Chief Accounting Officer for BJC Health System

As a member of the BJC executive leadership team, the Chief Accounting Officer will direct the accounting and financial reporting for BJC HealthCare (24 hospitals, 8 foundations, and corporate Shared Services organization) system wide ($11B in net revenue).

This leader will drive consistency, compliance, and data integrity in all financial and accounting initiatives.

They will partner with the system CFO, hospital/other healthcare service organization Presidents, and leadership to develop and manage to short and long-term financial objectives.

The Chief Accounting Officer has 5 Direct Reports: VP—Accounting; VP—Reimbursement; VP—Disbursements; Director of Finance ERP; and Director of Finance—Foundations and Grants.

BJC HealthCare is one of the largest nonprofit health care organizations in the United States, delivering services to residents primarily in the greater St. Louis, southern Illinois, and southeast Missouri regions. With net revenues of $6.3 billion and more than 30,000 employees, BJC serves patients and their families in urban, suburban, and rural communities through its 14 hospitals and multiple community health locations. Services include inpatient and outpatient care, primary care, community health and wellness, workplace health, home health, community mental health, rehabilitation, long-term care, and hospice.

BJC is the largest provider of charity care, unreimbursed care, and community benefits in the state of Missouri. BJC and its hospitals and health service organizations provide $785.9 million annually in community benefit, which includes $410.6 million in charity care and other financial assistance to patients to ensure medical care regardless of their ability to pay.

BJC’s patients have access to the latest advances in medical science and technology through a formal affiliation between Barnes-Jewish Hospital and St. Louis Children’s Hospital with the renowned Washington University School of Medicine, which consistently ranks among the top medical schools in the country.

Role Purpose

As a member of the BJC executive leadership team, the Chief Accounting Officer will direct the accounting and financial reporting for BJC HealthCare (24 hospitals, 8 foundations, and corporate Shared Services organization) system wide ($11B in net revenue). They will drive consistency, compliance, and data integrity in all financial and accounting initiatives, partnering with system CFO, hospital/other healthcare service organization Presidents, and leadership to develop and manage to short and long-term financial objectives.

Essential Accountabilities

1. Oversee the accounting for all of BJC Health System.
2. Coordinate the external audit of the System, as well as the critical access hospitals, retirement plans, captive insurance companies, and other audit services.
3. Produce monthly internal financial statements for management, ensuring integrity, accuracy, and timely preparation of financial statements.
4. Provide support for the tax team to ensure accurate information in all tax filings.
5. Provide staff support for the Audit and Finance & Planning committees of the BJC Board.
6. Work closely with Hospital and Corporate finance teams to support forecasting and budgeting based on actual results.
7. Manage and monitor all agreements with Washington University School of Medicine, including the System Affiliation agreement.
8. Oversee revenue recognition for the System and ensure the appropriateness of revenue recognition and Accounts receivable reserves.
9. Support the forecasting and budgeting process.
10. Oversee the Government Reimbursement team, including preparation of all applicable cost reports for Medicare, Medicaid, and other plans.
11. Identify reimbursement risks and opportunities based on new and changing CMS and Medicaid rules.
12. Oversee the Disbursements team, including Accounts payable and payroll processes, ensuring integrity and internal controls of payments.
13. Oversee Finance support for the Foundations and the Uniform Guidance audit.
14. Ensure compliance with federal grants and financial implications of Foundation Grants.

Position Responsibilities

Manages individuals including but not limited to: onboarding and hiring, training, workload management, performance evaluations, and conducting professional development plans as needed. Ensures that the productivity and actions of that group meet/support the overall operational goals of the department as established by department leadership.

1. Develop and adhere to departmental staffing, revenue, and/or expense budgets. Respond to changes in the business which may affect the ability to achieve budget goals.
2. Direct system wide activities of staff responsible for monthly internal accounting and financial reporting and the annual external audit processes for the hospitals and other service organizations, promoting standardization and efficiency across the enterprise.
3. Oversee the revenue recognition on a monthly basis to ensure accuracy of financial statements.
4. Oversee the accounting and compliance for WUSM agreements and the master affiliation agreement.
5. Oversee the financial operations and/or BJC’s financial interest in BJC’s various joint ventures.
6. Support BJC’s tax compliance team. Oversee the grants management office to ensure BJC’s compliance with Federal Uniform Guidance requirements and other non-federal grants.
7. Serve on various committees as the BJC Corporate Finance Representative and on various internal committees as needed on an ad hoc basis.
8. BJC has determined this is a safety-sensitive position. The ability to work in a constant state of alertness and in a safe manner is an essential function of this job.

Position Requirements

The Chief Accounting Officer will have the following combination of skills and experience:

• Minimum of 10 years of experience and at least 8 years of leadership experience, including supervisory experience, and a track record of success in significant roles of progressive responsibility.
• Bachelor’s degree in accounting (Master’s degree preferred).
• CPA (Certified Public Accountant).
• Comfortable working in a complex matrix organization.
• Strong sense of mission and an active, engaged leadership style.
• Operationally savvy with a problem-solving mindset, high EQ, and a high focus on metrics.
• Knowledgeable in their field of expertise yet able to demonstrate humility and exceptional skills in developing and forging successful working relationships with executive leadership, physicians, and other key functional stakeholders.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to partner with executive and system leadership in strategic and tactical planning and implementation.
• Technically savvy with strong quantitative/analytical acumen.
• Highly successful in driving change within an organization.
• Excellent interpersonal, problem-solving, analytic, and oral and written communication skills.
• Adaptable and flexible style of collaborating up, down, and across.
• Proven ability to develop excellent relationships, quickly gain credibility, influence, and partner with their team, business leaders, and the clinical community.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The successful candidate will possess a unique combination of skills, abilities, and experiences, including:

• Experience innovating practices, including the adoption of automation to drive efficiencies, and transforming work through maximizing the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system.
• History of progressive leadership in a highly matrix healthcare organization.
• Interpersonal relationship building – a team player with a history of establishing themselves as a competent leader with all members of an Executive Leadership Team.
• Professional credibility – recognized as an excellent leader with vast knowledge in the Finance space.
• Personal values and principles – highest level of personal and professional integrity and ethics.
• Culture connection – a servant leader mindset to thrive in a highly collaborative, deeply team-oriented matrix environment.

BJC Total Rewards

At BJC, we’re committed to providing you and your family with benefits and resources to help you manage your physical, emotional, social, and financial well-being.

• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and legal services available first day of the month after hire date.
• Disability insurance paid for by BJC.
• Pension Plan/403(b) Plan funded by BJC.
• 401(k) plan with BJC match.
• Tuition Assistance available on the first day.
• BJC Institute for Learning and Development.
• Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts.
• Paid Time Off benefit combines vacation, sick days, holidays, and personal time.
• Adoption assistance.

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*Not all benefits apply to all jobs.

The above information on this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees in this position. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job. Equal Opportunity Employer.