Chief Financial Officer Texas Behavioral Health Center (Dallas)

Job Summary

Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for the Texas Behavioral Health Center (TBHC) is a senior executive responsible for the strategic oversight, planning, and management of all financial functions of the organization. TBHC is a state‑funded psychiatric hospital in Dallas with approximately 296 beds, providing comprehensive inpatient psychiatric care for adults and children.

The CFO ensures that financial operations support high‑quality behavioral health services while complying with state laws, policies, and the biennial appropriations process. The CFO provides leadership in developing financial strategies, ensuring transparency, and optimizing the use of state‑allocated resources to advance the mission of TBHC and UT Southwestern.

Benefits

• PPO medical plan, available day one at no cost for full‑time employee‑only coverage
• Paid Time Off, available day one
• Retirement programs through the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS)
• Paid parental leave benefit
• Wellness programs
• Tuition reimbursement
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Qualified Employer

Responsibilities

• Develop and articulate the financial vision and strategy for TBHC, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and the constraints and opportunities of the state‑funded environment.
• Advise senior leadership on financial implications of strategic and operational decisions, particularly within the context of behavioral health service delivery.
• Lead the development, management, and oversight of TBHC’s biennial operating and capital budgets, ensuring compliance with state appropriations, guidance from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), and all relevant statutes.
• Monitor expenditures and forecast financial needs, proactively identifying variances and recommending adjustments to remain within biennial allocations.
• Ensure budget transparency and accuracy in all reporting to state oversight bodies.
• Oversee all financial operations, including accounting, purchasing, accounts payable/receivable, payroll, internal controls, and financial compliance.
• Maintain strong internal controls to safeguard state assets and ensure fiscal integrity.
• Provide financial guidance with respect to reducing operating costs; develop and implement a financial strategic plan that enhances the hospital’s operations plan and cash position.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable state and federal regulations, HHSC policies, audit guidelines, and reporting requirements.
• Prepare or oversee the preparation of financial reports, cost analyses, legislative reports, and other documentation required by state agencies.
• Serve as the primary liaison for internal and external auditors, ensuring timely responses and corrective actions when needed.
• Identify opportunities to improve financial efficiency, cost effectiveness, and value in behavioral health service delivery.
• Oversee financial planning for major initiatives, infrastructure needs, technology investments, and operational improvements.
• Partner with clinical and administrative leaders to ensure that financial decisions support high‑quality patient care, safety, and compliance.
• Serve as a key spokesperson for financial matters within TBHC, advising leadership, governing bodies, and other stakeholders on financial performance and long‑term sustainability.
• Collaborate with state agencies, including HHSC and legislative stakeholders, to align financial operations with state‑level policy goals and reporting expectations.
• Ensure TBHC finance teams are trained on state financial procedures, budget cycles, and compliance requirements.
• Work closely with nursing, clinical, operational, and administrative leaders to align resource planning with patient care needs and behavioral health priorities.
• Engage in payor negotiations as needed in collaboration with Health System leadership.
• Participate in organizational planning, performance improvement initiatives, and long‑range strategic development.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education and Experience

• Required Education: Master’s Degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, or a related field.
• Required Experience: 10 years of progressively responsible financial experience within a distinguished academic medical center, major teaching hospital, or multi‑hospital system.

Preferred Qualifications

• Licenses and Certifications: Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Excellent presentation skills and experience working with a senior executive team in business planning and financial strategy development.
• Strong financial, analytic, and problem‑solving capabilities with the ability to see broader implications of key decisions.
• Experience developing and executing a disciplined growth strategy.
• Outstanding business development skills.
• Strong business orientation with the ability to “go beyond the numbers” to identify revenue growth, expense reduction, and financial performance improvement opportunities.
• Current training and experience with modern management philosophies such as information technology and process improvement tools; experience with EPIC and PS is a plus.
• Proven leader of people capable of recruiting, developing and mentoring a high‑performance financial team.

Physical Demands / Working Conditions

• Physical Demands: Sitting, talking.
• Working Conditions: Office setting.

Salary

Salary Negotiable.

Security

This position is security‑sensitive and subject to Texas Education Code 51.215, which authorizes UT Southwestern to obtain criminal history record information.

EEO Statement

UT Southwestern Medical Center is committed to an educational and working environment that provides equal opportunity to all members of the university community. As an equal opportunity employer, UT Southwestern prohibits unlawful discrimination, including discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, or veteran status.