Principal, Financial Operations & Software Asset Management

Overview

This role is a principal-level individual contributor focused on Financial Operations (FinOps) and Software Asset Management (SAM). You will own processes and governance that bring transparency, accountability, and optimization to cloud services, software licensing, SaaS platforms, AI services, and other technology investments.

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 technology/platform teams to embed effective 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, translating 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, partnering with accountable teams to support informed decision-making.
• Maintain an optimization opportunity pipeline and track recommendations, decisions, cost avoidance, realized savings, and other measures of value.
• Empower teams through reusable playbooks, standards, training, office hours, and self-service resources, continuously improving 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, with the 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 readiness to apply financial operations expertise across these areas.
• Strong capabilities in data analysis, financial modeling, dashboard design, KPI development, and executive reporting, with proficiency in 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 technical and business stakeholders.
• Effective communication, facilitation, coaching, and cross-functional partnership to build alignment among Engineering, Product, Finance, Procurement, Architecture, Security, vendors, and technology leaders.
• Systems-thinking mindset with motivation to create scalable processes, increase transparency, and enable 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
• Benefits include:
  • Competitive pay and bonuses
  • Financial planning and wellbeing
  • Time away from work
  • Extras, discounts, and perks
  • Growth and development opportunities
  • Health and wellness programs

Location

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