Description

The Operations Unit Controller - South Region reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines, and all other regulatory and accreditation standards.

The OU Controllerfunctions as a strategic business partner to the operational leadership of a business unit. In that capacity, the OU Controller works closely with Northwestern Memorial HealthCare’s (NMHC) Corporate Finance Department to ensure the accuracy of the OU’s general ledger and primary financial statements. The OU Controller ensures that all financial and accounting policies and systems impacting the OU’s financial operations are in place and are being followed. The OU Controller oversees managers and support staff involved in preparing reports and analyses and is responsible for ensuring that internal audiences (e.g., senior management, physicians, directors, and managers) receive accurate standardized reports in a timely manner. The OU Controller receives and interprets information from NMHC Revenue Cycle and Analytics departments but is not responsible for the performance of them. The OU Controller advises senior management regarding financial and accounting issues, coordinates the annual budget process and long-range financial planning activities, and conducts internal process audits as requested.

Responsibilities:

• Prepares and coordinates financial performance analyses and complex reports for strategic forecasting and planning of financial projects and transactions including long-range projections, real estate transactions, revenue cycle, bad debt, free care, and other projects.
• Coordinates with Corporate Finance the preparation of and presents the financial statements and graphs for monthly OU key management meetings. Presents fact-based financial and operational analysis into variances from prior year and budget amounts at these meetings and at the monthly financial review meetings with the OU’s CFO and the Corporate Controller.
• Works closely with management at all levels within NMHC to remove barriers and facilitate problem-solving related to accounting matters.
• Works closely with the NMHC Corporate Budget Office and OU directors and managers during the annual budget process, provides annual budget instruction and inquiry response to OU management; provides information to OU executive management to support resource allocation decision-making; and monitors expenditures and the budget approval processes by working closely with OU managers and directors to understand their resource needs.
• Monitors budget performance by reviewing and analyzing actual expenditures and budget variances and takes or recommends appropriate corrective action as required; participates in budget preparation for unallocated general and administrative cost centers.
• Reviews certain legal documents regarding leases, acquisitions, partnership agreements, service arrangements, etc. and helps provide financial analysis and accounting/reporting direction thereto.
• Prepares/supports approved budget variance analysis at OU-wide and departmental levels for the aid of management and executive strategies and decision making.
• Reviews and assesses existing OU procedures to identify areas where efficiencies can be gained.
• Maintains knowledge of and uses various software applications and processes, G/L, and other relevant financial analysis tools, such as spreadsheets, relational databases, statistical packages, and graphics packages to assemble, manipulate and/or format data and/or reports.
• Serves as liaison between OU and NMHC departments (e.g., Corporate Finance, Revenue Cycle, IT, Analytics, etc.), bridging NM Corporate goals, strategies, and objectives.
• Coordinates and communicates effectively with the OU CFO and other VPs to assist with the oversight of the OU’s operations.
• Owns OU dashboard reports and other standard management information, ensuring data integrity in compilation of reports.
• Manages OU Finance staff to successfully accomplish departmental responsibilities.
• Presents monthly OU financial/budget actual/variance data to managers, directors, and executives.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance.
• At least seven years of experience in financial management, with a work record that demonstrates:
• Strong leadership, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills.

Preferred

• Master’s degree in accounting or finance.
• CPA
• PeopleSoft or other ERP experience.
• In-depth knowledge of accounting practices in a healthcare setting.
• Large not-for-profit hospital, physician group practice and/or health system experience.

Equal Opportunity

Northwestern Medicine is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status.