[Hiring] Cost Accounting Manager @Highmark Health

Role Description

This job will support finance and operational leadership with advanced patient cost analytics, including statistical analysis, predictive modeling and data visualization. The cost accounting team specifically uses a combination of analytical tools that combine clinical, payroll and financial information to calculate the complete cost of patient care and translate that to making informed decisions about capital investments, support payor negotiations, and answer numerous financial what if scenarios. Under the direction of the Director, Cost Accounting, this incumbent leads all operational cost accounting activities for the Network.

Essential Responsibilities

• Perform management responsibilities to include, but are not limited to:
  • Involved in hiring and termination decisions
  • Coaching and development
  • Rewards and recognition
  • Performance management and staff productivity
• Plan, organize, staff, direct and control the day-to-day operations of the department; develop and implement policies and programs as necessary; may have budgetary responsibility and authority. (25%)
• Establish and maintain consistent guiding principles for cost accounting across all network entities, including:
  • Cost type definitions (variable/fixed; direct/indirect)
  • Indirect cost allocation methodologies
  • Direct cost assignments to patient care activities
• Provide direction to cost analysts responsible for:
  • Day-to-day activities related to generating and maintaining cost allocation rules and processes to produce actionable and materially accurate patient care cost information for each fiscal year, including periodic updates required to assign cost to new activities and supplies. (10%)
  • Utilize decision support tools (i.e. SAS, Excel, Tableau, Alteryx, etc.) to produce reports and analyses for members of decision support teams and leadership that call attention to opportunities and provide recommendations in easily understandable and interactive visual formats to:
    • Diagnose the financial health and viability of various clinical delivery methods and settings
    • Enable institute level financial reporting based on primary diagnosis data
    • Inform payor reimbursement discussions
    • Develop business cases in support of long-term operating strategies
    • Prioritize capital equipment purchases and real estate development projects
• Develop and empower the team through mentoring and coaching in conjunction with company-endorsed education and training resources. Requires the ability to identify growth opportunities that support personal development, business goals and core behaviors. (10%)
• Actively develop and maintain collaborative relationships with hospital leaders and clinical teams to develop accurate and timely cost and productivity metrics. This includes leading complex discussions that translate clinical activity to productivity metrics using a combination of analytical tools, site visits and video communications. Excellent people skills with a focus on customer service is essential. (10%)
• Provide training and assistance to departments across the enterprise who use cost data and related reporting tools to ensure adequate understanding of the data and proper usage. (10%)
• Manage and coordinate processes for maintaining data credibility through compliance with objective standards deemed appropriate by leadership, as well as diligent and timely data processing procedures, audits, and reconciliation practices. (5%)
• Other duties as assigned. (5%)

Qualifications

• Minimum:
  • Bachelor's Degree in Accounting or relevant experience and/or education as determined by the company in lieu of bachelor's degree
  • 3 years in a leadership or management role
  • 3 years of database development
  • 3 years with cost accounting
  • Advanced Excel skills
  • Ability to adapt to changing computer technologies
  • Strong understanding of relational database structures, applications, and transactional systems
• Preferred:
  • 3 years in Healthcare systems
  • Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
  • Certified Managerial Accountant (CMA)
  • Certified Healthcare Financial Professional (CHFP)
  • Understanding of SQL, macros and visual basic
  • Experience using healthcare-specific cost accounting systems such as EPSi, StrataJazz, etc.
  • Strong comprehension and communication skills

Requirements

• Ability to identify and define complex scenarios, gather facts, and draw valid conclusions; be able to present findings and recommended course of action to the appropriate audience.

Benefits

• Pay Range Minimum: $42.13
• Pay Range Maximum: $66.99
• Base pay is determined by a variety of factors including a candidate’s qualifications, experience, and expected contributions, as well as internal peer equity, market, and business considerations.