Northern Trust

Financial Services

CloudFinanceLead

$115–195k Chicago, Illinois, United States FULL TIME Remote Friendly
Market Sentiment
HIGH DEMAND

Neural analysis suggests this role is
optimal for Lead candidates.

The Brief

“Cloud Finance Lead at Northern Trust. Skills: Cloud Finance, FP&A, Cost Optimization. Lead monthly/quarterly cloud forecasting. Lead variance analysis”

What You'll Achieve.

Forecast accuracy across cloud consumption; Forecast accuracy across productivity targets; Improved financial transparency; Improved cost discipline; Timely, high-quality insights; Effectiveness of cloud cost optimization; Effectiveness of governance processes; Strength of cross-functional relationships

Industry & Context.

Financial Services
Problems you'll solve

Analytical skills

What They're Looking For.

Must Have

Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Engineering, or related field, 10-15+ years of experience in FP&A, Technology Finance, or related financial leadership roles, CPA, CFA, MBA, or FinOps Certification, Demonstrated ability to interpret complex technical concepts into financial outcomes, Advanced financial modeling, forecasting, and analytical skills, Experience interacting with senior leaders and influencing cross-functional decision-making

Nice to Have

Knowledge of FinOps principles, Experience with cloud reporting tools, Prior work supporting cloud migrations, Prior work supporting modernization initiatives, Prior work supporting technology portfolios

What You'll Do.

Lead monthly/quarterly cloud forecasting

Lead variance analysis

Lead long-range planning across multiple cloud providers

Maintain cloud cost models

Enhance cloud cost models

Maintain demand forecasting methodologies

Enhance demand forecasting methodologies

Maintain productivity assumptions

Enhance productivity assumptions

Align cloud demand with enterprise budget constraints

Align cloud demand with strategic priorities

Translate complex cloud usage patterns into clear financial

Build frameworks for cloud cost governance

Maintain frameworks for cloud cost governance

Implement spend controls

Implement tagging hygiene

Implement savings accountability

Identify cost-optimization opportunities

Work with FinOps to operationalize optimization recommendations

Work with Cloud Engineering to operationalize optimization recommendations

Work with Infrastructure to operationalize optimization recommendations

Ensure expense governance aligns with architectural policies

Ensure expense governance aligns with funding protocols

Evaluate cloud migration proposals

Prepare financial business cases

Model sensitivities for cloud initiatives

Model risks for cloud initiatives

Model capital impacts for cloud initiatives

Model expense impacts for cloud initiatives

Partner with Procurement on vendor negotiations

Partner with Procurement on vendor renewals

Create executive-level reporting on cloud KPIs

Create executive-level reporting on consumption trends

Create executive-level reporting on efficiency metrics

Create executive-level reporting on spend drivers

Develop dashboards to support transparency

Maintain dashboards to support transparency

Monitor progress relative to cloud productivity targets

Report progress relative to cloud productivity targets

Monitor progress relative to demand reduction initiatives

Report progress relative to demand reduction initiatives

Partner with Cloud Engineering to understand migrations

Partner with Architecture to understand migrations

Partner with Security to understand migrations

Partner with Product teams to understand migrations

Partner with Cloud Engineering to understand platform requirements

Partner with Architecture to understand platform requirements

Partner with Security to understand platform requirements

Partner with Product teams to understand platform requirements

Partner with Cloud Engineering to understand financial implications

Partner with Architecture to understand financial implications

Partner with Security to understand financial implications

Partner with Product teams to understand financial implications

Act as finance representative in cloud governance forums

Provide guidance to BU partners on cloud forecasting

Provide guidance to BU partners on cost drivers

Provide guidance to BU partners on financial accountability

How You'll Work.

Team & Collaboration

Partner with Technology Finance; Partner with CIO organizations; Work with FinOps; Work with Cloud Engineering; Work with Infrastructure teams; Partner with Procurement; Partner with Cloud Engineering; Partner with Architecture; Partner with Security; Partner with Product teams; Cross-functional cloud governance forums; Provide guidance to BU partners

Communication Scope

Executive reporting; Financial insights

Full Job Description

**_About Northern Trust:_** Northern Trust, a Fortune 500 company, is a globally recognized, award-winning financial institution that has been in continuous operation since 1889. Northern Trust is proud to provide innovative financial services and guidance to the world’s most successful individuals, families, and institutions by remaining true to our enduring principles of service, expertise, and integrity. With more than 130 years of financial experience and over 22,000 partners, we serve the world’s most sophisticated clients using leading technology and exceptional service. The **Cloud Finance Lead** is a strategic finance leader responsible for driving financial planning, cost governance, forecasting accuracy, and analytical insight across the organization’s cloud portfolio (Azure, AWS, Snowflake, and related platforms). This role partners closely with Technology, Cloud Engineering, Procurement, and Business Unit CFO teams to ensure financial discipline, improve cost transparency, and support investment decisions across cloud consumption, migrations, and modernization initiatives. The Cloud Finance Lead will oversee cloud financial frameworks, enable cloud‑cost optimization, guide budgeting processes, and provide timely insights to senior leadership to support decision‑making in a rapidly expanding and evolving cloud environment. **_Key Responsibilities:_** **Cloud Financial Planning & Analysis** * Lead monthly/quarterly cloud forecasting, variance analysis, and long‑range planning across multiple cloud providers. * Maintain and enhance cloud cost models, demand forecasting methodologies, and productivity assumptions. * Partner with Technology Finance and CIO organizations to align cloud demand with enterprise budget constraints and strategic priorities. * Translate complex cloud usage patterns into clear financial impacts for non‑technical stakeholders. **Cost Governance & Optimization** * Build and maintain frameworks for cloud cost governance, including spend

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