Assistant Controller - Finance

Firelands Health Careers•Sandusky, OH

About The Position

The Assistant Controller supports accounting and financial oversight across Firelands Health, with a primary emphasis on The Bellevue Hospital (TBH), and leads financial planning and analysis for TBH. Reporting to the Controller, this position coordinates local close reviews, supports effective internal controls, and partners with FRMC's centralized accounting and finance teams. The Assistant Controller works with system financial planning leadership and TBH department leaders on budgets, forecasts, performance reviews, and financial analyses that support operational and strategic decisions. The role also serves as a primary finance resource for TBH leaders and liaison to centralized finance teams. It directs and reviews the work of assigned staff supporting TBH accounting and financial analysis, and supports adoption of standardized accounting and reporting processes.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field with a strong foundation in accounting.
At least five years of progressively responsible accounting and finance experience, including healthcare finance experience.
Demonstrated knowledge of GAAP and experience with general ledger accounting, closing processes, journal entries, reconciliations, and financial reporting.
Experience developing budgets, forecasts, variance analyses, and financial models and translating results into practical recommendations.
Experience leading staff, projects, or financial processes and coordinating work across departments.
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and experience using accounting, budgeting, and financial reporting systems.
Strong analytical, written, and verbal communication skills; ability to explain financial results to operational leaders, manage competing deadlines, and maintain accurate records.
Punctual attendance at the assigned work location.
Ability to work safely and efficiently, maintain an accident-free workplace, and demonstrate working knowledge of emergency codes.
Ability to comply with OSHA regulations, CDC standard and transmission-based precaution recommendations, proper personal protective equipment requirements, and applicable S.D.S. forms.
Ability to complete required organizational and departmental requirements, including fit testing, vaccinations, health pillars, and CareLearning, within allotted timeframes.
Valid State of Ohio motor vehicle operator's license and eligibility for coverage under Firelands' auto policy.
Ability to provide proof of personal automobile liability insurance coverage upon request.

Nice To Haves

Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Management Accountant (CMA), or a master's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or Healthcare Administration.
Experience in a hospital or health system with multiple entities, including local financial oversight, operational budgeting, and collaboration with centralized finance teams.
Experience with hospital decision support, cost accounting, productivity, or analytics tools, including Strata, EPSi, or comparable systems.

Responsibilities

Coordinate TBH monthly and year-end close reviews with the Controller and FRMC's centralized accounting team, and support local financial reviews for other entities as assigned.
Identify TBH accruals and adjustments, investigate local issues, and provide timely information to the centralized team.
Review TBH financial statements, statistical reports, account balances, and supporting schedules prepared by centralized teams.
Prepare TBH management summaries and submit them to the Controller for review.
Investigate local discrepancies and coordinate their resolution with the Controller and TBH department leaders.
Partner with centralized revenue cycle and reimbursement staff to understand patient revenue, payer mix, collections, and reimbursement trends and explain their effects on TBH performance and planning.
Provide TBH-specific information and documentation for centrally coordinated financial audits and required reporting, respond to local questions, and help address TBH findings.
Apply GAAP and established system accounting policies to TBH activities.
Document local procedures, maintain appropriate segregation of duties, and recommend improvements to TBH internal controls.
Lead TBH operating budget development and capital planning in coordination with system financial planning leadership.
Partner with TBH department leaders to develop volume, staffing, productivity, revenue, and expense budgets; review submissions for accuracy, reasonableness, and alignment with operational plans.
Develop TBH forecast inputs and multiyear financial projections with system financial planning leadership, evaluating financial drivers such as volume, payer mix, reimbursement, labor, and supplies.
Analyze monthly results against budget, forecast, and prior periods; explain significant variances, distinguish timing differences from recurring issues, and identify financial risks and opportunities.
Meet regularly with TBH leaders to review financial performance, recommend actions, and monitor agreed improvement plans.
Present findings clearly to financial and operational audiences.
Develop TBH pro formas, business cases, and scenario analyses for services, staffing, equipment, and capital requests; document assumptions, evaluate contribution margin and return on investment as appropriate, and compare actual results with approved projections.
Analyze TBH department, service line, and provider performance, including costs, profitability, resource utilization, and productivity benchmarking, in partnership with system decision support staff.
Use established system reports and dashboards to analyze TBH performance.
Validate TBH operational inputs with department leaders and coordinate data corrections with centralized accounting, payroll, decision support, and IT staff.
Serve as a primary finance resource for TBH leaders and liaison to FRMC's centralized finance teams.
Coordinate local priorities with the Controller and system financial planning leadership.
Direct and review the work of assigned staff supporting TBH accounting and financial analysis.
Provide training, cross-training, mentoring, and feedback, and participate in hiring and performance evaluations as assigned.
Support TBH adoption of standardized accounting and reporting processes, recommend local workflow improvements, and participate as a TBH user representative in centrally led financial system testing and training.
Escalate significant TBH accounting judgments, control concerns, and financial risks to the Controller for review and direction.
Meet assigned departmental goals and competencies and contribute to ongoing strategic initiatives.
Comply with workplace safety, OSHA, CDC precaution, PPE, and applicable S.D.S. requirements; complete required organizational and departmental requirements within allotted timeframes.
Maintain punctual attendance at the assigned work location and hold a valid Ohio motor vehicle operator's license, be insurable under Firelands' auto policy, and provide proof of personal automobile liability insurance upon request.