Avoiding Lone FinOps Purgatory: When and How to Grow your FinOps Team

Being the first FinOps hire at a company can lead to a challenging situation known as Lone FinOps Purgatory, where a solo practitioner remains the only team member despite the need for growth. This stagnation occurs when companies perceive the current FinOps level as sufficient, while the practitioner recognizes potential for greater value but struggles to justify further investment. Growth can be facilitated by identifying new functions for the team or delegating recurring tasks that consume time and hinder additional value creation. Practitioners should document their processes and create a compelling business case to advocate for new hires, considering factors like economic conditions and company budgets. By taking the initiative to propose team expansion, practitioners can break free from stagnation and foster both personal and organizational growth.