Lead- Accounting Operations

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital•Memphis, TN

4d•$78,000 - $139,360

About The Position

The Lead–Accounting Operations plays a key role in the financial backbone of the Hospitality Services Department, overseeing internal controls and daily financial operations to ensure accuracy, compliance, and efficiency. They create clear monthly financial reports, lead the annual budgeting process, and collaborate with senior leadership to drive meaningful process improvements. This role benefits from restaurant or hospitality experience and is responsible for operating POS, ERP, and recipe costing systems to support smooth financial operations. Service industry environments energize ideal candidates and bring the financial insight needed to run a lean, high-performing operation. Knowledge of the Workday enterprise system is preferred.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in accounting, auditing, finance, or related field of study required.
Minimum Requirement: 5+ years of accounting experience working with a general ledger and related financial information systems.
Experience with accounting standards and regulations (e.g., IRS, US GAAP, Uniform Guidance, hospital regulations) within a specific area.
Experience working with cross-functional teams.
(People Managers only) Some experience managing/mentoring people.
Proven performance in earlier role.
Plans workload for team and gives clear instructions and expectations on delivery.
Frequently reviews work, gives positive and constructive feedback, and completes evaluations.
Coaches and supports the development efforts of each team member.
Ability to provide financial/ business analysis and ad-hoc financial modelling.
Strong knowledge of internal controls and financial risk management.
Skills to develop and implement analytical standards for reporting and modelling KPIs.
Can utilize models to perform ad hoc analyses.
Proactively keeps track of changing regulatory and quality standards to align processes for compliance within own area.
Effectively monitors compliance with financial regulatory requirements and reports issues.
Utilizes reports and manages documentation to efficiently monitor financial compliance requirements within own function/ department.
Leads team meetings on an as-needed basis and effectively communicates with cross-functional teams for results.
Understands and uses digital tools of communication as needed.
Speaks up in meetings, raises concerns, and shares information with the team.
Able to draw insights from different sets of data and quickly understand why issues are happening.
Solves problems quickly by identifying the root causes.
Encourages others to see the opportunities ahead amidst changing circumstances, even when the details have not been finalized.
Remains calm in challenging and uncertain times by focusing on the end goals and solving problems.
Defuses any unforeseen developments and problems by leveraging data analysis and insights.
Maintains focus on goals.
Drives engagement and ownership for the group to deliver ambitious results and solutions.
Uses deep understanding of financial systems, tools, and processes.
Deep skills in closing and advanced financial reporting and analyses; strong grasp of reporting standards.
Manages technically complex accounting and reporting issues/ processes.
Develops documentation, procedures, and instructions.
Skilled in all aspects of accounting operations, including accounts payable & receivable, collections, and cash projection processes.
Reviews reports, ledgers, detects frauds, bad debts, and ensures policies and controls are adhered to.
Drives process improvement projects within the department to improve efficiency.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree preferred.
Professional certification (e.g., Certified Public Accountant (CPA)/Certified Research Accountant (CRA)/Certified Management Accountant (CMA)) preferred.
Knowledge of the Workday enterprise system is preferred.
restaurant or hospitality experience

Responsibilities

Oversee coordination of the annual Internal Controls and Financial Statement audits performed by external auditors by preparing audit schedules at varying levels.
Reconcile and analyze complex accounts in compliance with departmental policy while adhering to established deadlines.
Prepare and maintain clear and detailed supporting documentation and financial statements.
Coordinate proactively with cross-functional teams (e.g., principal investigators, research groups, other departments) to prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual reports.
Track key metrics for own area, oversee reporting/ dashboards, and highlight issues or gaps to senior management.
Participate in the development and implementation of policies and procedures to improve efficiency for own area (e.g., payroll, accounts payable, travel processes).
Perform other duties as assigned to meet the goals and objectives of the department and institution.
Maintains regular and predictable attendance.
Track key metrics for the Food Service Department, oversee reporting/dashboards, and highlight issues or gaps to senior leaders
Serving as a Cost Center Manager with oversight of financial performance
Utilizing Workday and other financial management systems
Managing financial services operations
Administering accounts payable and accounts receivable functions
Preparing and analyzing month-to end financial reports
Supporting budget management and leading the annual budgeting process
Tracking and reporting cost-saving initiatives
Participate in the development and implementation of policies and procedures to improve efficiency for own area (e.g., payroll, accounts payable, travel processes)
Develop an operational understanding of key systems, including the department's point-of-sale, ERP, and recipe management/costing systems.
Perform other duties as assigned to meet the goals and objectives of the department and institution.