Principal, Financial Operations & Software Asset Management

Overview

This role is a principal-level individual contributor position focused on Financial Operations (FinOps) and Software Asset Management (SAM). The employer is seeking someone to help drive smarter, more informed technology investment decisions by owning governance and processes that improve transparency, accountability, and optimization across cloud services, software licensing, SaaS platforms, AI services, and other technology investments.

Location

US (Remote)

Interested applicants must reside in one of the following 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, including operating model, standards, controls, and decision rights; establish governance rhythms connecting 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 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 with reusable playbooks, standards, training, office hours, and self-service resources to improve understanding of cost drivers; continuously improve FinOps and SAM 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.
• Proficiency 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 data analysis and financial modeling skills, including dashboard design, KPI development, and executive reporting; proficiency with 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 partnering skills across Engineering, Product, Finance, Procurement, Architecture, Security, vendors, and technology leadership.
• Systems-thinking mindset focused on scalable processes, increased transparency, and enabling better decision-making.

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
• Individual pay will be determined by location and additional factors, including job related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

Benefits include:

• 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 employer is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants are welcomed 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 identity factors.