Manager Cost Accounting

highmarkhealth; Pennsylvania; Hybrid; USD 95,000 - 145,000; Full time

Job summary

Allegheny Health Network seeks a leader in cost accounting to drive advanced patient cost analytics, including statistical analysis, predictive modeling, and data visualization, supporting capital decisions and payer negotiations.

Under the Director, Cost Accounting, you will guide departmental operations, establish cost definitions, and develop allocation rules while partnering with clinical teams to translate activity into productivity metrics using SAS, Tableau, Excel and related tools.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting required or equivalent experience.
• 3 years in a leadership or management role.
• 3 years of database development.
• 3 years with cost accounting.
• Advanced Excel skills required.
• Strong understanding of relational database structures, applications, and transactional systems.
• Healthcare cost accounting knowledge preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead cost accounting operations for the Network.
• Hire, coach, and develop department staff; manage budget and policies.
• Establish guiding principles for cost accounting across entities.
• Oversee cost analysts delivering cost allocation rules and processes.
• Use SAS, Excel, Tableau, Alteryx to produce actionable reports.
• Collaborate with hospital leaders to develop timely cost and productivity metrics.
• Ensure data credibility through audits, reconciliation, and governance.

Skills

Leadership experience

Advanced Excel

Data analysis

Relational databases

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Accounting or equivalent

Tools

SAS

Tableau

Alteryx

EPSi

StrataJazz

SQL

Visual Basic

Job description

GENERAL OVERVIEW

Company : Allegheny Health Network Job 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, and direct cost assignments to patient care activities. Includes working with responsible finance team members to generate and maintain cost center hierarchy definitions and any other identifiers required to ensure the proper categorization and allocation of costs. (15%)
• Provide direction to cost analysts responsible for: (10%) 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 to identify how to keep quality healthcare accessible and affordable 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 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. (Comprehends general business concepts demonstrated by the ability to read and discuss professional communications such as industry news, technical procedures, and government regulations. Written communication skills include: the ability to write reports, use e-mail appropriately, and present information in an organized way. Oral communication skills; the ability to respond to inquiries and