Chief Financial Officer for the Faculty Practice Plan and Health Sciences

The Talent Acquisition department hires qualified candidates to fill positions which contribute to the overall strategic success of Howard University. Hiring staff “for fit” makes significant contributions to Howard University’s overall mission.

At Howard University, we prioritize well-being and professional growth.

Here is what we offer: 

• Health & Wellness: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, plus mental health support
• Work-Life Balance: PTO, paid holidays, flexible work arrangements
• Financial Wellness: Competitive salary, 403(b) with company match 
• Professional Development: Ongoing training, tuition reimbursement, and career advancement paths
• Additional Perks: Wellness programs, commuter benefits, and a vibrant company culture

Join Howard University and thrive with us! 

https://hr.howard.edu/benefits-wellness

We are seeking our next Chief Financial Officer (CFO) who will serve as the senior financial executive and strategic advisor for the Faculty Practice Plan (FPP), the College of Medicine, the College of Pharmacy, the College of Dentistry, the College of Nursing & Allied Health Sciences, and Health Sciences. Reporting directly to the Faculty Practice Plan CEO and operating within a matrixed leadership structure with accountability to the Senior Vice President of Health Sciences, the CFO provides executive leadership for all aspects of financial strategy, planning, and performance across the clinical, academic, and research missions.

The CFO is responsible for enterprise-wide financial management, including financial planning and analysis, budgeting, revenue cycle operations, capital planning and investment, physician and faculty workforce investments, research and grant-related financial oversight, and long-range financial strategy. As a key member of the executive leadership team, the CFO partners with the CEO, Dean, department chairs, and senior leaders align financial resources with institutional priorities, enabling informed decision-making, strategic growth, operational excellence, and mission advancement.

The CFO serves as the principal financial steward of the enterprise, accountable for optimizing financial performance, ensuring fiscal sustainability, managing organizational risk, and directing the effective allocation of resources across patient care, education, research, and community service initiatives. Through visionary financial leadership and a commitment to shared accountability, the CFO advances the long-term viability, growth, and impact of the Faculty Practice Plan and Health Sciences enterprise within a complex and highly regulated healthcare environment.

SUPERVISORY ACCOUNTABILITY:  

Upward Accountability: This position operates within a matrixed leadership structure and is jointly accountable to the Chief Executive Officer for Faculty Practice Plan (FPP) financial performance and operations, and the Senior Vice President of Health Sciences for financial strategy, planning, and stewardship of academic, research, and clinical missions.

Downward Accountability: The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) provides executive leadership and accountability for the organization's entire healthcare finance ecosystem through a comprehensive structure of senior financial leaders and direct reports. The CFO has enterprise-wide responsibility for financial strategy, stewardship, and performance, including oversight of Revenue Cycle operations, Financial Planning and Analysis, budgeting, forecasting, capital investment pro formas, and financial evaluation of physician recruitment and hiring decisions. Within Healthcare Sciences, the CFO is accountable for the financial integrity and sustainability of academic operations through oversight of budgeting, grant and research administration, and financial planning. The role serves as a strategic thinker and pro-active financial leader with responsibility to advise on financial strategy, ensure alignment of financial resources with organizational priorities, growth objectives, and long-term sustainability.

NATURE AND SCOPE:

Internal Contacts & Scope:

• Executive Leadership: Partners daily with the FPP Executive leadership team (CEO & COO) to map out long-term system strategies, evaluate investments in clinical and patient care, service line development, strategic growth planning, and sustainability initiatives. Engages routinely with the Senior Vice President for Finance to ensure alignment with broader University objectives.

• Academic Leadership: Supports the Dean of Medicine and Healthcare Sciences to track grant allocations, manage research funding, and align resources for residency training programs.

• Oversee Revenue Cycle Operations ensuring optimization of performance, charge capture, accurate and compliant coding, billing, collections, reimbursement, revenue integrity, and denial management functions. Exercises knowledge of healthcare reimbursement methodologies, including Medicare, Medicaid and commercial payers. This role drives revenue cycle strategy, performance improvement initiatives, and technology investments to maximize revenue realization across the physician enterprise.

