Azure Cost Analyst

Position Overview:
We are seeking an experienced Azure Cost Analyst to manage and optimize our Azure cloud expenditures. The ideal candidate will possess a strong analytical background and expertise in cloud financial management, specifically within the Azure ecosystem. This role involves monitoring, analyzing, and reporting Azure costs, collaborating with cloud engineers and finance teams to identify cost-saving opportunities, and implementing cost management best practices.

Mandatory Qualifications

1. Educational Background:

   • Bachelor's degree in Finance, Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field.

2. Experience:

   • Minimum 3 years of experience in cloud financial management or cost analysis with a focus on Azure.
   • Proven expertise in Azure Cost Management tools (e.g., Azure Cost Management + Billing, Power BI).

3. Technical Skills:

   • Proficiency in data analysis and visualization tools (e.g., Excel, Power BI, SQL).
   • Strong knowledge of Azure services, pricing models, and optimization strategies (e.g., reserved instances, savings plans).

4. Soft Skills:

   • Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
   • Effective communication skills for presenting data-driven recommendations.
   • Collaborative mindset to work across departments.

Preferred Qualifications (Optional):

• Certifications such as Azure Fundamentals, Azure Cost Management, or FinOps Certified Practitioner.
• Knowledge of additional Azure optimization tools or methodologies.
• Experience with advanced reporting tools like Tableau or similar.

Key Responsibilities

1. Cost Analysis and Reporting:

   • Monitor Azure spending, usage patterns, and trends.
   • Prepare detailed cost reports, dashboards, and insights for stakeholders.

2. Forecasting and Budgeting:

   • Develop accurate budget forecasts in collaboration with finance and IT teams.
   • Align cloud expenditure with organizational goals.

3. Optimization Strategies:

   • Identify cost-saving opportunities, such as resource right-sizing, reserved instances, and unused resources.
   • Implement best practices for cost optimization within Azure.

4. Governance and Policy Compliance:

   • Create and enforce governance policies for Azure usage.
   • Ensure adherence to budgeting and cost control protocols.

5. Usage and Spend Monitoring:

   • Set up alerts for unusual spend or usage spikes.
   • Perform root cause analysis and recommend corrective actions.

6. Chargeback and Showback Models:

   • Design and manage models to allocate Azure costs to business units or projects.
   • Provide visibility into organizational spending.

7. Azure Tagging:

   • Collaborate with cloud engineers to ensure accurate tagging of Azure resources for cost tracking.

8. Collaboration:

   • Partner with Azure architects, cloud engineers, and product teams to align usage with budgetary goals.

9. Documentation and Training:

   • Maintain comprehensive documentation for cost management processes.
   • Train teams on Azure cost management tools and best practices.