Principal, Financial Operations & Software Asset Management

Overview

This role supports smarter, more informed technology investment decisions through enterprise Financial Operations (FinOps) and Software Asset Management (SAM). As a principal-level individual contributor, you will own processes and governance that create transparency, accountability, and optimization for cloud services, software licensing, SaaS platforms, AI services, and other technology investments.

You will partner across Engineering, Product, Architecture, Finance, Procurement, Security, and technology teams to transform complex financial and utilization data into actionable insights and recommendations. Your work will mature FinOps and SAM capabilities, while supporting performance, resilience, security, and business outcomes.

Location

• US (Remote)
• Approved states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Indiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Washington
• Goleta, California (Remote)

Responsibilities

• Own and continuously improve enterprise FinOps processes, operating model, standards, controls, and decision rights, establishing governance rhythms that connect technology consumption with forecasts, budgets, and accountability.
• Partner across Finance, Procurement, Engineering, Product, Architecture, Security, and platform teams to embed FinOps practices into technology planning and delivery.
• Design and maintain reusable dashboards, scorecards, allocation views, and reporting assets to increase visibility into technology cost and consumption.
• Establish common metrics, data definitions, tagging and allocation expectations, and reporting standards to improve consistency and trust; translate complex cost, utilization, forecast, and trend data into actionable insights.
• Own and mature SAM processes across licensed software, SaaS subscriptions, renewals, entitlements, and utilization to improve inventory visibility, license compliance, and renewal readiness.
• Identify opportunities to reclaim unused licenses, right-size subscriptions, consolidate overlapping solutions, and reduce unnecessary spend while supporting business needs.
• Analyze cloud, software, platform, data, and AI consumption to surface emerging cost drivers, anomalies, risks, and optimization opportunities.
• Develop recommendations that balance cost, performance, resilience, security, and business value; partner with accountable teams on informed decision-making.
• Maintain an optimization opportunity pipeline and track recommendations, decisions, cost avoidance, realized savings, and other measures of value.
• Enable teams to better understand their cost drivers through reusable playbooks, standards, training, office hours, and self-service resources; continuously improve FinOps and SAM practices based on stakeholder feedback and operational results.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Engineering, Finance, Business Administration, Accounting, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in FinOps, cloud financial management, Software Asset Management, technology operations, technology finance, procurement, or related disciplines.
• Experience establishing governance and reporting capabilities within complex, matrixed organizations; ability to influence meaningful outcomes without direct authority.
• Skills in FinOps and cloud financial management, SAM and SaaS governance, and technology budgeting, forecasting, allocation, showback, and chargeback concepts.
• Experience working with cloud services, SaaS platforms, software licensing, and AI consumption, or willingness to apply financial operations expertise across these areas.
• Strong data analysis and financial modeling skills, with experience in dashboard design, KPI development, and executive reporting; proficiency in tools such as Power BI and Excel.
• Understanding of software licensing, vendor and contract analysis, renewal planning, cost optimization, benefits tracking, process design, and continuous improvement.
• Ability to translate complex financial and operational data into clear, practical recommendations for both technical and business stakeholders.
• Effective communication, facilitation, and coaching; strong cross-functional partnership skills with the ability to build alignment among Engineering, Product, Finance, Procurement, Architecture, Security, vendors, and technology leaders.
• Systems-thinking mindset; motivated by creating scalable processes, increasing transparency, and enabling others to make better decisions.

Preferred Qualifications

• FinOps Certified Practitioner, Certified Software Asset Manager, IT Asset Management, cloud platform, or a related certification.

Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range

• $137,500.00 - $185,600.00

The salary range posted reflects the estimated minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for this role in Goleta, California (Remote). Individual pay will be determined by location and additional factors, including job related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. During the hiring process, a recruiter can share more about the specific salary for a preferred location.

Benefits

• Competitive pay and bonuses
• Financial planning and wellbeing
• Time away from work
• Extras, discounts, and perks
• Growth and development
• Health and wellness programs

Equal Employment Opportunity

The organization is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, military or veteran status, mental or physical disability, medical condition, and other identities.