Assistant Controller - Finance

Firelands Health•Sandusky, OH

10d

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 Firelands Regional Medical Center's (FRMC) 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 serves as a primary finance resource for TBH leaders and a liaison to centralized finance teams. It directs and reviews assigned staff supporting TBH accounting and financial analysis, contributes to standardized accounting and reporting processes, and escalates significant accounting judgments, control concerns, and financial risks to the Controller.

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.
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 is required.
Ability to work safely and efficiently and demonstrate working knowledge of emergency codes.
Ability to comply with OSHA regulations, CDC standard and transmission-based precaution recommendations, proper personal protective equipment use, and applicable S.D.S. provisions.
Ability to complete required organizational and departmental requirements, including fit testing, vaccinations, health pillars, and CareLearning, within the allotted timeframe.
Valid State of Ohio motor vehicle operator's license and insurability under Firelands auto policy; proof of personal automobile liability insurance coverage must be provided 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 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 and statistical reports prepared by centralized teams, prepare management summaries, and submit them to the Controller for review.
Review TBH account balances and supporting schedules, investigate discrepancies, and coordinate 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 effect on performance and planning.
Provide TBH-specific information and documentation for centrally coordinated financial audits and required reporting, respond to local questions, and help address findings.
Apply GAAP and system accounting policies to TBH activities; document local procedures, maintain appropriate segregation of duties, and recommend internal-control improvements.
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 forecast inputs and multiyear financial projections with system financial planning leadership, evaluating volume, payer mix, reimbursement, labor, supplies, and other financial drivers.
Analyze monthly results against budget, forecast, and prior periods; explain significant variances, distinguish timing differences from recurring issues, and identify risks and opportunities.
Meet with TBH leaders to review financial performance, recommend actions, monitor improvement plans, and present findings to financial and operational audiences.
Develop 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 department, service line, and provider performance, including costs, profitability, resource utilization, and productivity benchmarking, with system decision support staff.
Use system reports and dashboards to analyze TBH performance, validate operational inputs, 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 centralized finance teams; coordinate local priorities with the Controller and system financial planning leadership.
Direct and review assigned staff; provide training, cross-training, mentoring, and feedback; and participate in hiring and performance evaluations as assigned.
Support 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.
Maintain punctual attendance at the assigned work location and work safely and efficiently, including maintaining an accident-free workplace and demonstrating knowledge of emergency codes.
Comply with OSHA regulations, CDC precaution recommendations, personal protective equipment requirements, and applicable S.D.S. provisions.
Achieve departmental goals and competencies and contribute to strategic initiatives; complete required organizational and departmental requirements within the allotted timeframe.
Maintain a valid State of Ohio motor vehicle operator's license and insurability under the Firelands auto policy; provide proof of personal automobile liability insurance upon request.