinOps team across multiple stakeholders, including application development, architecture, financial accounting, and management.

Location: London, UK

What You’ll Be Doing:

• Develop and implement FinOps frameworks, including policies, processes, and best practices, aligning with organisational goals.
• Collaborate with cloud engineers, DevOps, finance, and procurement teams to integrate FinOps principles and promote responsible cloud usage.
• Create financial dashboards, provide insights and forecasts to senior stakeholders, and foster a culture of cloud financial responsibility through training.
• Manage Azure cloud service budgets, participate in CSP negotiations via Procurement, and conduct regular FinOps maturity assessments for continuous improvement.
• Report on accuracy, policy compliance, and lead initiatives to enhance cloud financial management in line with industry best practices and the assigned budget.
• Build and implement data-driven reporting to identify cost-saving opportunities, optimise resources, and track utilisation for efficiency.
• Provide timely, transparent, and accurate cloud consumption costing information and optimisation recommendations.
• Outline, communicate, and foster R&R ownership and governance across teams (application development, architecture, finance, management, business) to optimise synergies and encourage joint goals.
• Assist in building a FinOps community within application teams to increase maturity and equip them with the knowledge to manage their own costs.
• Maintain AXA XL Cloud business case to ensure cost forecasts are updated during the 2023-2026 migration period and achieve run-rate savings.
• Assist with the yearly budget process to ensure budget requests align with business-case forecasts.
• Participate as an active member of AXA Group’s FinOps community, sharing learnings and producing quarterly reporting required by the Group.
• Maintain a deep understanding of cloud provider pricing models to collaborate with application teams on potential cost savings.
• Work with technical teams to drive technical optimisations such as right-sizing.
• Calculate cloud costs and set budgets for applications within project processes, monitoring actual spend against the budget once live.
• Manage the project recharge process where applicable, or raise alerts if applications exceed agreed budgets.
• Reconcile monthly invoicing with CSP usage, ensuring service credits are applied and spend is tracked against committed spend.
• Implement a budget and alert framework for threshold spikes or anomalies to enable preventative action.

What You’ll Bring:

• Certified FinOps professional, preferably with a finance background and experience (e.g., FinOps Certified Practitioner, Cost Management & Finance Qualifications).
• Proven ability to conduct sophisticated analysis of complex data and translate results into actionable deliverables, tailored messages, and presentations for technical teams, finance teams, and senior management.
• Strong financial and analytical skills with experience in cloud consumption modelling tools at a large-scale IT infrastructure and application environment.
• Excellent communication (verbal and written) and leadership skills, with a record of presenting to senior management.
• Excellent cross-department and cross-group collaboration skills.
• Good understanding of cloud computing technologies; knowledge of AZ900 Azure Fundamentals is beneficial.
• Deep experience with Microsoft Office Suite, especially Power BI and Excel.

What We Offer:

• Inclusion: Five Business Resource Groups focused on gender, LGBTQ+, ethnicity and origins, disability and inclusion, with 20 Chapters globally.
• Robust support for flexible working arrangements.
• Enhanced family-friendly leave benefits.
• Named to the Diversity Best Practices Index.
• Signatory to the UK Women in Finance Charter.

Total Rewards: AXA XL’s reward program supports health, wellbeing, lifestyle and financial security, delivering competitive compensation and personalised, inclusive benefits that evolve as you grow. Our long-term reward philosophy encourages you to thrive today and confidently look forward to the future.

Sustainability: At AXA XL sustainability is integral to our strategy. Our 2023-26 “Roots of Resilience” plan focuses on protecting natural ecosystems, addressing climate change, and embedding sustainable practices.

• Valuing nature – protect and restore nature, from mangrove forests to local biodiversity.
• Addressing climate change – building a net-zero strategy and advancing societal-led solutions.
• Integrating ESG – incorporating ESG considerations into internal processes and governing reporting.

AXA XL is an Equal Opportunity Employer.