Finops Lead

Job Reference: 1608782

About the Role

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced and commercially minded FinOps leader to help shape Curtin University’s cloud financial management capability. This role will suit someone with a strong technical mindset, the confidence to make changes on the fly, the ability to help drive change, and the emotional intelligence to read the room, support others and work effectively in a collaborative team environment.

Working within our Digital Platforms Team, you will provide leadership across cloud financial operations, ensuring Curtin maximises value from its cloud investments while maintaining strong financial governance, transparency and accountability.

As a key leader in Curtin’s cloud journey, you will drive a cost-conscious culture across the university and help embed value, efficiency and financial accountability into the way we design, build and operate digital platforms and services.

This role offers a unique opportunity to combine financial acumen, cloud expertise, stakeholder engagement and leadership to support Curtin’s evolving digital strategy and cloud maturity journey.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and mentor a FinOps team to deliver strategic cloud financial management outcomes and uplift FinOps capability across the university.
• Develop and implement strategies to optimise cloud costs, improve value from cloud investments and support financially sustainable cloud consumption.
• Provide clear visibility and insight into cloud spend across compute, storage, applications and broader cloud services.
• Develop and enforce cost allocation models, tagging standards, and chargeback/showback frameworks to improve financial transparency, governance and accountability.
• Leverage data insights to analyse spend trends, identify optimisation opportunities and provide informed recommendations to executive stakeholders.
• Collaborate with technology leaders and business stakeholders to promote efficient cloud utilisation, support practical change and strengthen financially responsible practices.
• Lead education, engagement and continuous improvement initiatives to champion FinOps principles, build cloud financial literacy and mature cloud financial management tools, reporting platforms and cost monitoring capabilities.

Selection Criteria:

We are seeking an experienced leader with strong financial operations expertise, the ability to influence at a strategic level, and a solid understanding of enterprise cloud environments.

You will bring:

• Demonstrated experience in FinOps, cloud financial management, technology finance, or cloud cost optimisation within a complex enterprise environment.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, and cost optimisation practices.
• Working knowledge of cloud platforms such as AWS and/or Microsoft Azure, including cloud billing, consumption, and optimisation principles.
• Experience implementing or managing FinOps practices such as chargeback/showback models, cloud spend reporting, and cost governance frameworks.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills, with the ability to influence and educate both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Proven leadership capability, with experience driving strategic initiatives, leading teams, and building collaborative relationships across an organisation.
• A proactive and strategic mindset, with the ability to identify opportunities, drive continuous improvement, and shape organisational direction.

Role Requirements:

• As this is a continuing (permanent) role, you will require permanent work rights in Australia to be considered
• Successful applicants will be subject to a National Police Clearance, and background, integrity, and reference checks to Curtin’s satisfaction

Your new Team: Digital, Technology & Solutions, Platforms

The Platforms Team is the engine room of Curtin University’s digital ecosystem. We design, build and operate the core technology platforms that underpin the entire university - from cloud infrastructure and automation to data, integration, and foundational digital services. Our work enables every faculty, researcher, student and staff member to innovate, connect and succeed.

This is a unique opportunity to shape and mature FinOps capability within one of Australia’s leading universities. You will have the opportunity to influence enterprise-wide cloud financial strategy, drive meaningful operational efficiencies, build a community of practice, and help embed a culture of financial accountability and cloud optimisation across the university.

The role offers a rare combination of strategic influence, leadership responsibility, and the opportunity to make a visible impact within a large and evolving digital environment.

About Curtin University

Curtin University proudly stands among the top one percent of global universities according to the ARWU 2025 rankings. We are an energetic, dedicated team of academics and professionals working together to provide global solutions through quality graduates and innovative research. Curtin is a welcoming space where integrity, respect for one another, courage, excellence, and impact are essential to everyday life. First Nations people, those identifying as LGBTQIA+, parents, carers, people of all ages, abilities and genders, and people of diverse ethnicity, nationality and faith are encouraged to apply. Our aim is to create a workforce that reflects the diversity of the community in which we live. For more information, please visit our Diversity and Inclusion page - https://staff.curtin.edu.au/discover-curtin/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-at-curtin/

What We Offer You:

This Continuous G10 level role attracts a remuneration of $148,452 - $162,785 + 17% superannuation.

Situated on Whadjuk Nyungar Country, our vibrant Bentley campus includes an art gallery, gym, childcare and medical centre, bus station, accessible parking and endless food options including a supermarket. Aside from the vibrant campus life, we offer more than just a job. Curtin offers a wide range of generous benefits, including additional leave, salary packaging, health and wellbeing services and an array of discounts for retail, travel and much more.

For more reasons to work at Curtin, please visit https://staff.curtin.edu.au/discover-curtin/

Join Us!

If this sounds like your next role, please click APPLY NOW ensuring to attach the following documents:

• Up-to-date Resume
• Cover Letter outlining your interest and demonstrating how your background meets the position’s selection criteria (noted above) - no more than two pages

If you have any queries in relation to this opportunity or the application process, please contact our careers team on CurtinCareers@curtin.edu.au or 08 9266 9000 (option 3,1), quoting the reference number. Applications will not be accepted via this email address, and late applications will not be accepted.

Applications close: 9pm (AWST), Sunday 19 July 2026

Please note we are not accepting applications from recruitment agencies, at this time.

Curtin reserves the right at its sole discretion to withdraw from the recruitment process, remove the advert, not to make an appointment, or to appoint by invitation, at any time.