Cloud FinOps Specialist

Steampunk•McLean, VA

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

We are seeking a Financial Specialist who will provide financial management, billing, reconciliation, and cloud cost reporting support for cloud-related accounts and services. This role ensures the accurate setup, allocation, tracking, optimization, and reporting of expenditures and credits, while maintaining compliance with federal and organizational policies. In addition to core financial responsibilities, this role will support financial analytics and reporting, leveraging data visualization and dashboards to provide visibility into cloud spending, cost drivers, and optimization opportunities. The specialist will collaborate with project teams, principal investigators, researchers, and administrators to manage billing, cost allocations, funding documentation, and financial insights that support informed decision-making.The ideal candidate is a collaborative team player with strong problem-solving skills, able to work effectively under pressure, and can adapt quickly to changing priorities. They are customer service oriented, responsive, and capable of translating complex financial and cloud cost data into clear, actionable guidance. A quick learner with strong troubleshooting abilities and a proactive mindset will thrive in this fast-paced environment.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree.
3+ years of experience in financial analysis, billing, cost accounting, or grants management.
Understanding of federal grant funding mechanisms and internal funding processes.
Experience supporting federal internal funding mechanisms, including preparation or execution of MOUs, IAAs, DCCs, or related funding documentation to establish billing and cost recovery processes.
Experience with financial systems such as Costpoint, Oracle, or similar ERP platforms.
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and financial reporting tools.
Hands-on experience with Microsoft business analytics tools, such as Power BI, for financial reporting and analysis.
Strong attention to detail, analytical, and organizational skills.
Excellent written and verbal communication abilities.
Ability to obtain and maintain a Public Trust clearance.
This position requires onsite three (3) days per week in Bethesda, MD.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with federal research administration or academic research environments.
Knowledge of cloud billing systems (AWS, Google Cloud, Azure) and federal research cloud programs.
Experience with grants management systems (e.g., eRA Commons).
Experience with acquisitions and contracts management.
Experience with NIH or federal agencies preferred.

Responsibilities

Coordinate account setup, billing structures, and cost allocations with agency stakeholders, Cloud Service Provider (CSP) resellers, and internal departments.
Maintain accurate financial records and tracking of cloud expenditures, credits, and funding sources.
Reconcile monthly invoices, ensuring costs are properly allocated to grants, cost centers, or internal accounts.
Assist in developing and maintaining standard operating procedures (SOPs) for financial and billing processes.
Monitor cloud spending and usage and provide regular financial reporting and analysis.
Develop and maintain financial and cloud cost dashboards and reports that provide visibility into spending trends, credits, and allocation outcomes.
Apply data visualization best practices to translate cloud billing and financial data into actionable insights that enable stakeholders to understand cost drivers and make informed decisions.
Identify cloud cost anomalies, investigate root causes, and coordinate with stakeholders to develop mitigation actions to reduce unexpected or unplanned costs.
Proactively identify right-sizing, automation, and cost efficiency opportunities to support effective cloud financial governance.
Identify and resolve billing discrepancies or funding allocation issues in coordination with stakeholders.
Stay current on policy updates, cost allocation rules, and credit usage guidelines.
Support audit requests, internal reviews, and data calls related to cloud financial management.
Contribute to continuous process improvement and financial compliance efforts.