Corporate Compliance Officer

FirstHealth of the Carolinas, Inc.•Pinehurst, NC

12d

About The Position

The Corporate Compliance Officer (CCO) provides strategic leadership and independent oversight of the enterprise-wide corporate compliance program for an integrated nonprofit healthcare system with approximately $1.2 billion in annual operating revenue. Reporting to the CFO and Board Chair, the CCO promotes integrity, ethical conduct, accountability, and compliance across hospitals, physician practices, outpatient facilities, subsidiaries, and affiliated operations. The CCO designs, implements, evaluates, and continually improves a compliance program aligned with applicable federal and North Carolina requirements, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General guidance, and recognized healthcare compliance practices. The role advises executive leadership and the Board, identifies and mitigates compliance risks, directs investigations, and ensures timely corrective action. The CCO is expected to have sufficient stature, resources, and authority to administer the program independently, with direct access to the CEO and Board and the ability to escalate material concerns without interference. The role should not include operational responsibilities that could conflict with independent compliance oversight. The CCO also manages compliance resources, budget, staffing, vendor relationships, and external assessments; develops and mentors the compliance team; and leads the Corporate Compliance Committee.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration, business, law, accounting, nursing, or a related field.
At least 10 years of progressively responsible healthcare compliance, regulatory, legal, audit, or risk experience, including significant leadership responsibility.
Demonstrated knowledge of federal healthcare program requirements, fraud and abuse laws, reimbursement compliance, and health system operations.
Experience conducting complex investigations, enterprise risk assessments, and executive and Board reporting.
Excellent judgment, integrity, communication, analytical, and relationship-building skills.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree, JD, MBA, MHA, or comparable advanced degree.
Certified in Healthcare Compliance (CHC) or comparable relevant credential.
Experience in a large, multi-hospital, integrated nonprofit health system.
Experience with compliance analytics, physician enterprise compliance, and independent compliance program effectiveness assessments.

Responsibilities

Lead and maintain an enterprise-wide compliance program based on the OIG’s seven elements of an effective compliance program, including policies, oversight, training, communication, monitoring, enforcement, and response.
Develop and execute a risk-based annual compliance work plan, periodically assess program effectiveness, and report measurable outcomes.
Oversee the Code of Conduct, compliance policies, reporting channels, and nonretaliation expectations, fostering a speak-up culture.
Provide independent, timely compliance advice to the CEO, CFO, executive leadership, and the Board’s Finance Committee.
Coordinate compliance governance and accountability across hospitals, medical groups, ambulatory operations, and affiliated entities.
Oversee annual compliance risk assessments and develop a compliance work plan.
Collaborate with revenue cycle and operations teams on CMS requirements, billing and coding, medical necessity, documentation, reimbursement, and overpayments.
Address fraud, waste, and abuse risks, including those involving the False Claims Act, Anti-Kickback Statute, Stark Law, physician arrangements, conflicts of interest, and exclusion screening.
Coordinate with responsible leaders on EMTALA, Conditions of Participation, 340B, tax-exempt obligations, and relevant federal and North Carolina requirements.
Monitor regulatory developments and translate changes into practical policies, controls, education, and operational action plans.
Oversee confidential intake, triage, investigation, documentation, and resolution of compliance allegations, hotline reports, and potential violations.
Ensure prompt escalation of significant issues and coordinate with counsel regarding privilege, disclosure, repayment, and government inquiries as appropriate.
Direct compliance auditing and monitoring activities, using data analytics to identify emerging risks and recurring patterns.
Ensure corrective action plans identify accountable owners, deadlines, root causes, validation testing, and follow-up reporting.
Oversee consistent and fair enforcement of compliance standards in partnership with Human Resources and leadership.
Collaborate with Legal, Revenue Cycle, Finance, Human Resources, Privacy, Information Security, Quality, and clinical leaders on compliance matters, audits, and education needs.
Develop role-specific compliance education, including onboarding and periodic training for employees, medical staff, leaders, and governing bodies.
Prepare regular dashboards and executive and Board reports on risk assessments, work-plan progress, investigations, training, trends, and remediation.
Maintain direct and unrestricted access to the Board or designated committee, including the ability to meet in executive session.
Manage compliance program resources, budget, staffing, vendor relationships, and external assessments; develop and mentor the compliance team.
Support due diligence and integration for new affiliations, partnerships, transactions, and major operational changes.
Lead and oversee the Corporate Compliance Committee.
Present compliance risk assessment and audit activities to the Board or designated committee routinely.
Complete and timely report the annual risk assessment and compliance work plan.
Ensure allegations and corrective actions are investigated, documented, and closed in a timely manner.
Demonstrate effective training, policy governance, reporting access, and nonretaliation.
Reduce repeat findings and sustain the effectiveness of corrective actions.
Provide transparent, actionable reporting to executive leadership and the Board.