"Assistant Director Patient Accounts - AZ - Centralized Billing Office"

Job Details

Summary

The Assistant Director of Patient Accounts for the Centralized Billing Office provides high-level leadership and strategic oversight of all revenue cycle functions for the Midwestern University Clinics located in Glendale, Arizona and Downers Grove, Illinois. This includes billing, collections, cash application, and payer compliance. The Assistant Director supports the Director of Patient Accounts in establishing vision, driving operational performance, ensuring regulatory compliance, and optimizing financial outcomes. This position serves as a key leader across clinics and academic programs, strengthening processes, staff capability, and customer service excellence.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Leadership & Strategic Management

• Provide operational leadership and direction for billing/collection activities, cash application, insurance verification, referrals, provider credentialing, refunds, and cashiering for all human health clinics.
• Partner with the Director of Patient Accounts to set departmental goals, align strategic priorities, and develop long-term plans for revenue cycle improvement and growth.
• Oversee daily operations through effective delegation, performance monitoring, and issue resolution, ensuring workflows are efficient, compliant, and customer-focused.

Staff Supervision & Development

• Interview, hire, train, mentor, supervise, and evaluate staff within the Centralized Billing Office, including leads, coordinators, and specialists.
• Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, ongoing education, and professional development.
• Provide coaching and support in resolving complex billing, insurance, and patient inquiries.

Revenue Cycle Oversight

• Ensure all Federal, State, payer, and HIPAA/HITECH billing, collecting, and follow-up requirements are met.
• Monitor accounts receivable performance and revenue trends; identify issues, develop action plans, and lead team implementation.
• Analyze payer behavior, denials, and reimbursement trends to maximize collections and minimize bad debt.
• Oversee accurate and timely cash application, including complex payment posting scenarios.

Financial Stewardship & Reporting

• Prepare, implement, and monitor budgets for patient accounts functions in collaboration with the Director.
• Review and interpret month-end and year-end reporting to assess performance and guide decision-making.
• Develop and maintain key performance indicators (KPIs), benchmarks, dashboards, and operational metrics for the Centralized Billing Office.

Compliance, Audits & Policy Development

• Ensure organizational compliance with payer contracting agreements, billing regulations, and internal policies.
• Participate in internal and external audits related to finance, billing, and coding.
• Lead the development, revision, and implementation of policies and standard operating procedures (SOPs) related to revenue cycle operations.
• Coordinate any operational changes required by regulatory agencies.

Cross-Department Collaboration

• Serve as a strategic partner to University Administration, Clinic Administration, and academic programs to support financial goals, patient satisfaction, and operational efficiency.
• Collaborate with clinical care teams to provide education on billing, documentation, and coding changes.
• Build strong relationships with internal departments such as IT, Compliance, Finance, and Clinic Operations to optimize workflows.

Customer Service & Patient Experience

• Ensure courteous, timely, and effective assistance for patients regarding billing, scheduling, and financial concerns.
• Promote a culture of high-quality customer service throughout the Centralized Billing Office.

Committee & Professional Engagement

• Represent the Centralized Billing Office on various university and clinic committees.
• Participate in professional organizations such as MGMA and HFMA (or others as appropriate to the role).

Other Responsibilities

• Remain current on industry trends, healthcare regulations, and revenue cycle best practices.
• Advise the Director of Patient Accounts regarding system needs, workflow changes, and improvement opportunities.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities

The position is responsible for the supervision of Patient Account Specialists, and Certified Coding Specialists.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. This individual must be able to work in a constant state of alertness and safe manner. Must have regular, predictable, in-person attendance. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience

A Bachelor’s degree in finance or related field is required. A minimum of 5 years’ management experience and minimum of 7-10 years of experience working in an integrated clinic environment is required, preferable with an academic institution. Knowledge of Federal and State guidelines, managed care contracting, payer filing and appeal limits, and credit and collection policies is also required. A high level of interpersonal skills, problem solving and strong analytic abilities is necessary to be successful in this position. Thorough knowledge of Current Procedure Terminology (CPT), ICD9/ICD10, HCPCS codes and the CMS 1500 claim form. Certified Professional Coder Certification preferred.

Computer Skills

Computer proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook). Experience with Medical Practice Management systems, EHR, payer websites, clearinghouses.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to talk, hear, stand, walk, reach with hands and arms, use hands to handle and feel. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.