Accounting Operations Specialist

Accounting Operations Specialist

The Accounting Operations Specialist is responsible for supporting the organization's revenue cycle and accounting operations through clinical research sponsor billing and collections, payment reconciliation, financial reporting support, and related accounting activities. This role initially focuses primarily on clinical research sponsor billing and collections while also supporting broader accounting operations and serving as a backup resource for payroll and benefits administration.

This position is ideal for someone who enjoys improving financial workflows, leveraging technology to increase efficiency, and supporting accurate and scalable financial processes within a growing healthcare organization. The successful candidate will have a strong analytical mindset, attention to detail, and the ability to identify opportunities to improve workflows, reduce manual processes, and enhance operational effectiveness.

Key Responsibilities

Revenue Cycle & Financial Operations

• Prepare, submit, and manage sponsor invoices based on executed clinical trial agreements, study budgets, payment milestones, and contractual terms.
• Monitor accounts receivable and proactively follow up with sponsors regarding outstanding balances to ensure timely collections.
• Manage high-volume email communication and maintain professional, timely follow-up with sponsors and internal stakeholders.
• Reconcile sponsor payments to bank deposits and investigate payment discrepancies.
• Assist with revenue journal entries, account reconciliations, and supporting documentation as part of the month-end close process.
• Maintain accurate billing, payment, and financial records within CRIO and other applicable systems.

Clinical Research Finance Support

• Perform quality control (QC) reviews of clinical research budgets within CRIO to ensure alignment with executed contracts, sponsor agreements, payment schedules, and billing requirements.
• Review contracts, budgets, amendments, and payment terms to validate billing triggers and revenue expectations.
• Partner with Clinical Operations to resolve billing questions and ensure accurate financial tracking of research activities.

Accounting Operations

• Assist with account reconciliations, journal entries, and supporting documentation as part of the month-end close process.
• Assist with recording and reconciling cash receipts, accounts receivable activity, and other financial transactions.
• Support the monthly close process by gathering, reviewing, and organizing financial information and identifying discrepancies or unusual activity.
• Assist with maintaining accurate and complete accounting records and documentation.
• Support the preparation of recurring financial reports and analyses for Finance and Accounting leadership.
• Assist with accounting research and documentation related to transactions, processes, and financial reporting as needed.
• Identify opportunities to improve accounting processes, controls, documentation, and financial workflows.
• Develop a working understanding of the organization's accounting systems, processes, and internal controls.

Process Improvement & Automation

• Evaluate existing revenue cycle workflows and leverage technology, automation tools, and data analysis to identify opportunities to improve efficiency, accuracy, scalability, and reporting.
• Develop and implement process improvements that reduce manual effort and streamline billing, reconciliation, and reporting activities.
• Identify trends, recurring issues, and opportunities for continuous improvement.

Additional Revenue Cycle & Accounting Support

• Serve as a backup resource for payroll and benefits administration, providing coverage during periods of absence or as business needs require.
• Support additional revenue cycle activities as business needs evolve, including claims processing, specialty pharmacy payment posting, reimbursement activities, and other financial operations.
• Assist with refinement and optimization of revenue cycle processes across additional business lines.
• Provide support for other accounting and finance projects and operational initiatives as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or a related field
• 3–5 years of experience in Revenue Cycle Management (RCM), healthcare finance, clinical research finance, accounts receivable, medical billing, or a related field.
• Experience managing billing, collections, payment reconciliation, and accounts receivable processes.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills required, including proficiency with complex formulas, PivotTables, data analysis, reconciliations, and reporting.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Demonstrated ability to identify process improvement opportunities and implement more efficient workflows.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and high-volume communication independently.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively across teams.

Preferred

• Experience with clinical research sponsor billing or clinical trial financial management.
• Experience reviewing contracts, budgets, amendments, and payment schedules.
• Experience performing quality control (QC) reviews of clinical research budgets.
• Experience with CRIO or another Clinical Trial Management System (CTMS).
• Accounting experience, including journal entries, account reconciliations, and month-end close support.
• Experience with workflow automation, reporting tools, or process optimization initiatives.