Director of Financial Accounting

At Houston Methodist, the Director Financial Accounting position is responsible for maintenance of a high quality and cost effective general ledger system for all Houston Methodist (HM) entities and for reporting and providing access to timely and accurate financial information and reports to internal and external stakeholders (e.g., members of HM Management, HM Finance Committee and Board of Directors, HM bondholders, etc.). In connection with responsibility for HM's general ledger system this position identifies, recommends and implements improvements in processes, internal controls and necessary reconciliations to ensure accurate reporting of all financial transactions. This position is the primary interface with HM's public accounting firm that provides HM's Audit Committee with an annual report of the fair presentation of HM's consolidated financial statements. In connection with the annual report on HM's consolidated financial statement this position has primary responsibility for the evaluation of new and proposed accounting standards, and the related implementation recommendations. This position and assigned team work closely with the following areas to ensure HM's annual compliance reporting requirements are met: Human Rresources on the annual HM Benefit Plan audits and reports filed with the Federal Government; HM Rresearch Insititute Chief Financial Officer on an annual A-133 Grants audit; Corporate Community Benefits Department on an Annual Statement of Community Benefits filed with the Texas Department of Health, and Budget and Compliance in completing the community benefits sections of HM's annual federal income tax returns.

The Director position responsibilities include overseeing the activities of the department staff, ensuring quality, productivity, functional excellence and efficiency to accomplish strategic and operational objectives. In addition, this position is accountable for employee engagement, adequate staffing levels, budget development and compliance, staffing decisions such as hiring and terminating employment, coaching and counseling employees on work related performance, and developing and implementing policies and procedures to ensure a safe and effective work environment. This position also ensures training, monitoring and operations initiatives are implemented which secure compliance with ethical and legal business practices and accreditation/regulatory/government regulations.

FLSA STATUS

Exempt

QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting required
• Master’s degree preferred

EXPERIENCE

• Five years of progressively responsible experience in public accounting or healthcare industry accounting, of which two years must have been in a people management role

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS

Required

• CPA - Certified Public Accountant - State Licensure - Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation_PSV

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through on-going skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations
• Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially about activities impacting patient or employee safety or security
• Demonstrates the ability to interact with others in a way that gives them confidence in one’s intentions and those of the organization
• Ability to use appropriate interpersonal styles and techniques to gain acceptance of ideas or plans; modifying one’s own behavior to accommodate tasks, situations and individuals involved
• Demonstrates leadership qualities and critical thinking through self-direction initiative and effective interpersonal skills and oral/written communication skills
• Ability to identify and understand issues, problems and opportunities, comparing data from different sources to draw conclusions; using effective approaches for choosing a course of action or developing appropriate solutions; taking action that is consistent with available facts, constraints and probable consequences
• Extensive knowledge of regulatory and accreditation agency requirements that impact department; stays abreast of industry changes
• Demonstrates highly effective communication skills—strong written communications and platform presentation abilities
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment
• Demonstrates flexibility and adaptability in the workplace
• Capable of leading teams/facilitating groups, building consensus and garnering highest confidence in professionalism and work product by senior leadership
• Ability to work under pressure and balance many competing priorities; highly responsive and solution/action oriented
• Proficiency in spreadsheet, word processing, and presentation software
• Maintains a positive and supportive attitude and demeanor
• Professional handling of exposure to confidential/sensitive information
• Expert knowledge of accounting theory and financial workflows
• Thorough understanding of healthcare accounting
• Knowledge of patient accounting and general ledger systems

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Directs, develops and implements strategic and operational/high level projects and processes either through independent/highly autonomous work or through the facilitation of work teams to enable the effective and efficient completion of objectives.
• Oversees management of and ensures development for staff to meet overall objectives in terms of quality, service and cost effectiveness. Provides timely guidance and feedback to help others strengthen specific knowledge/skill areas needed to accomplish a task or solve a problem. Directs management responsibilities of selection, scheduling, supervision, retention, and evaluation of employees.
• Meets or exceeds threshold goal for department turnover and/or system metrics on employee engagement indicators.
• Provides leadership and communication to maintain a competent and engaged employee group by conducting regular department meetings to review policies and procedures and operational matters, rounding on all employees, completing performance appraisals, conducting new hire feedback sessions, coaching/corrective counseling, and providing recognition/commendations to achieve desired outcomes.
• Identifies opportunities and takes action to build strategic relationships between one’s area and other areas, teams, departments, and units to achieve business goals. Drives the promotion of teamwork within and between departments; participates and/or leads and facilitates department process improvements as needed.
• Participates in meetings with hospital and entity executives and provides input to financial results discussions.

SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Oversees department operations, designated projects, schedules and activities as needed to ensure that goals or objectives are accomplished within the prescribed time frame. Sets priorities and functional standards, giving direction to staff as necessary to ensure the best possible delivery of service and high customer/patient satisfaction.
• Drives department service standards and activities to impact department and/or system score for patient/customer-based satisfaction, through role modeling and fostering accountability. Serves and actively participates on various entity committees as a voice for the department.
• Coordinates financial statement audits for HM Consolidated and Benefit Plans to ensure optimal efficiency and that audit is free of audit adjustments.
• Supports the reporting and accounting of capital initiatives meeting all deadlines and ensuring that assets are capitalized in a timely manner.
• Provides timely departmental financial reports to all department heads and each of the HM entities.
• Files governmental reporting related to the State’s Annual Statement of Charity Care and Community Benefits Standard and 990 Tax Returns – Schedule H, also related to charity care and community benefits.

QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Ensures a safe and effective working environment; monitors and/or revises the department safety plan and/or any specific accreditation/regulatory required safety guidelines. Responsible for staff maintenance of credentials and competencies, per accrediting/ licensing agency and/or department guidelines as applicable.
• Employs a proactive approach in the optimization of safe outcomes and information systems by monitoring and improving the department workflow and enhancing operations, using peer-to-peer accountability and identifying solutions via collaboration. Implements process improvements utilizing tools such as lean principles. Role models situational awareness, using teachable moments to improve safety.
• Responsible for employee compliance to policies and procedures and performs associated actions upon non-compliance (i.e., licensure/certification compliance, focal point review requirements, disaster plan, in-services, influenza immunization, wage and hour, standard hours, timely termination submission, timely timecard approval, etc.).
• Ensures accurate balances for monthly and year-end closings through ongoing review and analysis of general ledger accounts. Ensures accuracy of account reconciliations (self-insured reserves, property, plant and equipment and cash accounting).

FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Develops and manages department operational and capital budgets, approvals, and ongoing maintenance of the department(s), ensuring operation in a cost-effective manner. Proactively identifies and plans for capital needs related to current equipment and future department projects. Ensures staffing plans and schedules meet department needs that reflect understanding of the importance of cost-effectiveness.
• Creates department strategies to achieve financial target and staffing needs, through optimizing productivity, supply/resource efficiency, minimizing incidental overtime and overtime percentage, and other areas according to department specifications.
• Ensures account reconciliations adhere to internal deadline and monitors internal and external compliance with general ledger closing schedule.
• Updates and reviews interim cash reconciliation procedures and ensures timely clearance of reconciliation items according to policy.
• Supports the coordination of external audits and review of audit schedules to ensure optimal efficiency.

GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Identifies and implements innovative solutions for practice or workflow changes to improve department, entity or system operations by leading unit projects and/or other department/ system-directed activities. Proactively leads task forces and committees. May represent HM at assigned community or professional organization meetings.
• Drives change initiatives, maintaining effectiveness when experiencing major changes in work responsibilities or environment; adjusts effectively to work within new work structures, processes, requirements or cultures. Partners effectively with stakeholders as appropriate.
• Ensures own career discussions occur with appropriate management. Completes and updates My Development Plan (MDP) on an on-going basis. Conducts conversations with staff on their development and MDP.
• Coodinates and provides oversight when implementing new initiatives that impact general ledger and other financial related functions.

SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

WORK ATTIRE

• Uniform: No
• Scrubs: No
• Business professional: Yes
• Other (department approved): No

ON-CALL

Note that employees may be required to be on-call during emergencies (ie. Disaster, Severe Weather Events, etc) regardless of selection below.

• On Call Yes

TRAVEL

Travel specifications may vary by department:

• May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area Yes
• May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area Yes

QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting required
• Master’s degree preferred

EXPERIENCE

• Five years of progressively responsible experience in public accounting or healthcare industry accounting, of which two years must have been in a people management role

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS

Required

• CPA - Certified Public Accountant - State Licensure - Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation_PSV