Director of Finance

The Director of Finance is responsible for directing financial operations and financial planning for the assigned entity at Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital. This role ensures hospital finance processes run smoothly through internal control oversight, financial reporting, policy implementation, and continuous process improvement. The position may also lead accounts payable activities and support automation and efficiency initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Direct financial operations and financial planning for the assigned entity, supporting smooth hospital finance operations through oversight of internal controls, reporting, policy implementation, and improved financial processes.
• May direct the accounts payable function, including execution and tracking of accounts payable to help ensure timely and accurate invoice payments in alignment with company policies and procedures.
• Oversee department staff activities to promote quality, productivity, functional excellence, and efficiency in support of strategic and operational objectives.
• Manage employee engagement and staffing levels, including budget development and compliance; support staffing decisions such as hiring and termination; coach and counsel employees on work-related performance; and develop and implement policies and procedures that support a safe and effective work environment.
• Ensure training, monitoring, and operational initiatives are implemented to support compliance with ethical and legal business practices and accreditation, regulatory, and government requirements.
• Direct strategic and operational high-level projects and processes through autonomous leadership or facilitation of work teams to complete objectives effectively and efficiently.
• Oversee management responsibilities including selection, scheduling, supervision, retention, and evaluation of employees; support staff development to meet quality, service, and cost-effectiveness goals.
• Meet or exceed threshold goals for department turnover and/or system metrics related to employee engagement indicators.
• Provide leadership and communication through regular department meetings, employee rounding, performance appraisals, new hire feedback sessions, coaching or corrective counseling, and recognition/commendations.
• Identify opportunities and build strategic relationships across areas, teams, departments, and units to support business goals, while promoting teamwork within and between departments.
• Partner with internal and external stakeholders to support cost-effective and efficient financials and payables processes.
• Oversee department operations, designated projects, schedules, and activities to help ensure goals are achieved within prescribed time frames.
• Set priorities and functional standards, providing direction to staff to support service delivery and high patient/customer satisfaction.
• Drive department service standards that influence department and system patient/customer satisfaction scores through role modeling and accountability.
• Serve as an active participant on entity committees as a representative voice for the department.
• Direct preparation of financial statements, financial reports, special analyses, and information reports, ensuring accuracy.
• Ensure safe and effective working conditions by monitoring and/or revising the department safety plan and any required safety guidelines for accreditation or regulation.
• Support staff credentialing and competency maintenance per accrediting or licensing agency and department guidelines.
• Optimize safe outcomes and information systems through monitoring and improving workflow and operations, using peer-to-peer accountability and collaboration to identify solutions.
• Implement process improvements using lean principles and role model situational awareness using teachable moments to improve safety.
• Ensure employee compliance with policies and procedures, including actions upon non-compliance (example areas include licensure/certification compliance, focal point review requirements, disaster plan activities, in-services, influenza immunization, wage and hour and standard hours, timely termination submissions, timely timecard approvals).
• Ensure adherence to internal control policies and procedures and support internal and external audits.
• Partner across Houston Methodist to support cost-effective, efficient, and value-added financial operations.
• Design, document, and implement procedures to ensure quality payable processing.
• Develop and manage department operational and capital budgets, approvals, and ongoing maintenance to support cost-effective operations; proactively plan for capital needs related to current equipment and future department projects.
• Ensure staffing plans and schedules meet department needs with a cost-effectiveness focus, including optimizing productivity, supply and resource efficiency, minimizing incidental overtime and overtime percentage, and other department-specified areas.
• Serve as a critical resource for development and monitoring of the annual operating budget and ensure compliance.
• Coordinate monthly and year-end processing, vendor 1099, and other required regulatory reporting.
• Review expense variances across accounts, departments, and service lines to identify errors or cost-reduction opportunities.
• Provide decision support for resource allocation using labor productivity, overtime, and contract labor data.
• Identify and implement innovative workflow or practice solutions through leading unit projects and/or other department or system-directed activities; proactively lead task forces and committees.
• May represent HM at assigned community or professional organization meetings; drive change initiatives and adjust effectively to new work structures, processes, requirements, or cultures.
• Ensure ongoing career discussions occur with appropriate management, maintain and update My Development Plan (MDP), and conduct staff development conversations related to MDP.
• Participate in workgroups to enhance financial processes and software systems aligned to Houston Methodist strategic goals.
• Analyze current and future hospital operation needs, trends, challenges, and opportunities; make recommendations to executive leadership.
• Proactively lead the Finance division by interpreting results and trends and participating in solution development; support analysis of growth opportunities, including business case formulation and key assumptions used in forecasting and proforma development.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Business, Finance or related field
• Master’s degree preferred
• Five years of progressively responsible experience in finance, with at least two years in a people management role
• May consider a Houston Methodist employee with five years of progressively responsible experience in an applicable field, including at least two years demonstrating progressive leadership responsibility
• Accredited Payables Specials (APS), or Accredited Payable Manager (APM), or Certified Financial Accountant (CFA)
• Ability to safely perform the assigned job, determined through ongoing skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations
• Sufficient proficiency in English speaking, reading, and writing, particularly for activities impacting patient or employee safety or security
• Demonstrated ability to interact with others in a manner that builds confidence in intentions and the organization
• Ability to use appropriate interpersonal styles and techniques to gain acceptance of ideas or plans and modify behavior to accommodate tasks, situations, and individuals
• Leadership qualities and critical thinking demonstrated through self-direction and effective interpersonal and oral and written communication skills
• Ability to identify and understand issues and opportunities by comparing data sources, drawing conclusions, selecting courses of action, and developing solutions consistent with facts, constraints, and probable consequences
• Extensive knowledge of regulatory and accreditation agency requirements that impact the department, including staying abreast of industry changes
• Highly effective communication skills, including strong written communications and platform presentation abilities
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment; flexibility and adaptability in the workplace
• Ability to lead teams and facilitate groups, building consensus and professionalism with confidence from senior leadership
• Ability to work under pressure, balance competing priorities, and remain solution/action oriented
• Proficiency in spreadsheet, word processing, and presentation software
• Ability to maintain a positive and supportive attitude and demeanor
• Professional handling of exposure to confidential or sensitive information
• Advanced knowledge and skills in Microsoft office products
• Strong knowledge of internal controls related to accounts payable and general ledger accounting; strong knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles; strong knowledge of accounting processes

Technology

• Microsoft office products
• Spreadsheet software
• Word processing software
• Presentation software

Work Attire

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

On-Call and Travel

• On Call: Yes (employees may be required to be on-call during emergencies such as disasters or severe weather events regardless of selection)
• Travel within the Houston Metropolitan area: Yes
• Travel outside Houston Metropolitan area: Yes

Employment Status

• FLSA Status: Exempt

Company Profile

Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital is a Magnet-recognized, not-for-profit, faith-based hospital serving the growing Northwest Houston community. The hospital is committed to providing quality, cost-effective health care in a compassionate environment, offering services including emergency care, cardiology, orthopedics and sports medicine, comprehensive women’s services, neurology and neurosurgery, oncology, and primary and general medicine. Houston Methodist is an Equal Opportunity Employer.