At Houston Methodist, the Financial Audit Manager position is responsible for overseeing and directing financial audits, ensuring they are completed efficiently, accurately, and within budget for the Houston Methodist Research Institute (HMRI). Reporting to the Vice President of Finance, the position will ensure compliance with all applicable laws and regulations and provide financial guidance to senior management.

The position independently manages medium to large projects that require effective data analysis. The Financial Audit Manager works independently with stakeholders to understand finance research needs and help teams make data-driven business decisions that drive strategy and efficiency.

PATIENT AGE GROUP(S) AND POPULATION(S) SERVED
Refer to departmental "Scope of Service" and "Provision of Care" plans, as applicable, for description of primary age groups and populations served by this job for the respective HM entity.

HOUSTON METHODIST EXPERIENCE EXPECTATIONS

• Provide personalized care and service by consistently demonstrating our I CARE values:
  • INTEGRITY: We are honest and ethical in all we say and do.
  • COMPASSION: We embrace the whole person including emotional, ethical, physical, and spiritual needs.
  • ACCOUNTABILITY: We hold ourselves accountable for all our actions.
  • RESPECT: We treat every individual as a person of worth, dignity, and value.
  • EXCELLENCE: We strive to be the best at what we do and a model for others to emulate.

• Practices the Caring and Serving Model

• Delivers personalized service using HM Service Standards

• Provides for exceptional patient/customer experiences by following our Standards of Practice of always using Positive Language (AIDET, Managing Up, Key Words)

• Intentionally collaborates with other healthcare professionals involved in patients/customers or employees' experiential journeys to ensure strong communication, ease of access to information, and a seamless experience

• Involves patients (customers) in shift/handoff reports by enabling their participation in their plan of care as applicable to the given job

• Actively supports the organization's vision, fulfills the mission and abides by the I CARE values

PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Facilitates the promotion of teamwork within and between departments; participates and/or leads and facilitates department process improvements as needed.

• Effectively builds and leverages relationships with key stakeholders to develop and promote system-wide programming, obtains buy-in to change efforts, provides ongoing consultation and promotes Houston Methodist strategies. Works cross-entity (system-wide) to achieve innovative and actionable outcomes.

• Collaborate with stakeholders across finance, compliance, research administration, and legal to communicate findings and facilitate remediation plans.

SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Plans and conducts compliance reviews, analyzes financial data, and provides recommendations for improvement.

• Serves as the primary liaison between external auditors and leadership, preparing and presenting detailed audit findings and strategic recommendations to senior leadership.

• Proactively performs periodic reviews of previously reported audit findings to assess resolution and action taken in order to ensure action plans have been properly implemented and are being followed.

QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Evaluate systems and recommend improvements to strengthen compliance, efficiency, and risk mitigation.

• Monitor regulatory and accounting standard updates affecting healthcare and academic institutions and assist departments in adapting audit processes accordingly.

• Ensures we are following applicable granting agency policies and procedures and applicable audit standards.

FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Effectively manages the scope, schedule and budget of assigned programs. Provides support to aid in complex financial decision-making related to program. Tracks year-to-year trends and identifies opportunities for financial improvement.

• Monitors the success of the program, engagement strategies and budget, identifying cost-saving and waste-elimination opportunities.

• At the end of each financial/grant audit, recap/debrief with leadership of what went well and where they saw areas for improvement and providing guidance on needed changes.

• Utilizes efficient and cost-effective work practices with department resources and supplies; provides recommendations to reduce expenses.

GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Develop and implement multi-year compliance plans based on reviews and institutional priorities.

• Proactively seeks opportunities to enhance competency in current healthcare industry trends through networking with other audit leaders outside of the organization and through continuing education. Actively seeks knowledge of new, automated, or more contemporary audit tools and techniques to increase departmental efficiency and effectiveness.

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive; the employee will also perform other reasonably related business/job duties as assigned. Houston Methodist reserves the right to revise job duties and responsibilities as the need arises.

EDUCATION

• Bachelor's degree required, preferably in Business, Finance or Accounting

• Master's degree preferred

WORK EXPERIENCE

• Five years of internal auditing, accounting, public accounting or healthcare operations experience

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS - REQUIRED

• N/A

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS - PREFERRED

• CPA - Certified Public Accountant - State Licensure OR
• CIA - Certified Internal Auditor (IIA)

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through ongoing skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations

• Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially with regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security

• Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, family members and co-workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles

• Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through ongoing skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations

• Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially with regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security

• Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, family members and co-workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles

• Mature management skills demonstrated by calm and thorough review of situations

• Strong communication and presentation skills. Ability to conduct effective presentations

• Ability to establish and maintain positive Sponsor, project team member and internal relationships. Demonstrates strong written and verbal communication skills Strong analytical and interpersonal skills

• Ability to independently manage projects in culturally diverse settings - knowledge of different cultural sensitivities

• Advanced spreadsheet skills (i.e. creating pivot tables, performing v-lookups, and managing large data sets). Intermediate word-processing and presentation software skills

• Strong project and time management skills

• Initiative - Exhibits resourcefulness, independent action and judgment that are position appropriate. Evaluates, selects and acts on various methods and strategies for solving problems and meeting objectives

• Adaptable - flexible in handling change, able to juggle multiple high priority demands, able to adapt to new situations with innovative ideas or approaches. Can maintain focus on goals and easily adjust to how they are achieved

• Professional handling of exposure to confidential/sensitive information

• Demonstrated success in consulting effectively with senior-level management, the ability to influence others without direct position responsibility and to earn credibility and client trust

SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

WORK ATTIRE

• Uniform No
• Scrubs No
• Business professional Yes
• Other (department approved) No

ON-CALL*
*Note that employees may be required to be on-call during emergencies (ie. DIsaster, Severe Weather Events, etc) regardless of selection below.

• On Call* No

TRAVEL**
**Travel specifications may vary by department**

• May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area Yes
• May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area No

Houston Methodist Research Institute was formed in 2004 to rapidly and efficiently translate discoveries made in the laboratory and the clinic into new diagnostics, therapies, and treatments. The research institute was created to provide the infrastructure and support for these endeavors, and to house the technology and resources needed to make innovative breakthroughs in important areas of human disease. A 540,000 square foot building dedicated to research, the research institute houses over 1,500 staff and trainees, 284 principal investigators and has more than 570 ongoing clinical trials.