Accounting Director - Government Reimbursement

Sutter Health•Sacramento, CA

1d•$181,875 - $291,013•Hybrid

About The Position

The Accounting Director leads and directs general accounting services for the system, monitors operations, and develops internal controls to ensure activities and transactions comply with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). The role works with accounting leaders to manage the presentation of financial information and analysis, and develops performance metrics, policies, procedures, and internal controls. It provides strategic guidance on business issues, recognizing cross-functional and system-wide implications and interdependencies of decisions. This position focuses on government reimbursement strategy and requires extensive expertise in Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement methodologies, regulatory analysis, and reimbursement optimization. Although listed as hybrid, regular in-office attendance is required, with consistent commuting to the Sacramento office to support collaboration and business needs. The role is full-time, scheduled for 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday, on the day shift; weekend work may be needed as circumstances require.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field.
12 years of recent relevant experience.
Working knowledge of accounting and/or finance operations.
Working knowledge of accounting, auditing, and financial reporting principles and methods, including GAAP.
Understanding of business and service organization best practices.
Strategic skills to review processes and strategies for alignment with business needs and identify improvement opportunities.
Analytical skills and the ability to resolve issues by leveraging business and functional knowledge and client relationships.
Ability to manage projects from inception through successful implementation and operate strategically and tactically.
Credible leadership presence and ability to respond to questions with logic, clarity, calmness, and authority.
Ability to influence others through persuasion, negotiation, and problem solving, and to help others consider different perspectives and options.
Collaborative working style that facilitates information sharing and cooperation among project participants and stakeholders.
Proactive approach to identifying and resolving issues and managing or minimizing risks.
Ability to maintain effective working relationships while respecting cultural and linguistic differences and fostering an inclusive work environment.
Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to present concepts and information clearly to management and employees.
Organization, planning, delegation, and prioritization skills to meet deadlines while maintaining responsiveness.
Ability to work effectively in a dynamic, fast-paced environment with changing priorities.
Integrity and ethics in handling confidential and sensitive information.
Ability to use essential applications and/or databases associated with the role's duties and responsibilities.
Candidates should be prepared to commute consistently to the Sacramento office for regular in-office attendance.

Nice To Haves

Extensive experience with Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement methodologies, including cost reporting, wage index strategies, Graduate Medical Education (GME), Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH), Uncompensated Care, supplemental payment programs, and regulatory reimbursement analysis.
Experience leading reimbursement strategy for a large integrated healthcare system, multi-hospital health system, academic medical center, or healthcare consulting organization.
Demonstrated success identifying, quantifying, and implementing reimbursement optimization initiatives that result in significant financial improvement while maintaining regulatory compliance.
Experience evaluating federal and state regulatory changes, including CMS proposed and final rules, and translating reimbursement requirements into financial impact assessments and executive-level recommendations.
Experience overseeing Medicare and Medicaid cost reporting, regulatory filings, reimbursement audits, appeals, settlements, and governmental agency interactions.
Experience developing reimbursement analytics, financial models, forecasting methodologies, and decision-support tools for executive planning and strategic initiatives.
Experience leading financial due diligence, reimbursement assessments, mergers and acquisitions support, hospital affiliations, service-line evaluations, or other strategic healthcare growth initiatives.
Prior experience with California healthcare reimbursement programs, HCAI reporting requirements, Medi-Cal reimbursement methodologies, and state-specific healthcare regulatory programs.
Experience working with healthcare reimbursement consulting firms, governmental agencies, external auditors, legal counsel, and industry associations.

Responsibilities

Lead and direct general accounting services for the system and monitor operations.
Develop internal controls to ensure activities and transactions comply with GAAP.
Work with accounting leaders to manage the presentation of financial information and analysis.
Develop performance metrics, policies, procedures, and internal controls.
Provide strategic guidance on business issues, accounting for cross-functional and system-wide implications and interdependencies.
Lead or oversee government reimbursement strategy, analysis, reporting, filings, audits, appeals, settlements, and related agency interactions, as described in the preferred experience.
Identify, quantify, and implement reimbursement optimization initiatives while maintaining regulatory compliance, as described in the preferred experience.
Develop reimbursement analytics, financial models, forecasting methodologies, and decision-support tools, as described in the preferred experience.