External Contacts & Scope:

• Payers: Negotiates directly with Medicaid/Medicare MCO’s and commercial insurance companies for reimbursement rates.

• Vendors: In collaboration with university Supply Chain/Procurement, evaluates requests for medical devices, equipment, and technology against demand for services and prepares proformas to demonstrate investment and ROI.

• Financial Institutions: In collaboration with Howard University Finance Department, prepares documents and maintains relationships with investment banks and commercial lenders to improve/protect system’s financial health and credit rating.

• Government and Community: Serves as a strategic partner to the CEO in engaging healthcare regulators, FQHCs, and community stakeholders to identify, evaluate, and execute opportunities that expand the Faculty Practice Plan's presence, advance organizational growth, and improve healthcare access across the communities served.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES:

Strategy, Vision, and Leadership

• Direct long-term financial planning, capital allocation, and fiscal growth for the physician group and health sciences department.

• Accountable for overarching fiscal policy, strategic planning, operational and IT goals and priorities, financial risk management, and best practices to propel the organization forward.

• Provides strategic financial leadership through the development of enterprise-wide financial plans, forecasts, and predictive analyses that inform executive decision-making, guide resource allocation, evaluate strategic investments, and support the successful execution of the Faculty Practice Plan and Health Sciences priorities.

• Provides executive leadership in evaluating and developing new business models, strategic partnerships, and diversified revenue streams, ensuring opportunities are financially viable, aligned with institutional strategy, appropriately risk-assessed, and positioned to drive sustainable growth and long-term enterprise value.

• Provide revenue cycle oversight to optimize reimbursement and improve performance across the clinical enterprise.

Financial Services

• Ensure timeliness, accuracy, and usefulness of financial management reporting.

• Oversee and finalize the preparation and communication of monthly and annual financial statements, reports, and revenue cycle key performance indicators.

• Develop and utilize projection models and activity-based financial analyses to provide insight into the organization’s operations.

• Oversee the grants management and provide review of financial aspects for new program development.

• Provide executive leadership with advice on financial implications of business activities, including new business opportunities, programmatic budgets, and alternative revenue generation methodologies and risk management alternatives.

• Negotiate and manage Professional Service Agreements between the physician practice, medical school, and hospital.

• Develop and implement policies for cash management, finance and accounting, and revenue cycle and maintain strong internal controls.

• Direct involvement in all audit and remediation activities.

 Management

• Lead a team of financial service staff.

• Develop and implement operational strategies, policies, and procedures to drive efficiency, productivity, sustainability, and profitability.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to optimize processes, streamline workflows, and enhance operational efficiency within the financial realm.

• Foster professional development for team members, while leading and motiving towards goals and outcomes.

CORE COMPETENCIES:

• Strong leadership ability fosters high standards and promotes moral and team spirit.

• Business competence and negotiation skills.

• Functional competency including mastery of financial managerial accounting.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• High emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills.

• Strong organizational, strategic, analytic skills and creative problem-solving ability.

• Ability to develop effective cross-functional relationships.

• Flexibility and agility to adapt to changing priorities and the needs of the organization.

• Resourcefulness in setting priorities and proposing new ways of creating efficiencies.

• Proficient in using data and analytics to drive operational improvements and optimizing performance.

• Executive presence and the ability to advise and present financial strategy to senior leadership, governing bodies, and external stakeholders.

• Experience in leading organizational change, evaluating new business models, and structuring strategic partnerships.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS: 

• Master’s degree in accounting or finance from accredited college or university.

• CPA preferred.

• Ten years of demonstrated experience in financial management and accounting.

• Five or more years of progressive supervisory or management experience, including both management of complex projects and/or programs and supervision of staff (preferably within a healthcare system, academic medical center, faculty practice plan, or physician group practice, including direct oversight of revenue cycle operations.

• Proficiency with healthcare financial and practice management systems and decision-support/analytics platforms, in addition to MS Office and accounting software.

Note: This position description should not be construed to imply that these requirements are the exclusive standards of the position. Incumbents will follow any other instructions, and perform any other related duties, as may be required. The university has the right to revise this position description at any time. This position description is not construed as a contract for employment.  

Compliance Salary Range Disclosure

Compensation Range: $200,000- $225,000