Internship Cloud Cost Optimization Jobs in Reston, VA

Description

About Alvarez & Marsal

Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) is a global consulting firm with over 10,000 entrepreneurial, action and results-oriented professionals in over 40 countries. We take a hands-on approach to solving our clients' problems and assisting them in reaching their potential. Our culture celebrates independent thinkers and doers who positively impact our clients and shape our industry. The collaborative environment and engaging work—guided by A&M's core values of Integrity, Quality, Objectivity, Fun, Personal Reward, and Inclusive Diversity—are why our people love working at A&M.

The Team

Alvarez & Marsal's Corporate Performance Improvement practice is looking for a FinOps leader who bridges finance, engineering, and operations to align cloud investments with maximum business value. This is both a strategic role - defining cloud financial management roadmaps - and a hands-on tactical role designing and implementing cost avoidance and cost reduction measures.

• Cloud cost modeling, optimization, and benchmarking (government and/or commercial comparables) including AI workloads.

• FinOps framework implementation - governance, tagging taxonomy, chargeback/show-back models, KPI frameworks

• FinOps Open Cost and Usage Specification (FOCUS)

• Workload rightsizing, auto-scaling, and commitment-based discount strategy (reserved instances, savings plans, committed-use agreements)

• Orphaned/unused resource identification and remediation - VM rightsizing, guardrails, tagging automation

• Native cloud cost management tools (AWS Cost Explorer, Azure Cost Management, GCP Billing) and third-party FinOps platforms (Apptio, Flexera, Cloud Health)

• Enterprise software licensing consolidation and optimization

• AI-assisted cost anomaly detection, forecasting, and optimization recommendation engines - must demonstrate active use of AI tools in delivery; AI fluency is required for this role

How you will contribute

• Develop and execute comprehensive FinOps strategies aligned with business and mission goals, detailing frameworks, processes, and governance

• Create and maintain FinOps roadmaps embedding cost-conscious practices into engineering and architecture lifecycles

• Design KPI frameworks with clear targets and accountability mechanisms to monitor FinOps delivery

• Establish governance frameworks for tagging, budgeting, and resource accountability - including guardrails to prevent unnecessary resource allocation

• Drive automation and transparency in cost reporting, anomaly detection, and forecasting - providing real-time visibility into cloud spend across mission partners

• Build ROI models and cost reduction business cases that quantify optimization impact for executive audiences

• Integrate findings into A&M's broader engagement scope and deliverables

• Support practice development through internal training, content creation, and people development

Qualifications

• 8-12+ years of professional experience in cloud cost management and FinOps practice development

• FinOps Practitioner or FinOps Engineer certification strongly preferred

• Demonstrated 15–30% cloud cost savings delivery on prior engagements

• Strong data analytics and visualization skills - experience with SQL, PowerBI, or equivalent

• Federal FinOps experience helpful but not required - demonstrated cost optimization at scale in any large enterprise is the primary qualifier

• Bachelor's degree required; Finance, Computer Science, or MIS preferred

• Comfortable with travel up to 80%

• Full-time, contract, and project-based engagements available

Has built FinOps practices from scratch in large enterprises - not just reported on costs. Can do rate negotiation strategy. Understands both the financial and engineering levers of cloud cost optimization. Brings AI-powered cost analytics and forecasting as standard practice, not as an add-on.

Your journey at A&M

We recognize that our people are the driving force behind our success, which is why we prioritize an employee experience that fosters each person’s unique professional and personal development. Our robust performance development process promotes continuous learning, rewards your contributions, and fosters a culture of meritocracy. With top-notch training and on-the-job learning opportunities, you can acquire new skills and advance your career.

We prioritize your well-being, providing benefits and resources to support you on your personal journey. Our people consistently highlight the growth opportunities, our unique, entrepreneurial culture, and the fun we have together as their favorite aspects of working at A&M. The possibilities are endless for high-performing and passionate professionals.

Regular employees working 30 or more hours per week are also entitled to participate in Alvarez & Marsal Holdings’ fringe benefits consisting of healthcare plans, flexible spending and savings accounts, life, AD&D, and disability coverages at rates determined periodically as well as a 401(k) retirement savings plan. Provided the eligibility requirements are met, employees will also receive an annual discretionary contribution to their 401(k) retirement savings plan from Alvarez & Marsal. Additionally, employees are eligible for paid time off including vacation, personal days, seventy-two (72) hours of sick time (prorated for part time employees), ten federal holidays, one floating holiday, and parental leave. The amount of vacation and personal days available varies based on tenure and role type. Click here for more information regarding A&M’s benefits programs.

The salary range for Manager is $135,000 - $160,000 annually and Director is $150,000 - $210,000 annually, dependent on several variables including but not limited to education, experience, skills, and geography. In addition, A&M offers a discretionary bonus program which is based on a number of factors, including individual and firm performance.  Please ask your recruiter for details.

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