Lead Analyst Cloud Financial Operations

Empower • Overland Park, KS

7d • $114,000 - $165,300 • Onsite

About The Position

The Lead Analyst, Cloud Financial Operations will support the financial management of Empower's enterprise data platforms by providing visibility into cloud and technology spending, managing budgets and forecasts, tracking expenses and contracts, and identifying opportunities for cost savings and operational improvement. This role is well suited for someone who enjoys working with numbers, financial data, and cloud technology and who can bring information together from multiple sources to help business and technology leaders make informed decisions. The analyst will work closely with platform leaders, application managers, procurement, vendor management, finance, and other stakeholders across the organization.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, Information Systems, Analytics, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• 5 + years Cloud FinOps experience or experience supporting the financial management of cloud infrastructure, data platforms, or technology environments.
• Strong proficiency with Excel or similar spreadsheet tools, including the ability to organize, analyze, reconcile, and model financial information.
• Experience managing budgets, expenses, forecasts, run rates, contracts, or other financial and operational metrics.
• Familiarity with AWS or another major cloud platform such as Azure or Google Cloud, particularly cloud cost management, billing, or usage reporting.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to combine information from multiple sources and identify trends, gaps, and opportunities.
• Ability to work collaboratively across technology, finance, procurement, vendor management, and leadership teams to collect information and support decisions.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to explain financial information, cost trends, and recommendations clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently, organize complex financial information, and establish repeatable processes in an evolving environment.
• Curiosity, attention to detail, and an interest in understanding the relationship between technology usage, business needs, and financial outcomes.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with AWS cost management, billing, Cost Explorer, or related cloud financial management capabilities.
• Financial analysis experience involving budgets, forecasting, variance analysis, scenario modeling, or technology spend.
• Experience with Snowflake costs, usage, or financial reporting.
• Experience with Azure or Google Cloud cost management in addition to AWS.
• Experience managing or analyzing technology contracts, software licensing, vendor agreements, and renewal planning.
• Experience building financial dashboards, cost reporting, or executive-level reporting for technology organizations.
• Experience working in a large enterprise environment with multiple technology platforms, vendors, and stakeholder groups.
• FinOps, AWS, cloud cost management, or other relevant professional certification.

Responsibilities

• Manage and maintain financial reporting for enterprise data platforms, including budgets, expenses, forecasts, run rates, and other key cost metrics.
• Build and maintain a comprehensive inventory of platform expenses, cloud consumption, contracts, licenses, and upcoming vendor renewals to improve financial visibility and planning.
• Analyze actual spending against budget, identify variances and trends, and provide insights into the factors driving changes in platform costs.
• Monitor cloud and technology costs, with an initial focus on AWS, and identify opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce unnecessary spending, and better manage consumption.
• Gather and consolidate financial and usage information from multiple teams, systems, vendors, and stakeholders to develop a complete view of platform costs.
• Partner with technology leaders, application managers, procurement, vendor management, finance, and other stakeholders to validate assumptions, resolve data gaps, and support financial decisions.
• Develop spreadsheets, reports, dashboards, and financial models that make cloud and technology spending understandable and actionable for business and technology leaders.
• Support contract and license planning by monitoring renewal dates, current utilization, financial commitments, and anticipated future needs.
• Provide recommendations on opportunities to improve financial management, cost controls, budgeting processes, and overall platform economics.
• Expand financial reporting and analysis across additional data platform environments as the capability matures and broader organizational needs are incorporated.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision and life insurance
• Retirement savings – 401(k) plan with generous company matching contributions (up to 6%), financial advisory services, potential company discretionary contribution, and a broad investment lineup
• Tuition reimbursement up to $5,250/year
• Business-casual environment that includes the option to wear jeans
• Generous paid time off upon hire – including a paid time off program plus ten paid company holidays and three floating holidays each calendar year
• Paid volunteer time — 16 hours per calendar year
• Leave of absence programs – including paid parental leave, paid short- and long-term disability, and Family and Medical Leave (FMLA)
• Business Resource Groups (BRGs) – BRGs facilitate inclusion and collaboration across our business internally and throughout the communities where we live, work and play. BRGs are open to all.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior