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 controls, tagging hygiene, and savings accountability.
Identify cost‑optimization opportunities such as reserved instances, rightsizing, storage optimization, and platform consolidation.
Work with FinOps, Cloud Engineering, and Infrastructure teams to operationalize optimization recommendations.
Ensure expense governance aligns with architectural policies and funding protocols.
Investment & Business Case Support
Evaluate cloud migration proposals and prepare financial business cases including: cost‑to‑migrate
run‑rate cloud expense versus on‑prem costs
TCO benefits
contract and licensing implications
Model sensitivities, risks, and capital/expense impacts associated with large‑scale cloud initiatives.
Partner with Procurement on cloud‑related vendor negotiations and renewals.
Financial Reporting & Insights
Create executive‑level reporting on cloud KPIs, consumption trends, efficiency metrics, and spend drivers.
Develop and maintain dashboards to support transparency across CIO organizations and Steering Committees.
Monitor and report progress relative to cloud productivity targets and demand reduction initiatives.
Cross‑Functional Leadership
Partner with Cloud Engineering, Architecture, Security, and Product teams to understand upcoming migrations, platform requirements, and financial implications.
Act as the finance representative in cross‑functional cloud governance forums.
Provide guidance to BU partners on cloud forecasting, cost drivers, and financial accountability.
Success Measures
Forecast accuracy across cloud consumption and productivity targets.
Improved financial transparency and cost discipline within cloud spending.
Prior work supporting cloud migrations, modernization initiatives, or technology portfolios.
Working Model: Hybrid (#LI-Hybrid)
We have a balanced hybrid working model to ensure you get the flexibility you need, and the successful candidate will spend their time between working in the office and working from home.
Salary Range:
$114,700 - 194,900 USD
Sala
Additional Information
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.
Ntrs · Chicago, IL