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Job Description
CDM Smith is seeking a Intermediate Infrastructure Specialist to join our Digital Engineering Solutions team. This
individual will be part of the Development group within the Digital Engineering Solutions team, helping
design and implement cloud-based solutions that facilitate project cost control and Azure billing analysis,
ensuring accurate tracking and reporting of cloud expenditures. An ideal candidate will be a critical thinker,
proactive, and highly interested in leveraging new technologies and methods to optimize cost efficiency and
billing transparency. This individual must showcase exceptional abilities in implementing solutions for AEC
initiatives that involve cutting-edge technologies, particularly those focused on financial management and
cloud cost optimization. As a member of the Digital Engineering Solutions team, the Development group will
be engaged in research and development and provide guidance and oversight into the AEC practices at CDM
Smith, engaging in new product research and the incubation of innovative ideas that arise from around the
company, including those targeting improved project cost management and Azure billing processes. The
ideal candidate must have extensive experience in their field and demonstrate a commitment to continuous
advancement and interest that drives measurable financial results.
The following are the key responsibilities for this position:
• Take responsibility for the project and work independently in a collaborative environment.
• Monitor actuals vs. budgeted costs across labor, vendors, cloud/infrastructure, and operational
expenses.
• Prepare periodic cost reports, dashboards, and executive summaries for stakeholders.
• Validate cost estimates and assumptions during project initiation and planning phases.
• Ensure budgets align with approved scope, schedule, and contractual requirements.
• Collaborating with the account team to set up project codes to meet the project’s requirements.
• Monitor, analyze, and report on Azure cloud resource usage and associated costs. Identify areas for
potential savings and optimize resource allocation in alignment with project objectives.
• Develop and maintain project budgets for cloud-based initiatives, including forecasting future
expenses based on usage patterns and business requirements.
• Prepare regular financial reports detailing actual vs. budgeted costs for Azure projects. Provide
insights and recommendations to management regarding cost trends and variances.
• Implement and manage cost allocation models and chargeback mechanisms to accurately assign
cloud costs to respective business units or projects.
• Coordinate with the account team to review, verify, and document Azure and project expenses,
ensuring all costs are properly assigned to the appropriate project codes.
• Ensure adherence to financial policies, accounting standards, and cloud governance frameworks.
• Support internal and external audits by providing documentation and analysis related to project labor
and cloud expenditures.
• Work closely with IT, DevOps, and cloud engineering teams to understand resource provisioning and
usage, ensuring financial considerations are integrated into technical decisions.
• Process Improvement: Identify opportunities to streamline project costing, billing, and financial
reporting processes within Azure environments.
• Stakeholder Communication: Present financial data, cost optimization strategies, and project costing
updates to stakeholders, including project managers, finance leaders, and executive teams.
Skills and Abilities:
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with a team
• Strong understanding of project cost management principles and financial controls.
• Advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, formulas, variance analysis).
• Experience with cost forecasting, budgeting, and financial reporting.
• Ability to analyze complex datasets and translate findings into clear insights.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience in Azure cloud cost management and project accounting processes.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, financial reporting tools, and ideally Azure Cost Management
systems.
• Strong understanding of accounting principles, cost allocation, and financial controls.
• Understanding of change management and release processes.
• Ability to validate applications during pre- and post-deployment phases.
• Strong customer-service orientation with a focus on user experience and reliability.
• Professional and empathetic approach when working with end users during incidents.
• Attention to detail and accuracy in reconciling financial data and allocating expenses.
• Analytical thinking to identify and resolve cost assignment discrepancies quickly.
• Ability to document and refine financial processes for ongoing improvement.
• Ability to perform root cause analysis (RCA) and propose long-term corrective actions.
• Ability to support enterprise-class applications and a successful track record of managing priorities
and resources personally.
• Good understanding of applications and system dependencies.
• Discipline in keeping documentation current and accurate.
• Ability to clearly explain the cost information to the nontechnical stakeholders.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills for working with cross-functional teams.
• Strong problem‑solving and critical‑thinking abilities.
• Willingness to participate in on‑call or rotational support schedules.
