Carl Mikel

About Carl Mikel

With a Master of Science in Finance from the University of Wyoming and multiple Cloud/FinOps certifications, I\'ve become a cornerstone at Frontier Airlines as a Senior Cloud FinOps Analyst. My core competencies lie in cost variance analysis, earned value management, and financial forecasting, ensuring resource efficiency aligns with our strategic financial goals.My experience includes but is not limited to:Lead monthly Azure and AWS cloud budgeting for Frontier Airlines, applying cost variance analysis and EVM to maintain financial discipline across multi-cloud environments. Drive measurable cost optimization through Flexera and Cloudability, building automated showback models that enhance transparency and accountability across Finance, IT, and Business stakeholders.Improve Reserved Instance and Savings Plan utilization, increasing forecast accuracy and reducing monthly cloud spend variance by 30%+. Implement cost-control strategies that materially reduce Azure spend while strengthening financial sustainability.Develop advanced financial models in Excel integrating scenario planning, Monte Carlo simulations, and automated reporting. Deliver executive-ready dashboards in Amazon QuickSight and Power BI, translating complex cloud consumption (burst scaling, AI workloads, GPU/Databricks environments) into clear financial drivers.Perform detailed invoice audits, variance research, and budget-to-actual analysis for department leaders and executives. Identify root causes, validate deliverables, and implement process improvements that increase planning accuracy, operational efficiency, and financial governance maturity.Serve as a strategic liaison between finance, engineering, procurement, and leadership teams—negotiating vendor terms, governing high-variance workloads, and embedding FinOps guardrails to balance innovation with accountability.Apply FinOps governance frameworks to emerging AI/LLM tooling, including anomaly detection, forecast-to-actual management, and budget controls. Leverage Microsoft Copilot and OpenAI-based automation to streamline variance explanations, reporting workflows, and executive cost narratives.

Experience

1. Senior Cloud Finops Analyst

   Frontier Airlines

   Aug 2023 — Present · Denver, CO, US

   Manage Frontier Airlines\' monthly Azure and AWS budget, ensuring resource efficiency and financial adherence through cost variance analysis and earned value management (EVM). Implemented cost-control measures, reducing monthly cloud expenses by 30% and supporting financial sustainability. Conducted in-depth financial analysis and forecasting to uncover cost-saving opportunities, advising on necessary budget adjustments.Collaborated with cross-functional teams to align cloud expenses with business goals and optimize resource utilization. Developed real-time financial reports and dashboards to provide stakeholders with insights into Azure spending patterns. Performed regular invoice audits, resolving discrepancies to ensure accurate reporting.Streamlined financial operations related to Azure and AWS expenses through process improvements and acted as a key liaison between finance and technology teams, integrating financial considerations into decision-making. Negotiated favorable terms with Azure vendors, achieving cost savings and enhanced contracts.Prepared and presented variance analyses for department leaders and executives, identifying trends using Microsoft Excel and Power BI. Conducted root cause analyses to address budget discrepancies, delivering high-quality, validated results. Proactively stayed informed on cloud cost management best practices to refine financial processes.Consistently improved planning and analysis efficiency by identifying process gaps and implementing solutions. Facilitated effective communication between stakeholders through detailed reporting and actionable financial insights.

Education

• University of Wyoming College of Business

  Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Business Administration-- Minor in Entrepreneurship

  2010 — 2015

• University of Wyoming

  Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Business/Managerial Economics

  2015 — 2017

• University of Denver

  Certificate, Fintech

• University of Wyoming

  Master of Science - MS, Finance, General

  2019 — 2020