Cloud Finops Lead

Cloud Finops Lead

London, UK AXA XL is an Equal Opportunity Employer. AXA XL Global Technology (GT) division is going through significant transformation including simplification of applications landscape across geographies and business units, Cloud transformation and migration to strategic platforms, as well as operating model transformation to support upcoming technological and business process changes. These include setting modernised standards, new technologies, increased level of automation and new ways of working. As part of Cloud Transformation, Cloud FinOps main goal is to ensure that AXA XL's Cloud spend is well understood, governed and managed. Cloud FinOps Lead is a crucial role in the organisation, with primary responsibility to manage Cloud cost optimisation strategies and resource allocation, aiming for efficient and cost-effective business processes. They play a vital role in financial planning and analysis, monitoring and communicating key performance indicators for management to make data-driven decisions, oversee and guide the FinOps team, ensuring seamless collaboration with other teams such as application development, architecture, financial accounting, and management.

Key responsibilities of this role are to lead a team to enhance FinOps practices in AXA XL:

• Develop and implement FinOps frameworks, including policies, processes, and best practices, to ensure effective cloud financial management aligned with organisational goals.
• Collaborate with cloud engineers, DevOps, finance, and procurement teams to integrate FinOps principles and promote responsible cloud usage.
• Create financial dashboards, provide insights and forecasts to senior stakeholders, and foster a culture of cloud financial responsibility through training.
• Manage Azure cloud service budgets, participate in CSP negotiations via Procurement, and conduct regular FinOps maturity assessments to drive continuous improvement.
• Report on accuracy, policy compliance and leading initiatives to enhance cloud financial management in line with industry best practices and assigned budget.
• Build and implement data-driven reporting allowing to identify cost-saving opportunities, optimising resources, and tracking utilisation for efficiency.
• Provide timely, transparent and accurate cloud consumption costing information and recommendations for optimisation.
• Outline, communicate and foster R&R ownership and governance across teams (application development, architecture, finance, management, business) in order to optimize synergies and encourage joint goals.
• Assist building of the FinOps community within application teams to increase maturity and ensure they have the Fin/Ops knowledge they need to be responsible for their own costs.
• Maintain AXA XL Cloud business case to ensure that cost forecasts are maintained for the IT estate over the migration period (2023-2026) and that we can achieve run rate savings, this includes:
• Periodic refresh of business case as we learn more and to keep it updated with actuals
• Maintaining average cost profiles of applications migrating to cloud and then updating cloud cost forecasts in line with migrations
• Assist with yearly budget process to ensure budget requests are in line with the business case forecasts
• Active membership of AXA Group's FinOps community to gain from and share learnings with the community. Also produce quarterly reporting required by Group.
• Maintain a good understanding of the cloud provider pricing models so that can work with Application Teams to give recommendations on potential cost savings.
• Work with technical teams to drive technical optimisations such as right sizing.
• Calculate cloud costs and set budgets for applications as part of the project processes, once live then monitor actual spend against the budget.
• Manage project recharge process where applicable, or raise alerts if applications spend higher than agreed budget
• Reconciliation of monthly invoicing to our CSP usage and ensure that service credits are given where applicable and that we are tracking against committed spend
• Implement the budget and alert framework for any threshold spikes or anomalies to take preventative action if necessary

You will report to AXA XL's Global Head of GT Transformation.

What you'll bring We're looking for someone who has these abilities and skills:

• Certified FinOps professional with preferably finance background and experience. E.g FinOps Certified Practitioner, Cost Management & Finance Qualifications
• Proven ability in conducting and presenting sophisticated and creative analysis of complex data and translating the results into actionable deliverables, messages, and presentations to various audiences (technical teams, finance teams, senior management)
• Effective financial and analytical skills with ideally good experience in Cloud Service Consumption Modelling tools in a large-scale IT infrastructure and application environment
• Excellent communication (verbal and written) and leadership skills, with a track record of presenting to senior management.
• Excellent cross department and cross Group collaboration skills.
• Good understanding of Cloud computing technologies, AZ900 Azure Fundamentals would be beneficial.
• Deep experience of Microsoft Office Suite required (extensive knowledge of Power BI and Excel required)

What we offer:

Inclusion

AXA XL is committed to equal employment opportunity and will consider applicants regardless of gender, sexual orientation, age, ethnicity and origins, marital status, religion, disability, or any other protected characteristic. At AXA XL, we know that an inclusive culture and enables business growth and is critical to our success. That's why we have made a strategic commitment to attract, develop, advance and retain the most inclusive workforce possible, and create a culture where everyone can bring their full selves to work and reach their highest potential. It's about helping one another — and our business — to move forward and succeed. Five Business Resource Groups focused on gender, LGBTQ+, ethnicity and origins, disability and inclusion with 20 Chapters around the globe. Robust support for Flexible Working Arrangements Enhanced family-friendly leave benefits Named to the Diversity Best Practices Index Signatory to the UK Women in Finance Charter Learn more at axaxl.com/about-us/inclusion-and-diversity.

Total Rewards

AXA XL's Reward program is designed to take care of what matters most to you, covering the full picture of your health, wellbeing, lifestyle and financial security. It provides competitive compensation and personalized, inclusive benefits that evolve as you do. We're committed to rewarding your contribution for the long term, so you can be your best self today and look forward to the future with confidence.

Sustainability

At AXA XL, Sustainability is integral to our business strategy. In an ever-changing world, AXA XL protects what matters most for our clients and communities. We know that sustainability is at the root of a more resilient future. Our 2023-26 Sustainability strategy, called "Roots of resilience", focuses on protecting natural ecosystems, addressing climate change, and embedding sustainable practices across our operations. Our Pillars: Valuing nature: How we impact nature affects how nature impacts us. Resilient ecosystems - the foundation of a sustainable planet and society – are essential to our future. We're committed to protecting and restoring nature – from mangrove forests to the bees in our backyard – by increasing biodiversity awareness and inspiring clients and colleagues to put nature at the heart of their plans. Addressing climate change: The effects of a changing climate are far-reaching and significant. Unpredictable weather, increasing temperatures, and rising sea levels cause both social inequalities and environmental disruption. We're building a net zero strategy, developing insurance products and services, and mobilizing to advance thought leadership and investment in societal-led solutions. Integrating ESG: All companies have a role to play in building a more resilient future. Incorporating ESG considerations into our internal processes and practices builds resilience from the roots of our business. We're training our colleagues, engaging our external partners, and evolving our sustainability governance and reporting. AXA Hearts in Action: We have established volunteering and charitable giving programs to help colleagues support causes that matter most to them, known as AXA XL's "Hearts in Action" programs. These include our Matching Gifts program, Volunteering Leave, and our annual volunteering day – the Global Day of Giving. For more information, please see axaxl.com/sustainability.

Who we are AXA XL, the P&C and specialty risk division of AXA, is known for solving complex risks. For mid-sized companies, multinationals and even some inspirational individuals we don't just provide re/insurance, we reinvent it. How? By combining a comprehensive and efficient capital platform, data-driven insights, leading technology, and the best talent in an agile and inclusive workspace, empowered to deliver top client service across all our lines of business − property, casualty, professional, financial lines and specialty. With an innovative and flexible approach to risk solutions, we partner with those who move the world forward. Learn more at axaxl.com