• Willingness to learn new technologies and tools.
individual will be part of the Development group within the Digital Engineering Solutions team, helping
design and implement cloud-based solutions that facilitate project cost control and Azure billing analysis,
ensuring accurate tracking and reporting of cloud expenditures. An ideal candidate will be a critical thinker,
proactive, and highly interested in leveraging new technologies and methods to optimize cost efficiency and
billing transparency. This individual must showcase exceptional abilities in implementing solutions for AEC
initiatives that involve cutting-edge technologies, particularly those focused on financial management and
cloud cost optimization. As a member of the Digital Engineering Solutions team, the Development group will
be engaged in research and development and provide guidance and oversight into the AEC practices at CDM
Smith, engaging in new product research and the incubation of innovative ideas that arise from around the
company, including those targeting improved project cost management and Azure billing processes. The
ideal candidate must have extensive experience in their field and demonstrate a commitment to continuous
advancement and interest that drives measurable financial results.
The following are the key responsibilities for this position:
• Take responsibility for the project and work independently in a collaborative environment.
• Monitor actuals vs. budgeted costs across labor, vendors, cloud/infrastructure, and operational
expenses.
• Prepare periodic cost reports, dashboards, and executive summaries for stakeholders.
• Validate cost estimates and assumptions during project initiation and planning phases.
• Ensure budgets align with approved scope, schedule, and contractual requirements.
• Collaborating with the account team to set up project codes to meet the project’s requirements.
• Monitor, analyze, and report on Azure cloud resource usage and associated costs. Identify areas for
potential savings and optimize resource allocation in alignment with project objectives.
• Develop and maintain project budgets for cloud-based initiatives, including forecasting future
expenses based on usage patterns and business requirements.
• Prepare regular financial reports detailing actual vs. budgeted costs for Azure projects. Provide
insights and recommendations to management regarding cost trends and variances.
• Implement and manage cost allocation models and chargeback mechanisms to accurately assign
cloud costs to respective business units or projects.
• Coordinate with the account team to review, verify, and document Azure and project expenses,
ensuring all costs are properly assigned to the appropriate project codes.
• Ensure adherence to financial policies, accounting standards, and cloud governance frameworks.
• Support internal and external audits by providing documentation and analysis related to project labor
and cloud expenditures.
• Work closely with IT, DevOps, and cloud engineering teams to understand resource provisioning and
usage, ensuring financial considerations are integrated into technical decisions.
• Process Improvement: Identify opportunities to streamline project costing, billing, and financial
reporting processes within Azure environments.
• Stakeholder Communication: Present financial data, cost optimization strategies, and project costing
updates to stakeholders, including project managers, finance leaders, and executive teams.
Skills and Abilities:
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with a team
• Strong understanding of project cost management principles and financial controls.
• Advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, formulas, variance analysis).
• Experience with cost forecasting, budgeting, and financial reporting.
• Ability to analyze complex datasets and translate findings into clear insights.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience in Azure cloud cost management and project accounting processes.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, financial reporting tools, and ideally Azure Cost Management
systems.
• Strong understanding of accounting principles, cost allocation, and financial controls.
• Understanding of change management and release processes.
• Ability to validate applications during pre- and post-deployment phases.
• Strong customer-service orientation with a focus on user experience and reliability.
• Professional and empathetic approach when working with end users during incidents.
• Attention to detail and accuracy in reconciling financial data and allocating expenses.
• Analytical thinking to identify and resolve cost assignment discrepancies quickly.
• Ability to document and refine financial processes for ongoing improvement.
• Ability to perform root cause analysis (RCA) and propose long-term corrective actions.
• Ability to support enterprise-class applications and a successful track record of managing priorities
and resources personally.
• Good understanding of applications and system dependencies.
• Discipline in keeping documentation current and accurate.
• Ability to clearly explain the cost information to the nontechnical stakeholders.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills for working with cross-functional teams.
• Strong problem‑solving and critical‑thinking abilities.
• Willingness to participate in on‑call or rotational support schedules.
• Willingness to learn new technologies and tools.