FinOps Program Manager
Job description
About the role
Plaid is seeking a dedicated FinOps Program Manager to oversee financial accountability and optimization related to our engineering investments. This role will serve as a critical link between our finance, product, and engineering teams, ensuring that expenditures on cloud services, data management, and artificial intelligence align with our overall business objectives. The ideal candidate will possess a strong analytical mindset and a passion for driving financial efficiency within a fast-paced environment.
Key facts
What you'll do
- Monitor and evaluate engineering-related expenses across various platforms, including cloud infrastructure, AI/ML services, and SaaS applications, to uncover spending patterns and discrepancies.
- Collaborate with engineering and finance leaders to create and uphold spending forecasts, taking into account potential risks and budgetary assumptions.
- Incorporate cost considerations into architectural designs, project roadmaps, and execution strategies to ensure financial prudence.
- Implement cost-reduction strategies, focusing on enhancing workload efficiencies, commitment planning, and resource optimization.
- Develop and maintain reporting dashboards that deliver actionable insights tailored for both technical teams and executive management.
- Create frameworks for cost accountability, unit economics, and models for showback or chargeback to promote financial transparency.
- Partner with data and engineering teams to automate processes related to cost visibility and forecasting, enhancing operational efficiency.
- Advocate for changes in organizational behavior to achieve a balance between performance, reliability, and speed while maintaining financial efficiency.
Requirements
- A minimum of 6 to 10 years of experience in roles related to infrastructure, data management, finance, or engineering, particularly within a SaaS or cloud-native context.
- Proven ability to influence engineering decisions concerning expenditures on cloud services, data management, and AI/ML technologies.
- Experience in managing costs associated with AI and machine learning, including expenses related to model inference, computing resources, and API usage.
- Familiarity with the components of cloud-native architecture, such as networking, storage solutions, and managed services.
- Strong skills in financial analysis, budgeting, and variance management to ensure accurate financial oversight.
- Capability to write SQL queries or AI tools for data analysis and validation of financial assumptions.
- Experience in designing user-friendly business intelligence dashboards and reporting tools.
- A successful history of managing cross-functional projects without direct authority, demonstrating strong leadership and collaboration skills.
- Understanding of FinOps principles, including shared cost ownership and unit economics, to drive financial accountability.
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to convey complex technical concepts to a variety of audiences.
Nice to have
- Practical experience with cloud cost management tools such as AWS Cost Explorer, GCP Billing, Azure Cost Management, CloudHealth, or Cloudability.
- Background in supporting data platforms and AI/ML workloads, particularly in areas like batch processing and model training expenses.
- Familiarity with product-level unit economics or strategies for cost allocation to enhance financial reporting.
- Skills in refining data pipelines or financial reporting models to improve accuracy and efficiency.
- Knowledge of BI tools such as Looker, Tableau, or Mode for data visualization and reporting.
- Previous experience in a technical capacity, such as engineering, infrastructure, or data operations, to better understand the technical landscape.
- Experience in high-growth environments, demonstrating adaptability and the ability to thrive in rapidly changing situations.
Skills & tools
- Proficiency in cloud cost management platforms
- SQL for data querying and analysis
- Business intelligence tools (Looker, Tableau, Mode)
- Understanding of FinOps frameworks
- Tracking costs associated with AI/ML initiatives
- Financial forecasting and budgeting expertise
Practical notes
Plaid provides a benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision coverage, and a 401(k) plan. Compensation for this role is based on experience, skills, and the scope of responsibilities. We are committed to being an equal opportunity employer and offer reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities. If you need assistance during the application process, please contact accommodations@plaid.com for support.
About the company
Plaid is a financial technology company that builds a data transfer network that powers fintech and digital finance products. Founded in 2013, Plaid connects applications to users' bank accounts.