As organisations adopt cloud services, Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) must balance financial accountability and optimise cloud spending in a dynamic environment. The Financial Operations (FinOps) framework offers a structured approach to managing costs while ensuring IT investments align with business goals. With greater insight into cloud spending, FinOps enables collaboration across finance, IT and business teams, helping organisations make informed decisions that reduce waste and improve financial control. As organisations transition from Capital Expenditure (CapEx) to Operating Expense (OpEx) models, traditional IT budgeting must evolve to handle the flexibility and variability of cloud consumption. FinOps supports this shift with real-time financial controls that adapt to changing cloud demands.
The FinOps maturity model progresses through a three-stage Crawl, Walk, Run (CWR) process, guiding organisations from basic cost tracking to full optimisation.1 In the crawl phase, organisations focus on visibility and foundational cost reporting. As they move to the walk phase, automation of financial processes and more sophisticated KPIs are introduced, helping CFOs ensure accountability across departments and projects. In the run phase, organisations achieve full integration of FinOps, where advanced automation, predictive analytics and continuous monitoring allow for proactive cost optimisation. This phase empowers CFOs and teams to anticipate cloud needs and align investments with long-term business goals.
Furthermore, the need for governance and optimisation of cloud resources is on the rise with 50% of organisations identifying reducing waste as a top priority for their FinOps teams according to a survey conducted by the FinOps Foundation. 2 Additionally, 51% of surveyed organisations by FlexEra reported having a FinOps team dedicated to managing and executing cloud cost optimisation strategies .3 For CFOs, the shift to FinOps presents both challenges and opportunities. Leading its implementation ensures cloud investments align with strategic objectives while optimising spending. Key actions include building cross-functional teams, introducing real-time tracking and automating reports to enhance financial oversight.
This report outlines IT spending trends, the CFO’s role in managing cloud costs and practical steps for beginning the FinOps journey. Adopting FinOps not only improves cost efficiency but also positions organisations for long-term growth in an increasingly cloud-driven world.
Technology-enabled CFO: The FinOps transformation journey
Follow us
