Google Cloud FinOps Specialist (m/f/d)

The Senior FinOps Specialist will be a critical member of our FinOps team, responsible for driving financial accountability, visibility, and optimization across our Google Cloud Platform environment. This role requires a deep understanding of GCP services, pricing models, and cost management tools, combined with strong analytical skills and the ability to collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders, including engineering, finance, and product teams. The ideal candidate will be a proactive problem-solver with a proven track record of implementing successful cloud cost optimization strategies.

Key Responsibilities:

• GCP Cost Optimization Strategy & Execution:

• Develop, implement, and continuously refine FinOps strategies specifically tailored for Google Cloud Platform.
• Identify, analyze, and prioritize cloud cost optimization opportunities across all GCP services (Compute Engine, GKE, Cloud SQL, BigQuery, Cloud Storage, Networking, etc.).
• Lead the implementation of cost-saving initiatives, including right-sizing resources, leveraging Committed Use Discounts (CUDs) and Sustained Use Discounts (SUDs), utilizing Spot Instances/Preemptible VMs, and optimizing storage tiers.
• Collaborate with engineering teams to ensure new and existing architectures are designed with cost efficiency in mind, promoting FinOps best practices from the outset.
• Research and evaluate new GCP services and features for potential cost benefits and operational efficiencies.
• Cost Visibility & Reporting:

• Establish and maintain robust cost visibility frameworks and reporting dashboards using Google Cloud Billing, FinOps Hub, BigQuery exports, and other relevant tools.
• Implement and enforce effective tagging and labeling strategies for accurate cost allocation and chargeback/showback mechanisms to individual projects, teams, and departments.
• Provide regular, insightful reports and presentations on cloud spending, trends, anomalies, and optimization progress to executive leadership, finance, and technical teams.
• Develop and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) related to cloud financial management.
• Budgeting & Forecasting:

• Work closely with finance and project teams to develop accurate cloud budgets and forecasts for GCP spend.
• Monitor actual spend against budgets, identify variances, and perform root cause analysis for discrepancies.
• Proactively identify potential cost overruns and recommend corrective actions.
• Governance & Automation:

• Define and implement cloud cost governance policies and guardrails to ensure compliance with financial objectives.
• Automate cost management processes where possible, including resource shutdown, scaling, and alert configurations.
• Implement and manage budget alerts and anomaly detection mechanisms within GCP.
• Collaboration & Culture:
  
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Act as a FinOps ambassador, promoting a cost-conscious culture and mindset across the organization.
• Facilitate workshops and training sessions for engineering, product, and finance teams on FinOps principles, GCP cost models, and optimization techniques.
• Foster strong relationships with cross-functional teams to drive collective ownership and accountability for cloud spend. Required Skills & Qualifications:
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Finance, Business, Information Technology, or a related quantitative field.
• 5+ years of experience in cloud financial management, FinOps, or a similar role, with a strong emphasis on cloud cost optimization.
• In-depth expertise with Google Cloud Platform (GCP) services, pricing models, and native cost management tools (Cloud Billing, FinOps Hub, Recommender, BigQuery exports for billing data).
• Proven experience in implementing and realizing significant cost savings on GCP.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex financial and technical data and translate it into actionable insights.
• Proficiency in data analysis and visualization tools (e.g., Google Sheets, Power BI, Tableau, Looker).
• Experience with scripting languages (e.g., Python) for automation and data manipulation.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively engage and influence technical and non-technical stakeholders at all levels.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• FinOps Certified Practitioner (FOCP) or other relevant FinOps certifications.
• GCP Cloud Digital Leader, Cloud Engineer, or Architect certifications.
• Experience with Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools (e.g., Terraform) and their cost implications.
• Familiarity with financial accounting principles, budgeting, and forecasting processes.
• Experience in a multi-cloud environment (GCP, AWS, Azure).
• Knowledge of unit economics and its application to cloud services
  
  

Google Cloud FinOps Specialist in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia