Organization:
Finance - Adult Ops.
Job Summary:
Vanderbilt Health – Executive Search Team is conducting a national search for a Vice President, Finance, Vanderbilt University Hospital.
Vanderbilt University Hospital (VUH), the flagship adult academic medical center of Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), is seeking a strategic and collaborative finance executive to serve as Vice President, Finance.
Reporting to the Senior Vice President of Finance, the Vice President serves as the senior financial leader for Vanderbilt University Hospital and partners closely with hospital, physician, nursing, and administrative leadership to ensure the long-term financial sustainability of the organization's clinical mission. The VP provides financial leadership across hospital operations, service lines, budgeting, performance management, decision support, and operational improvement initiatives while fostering a culture of stewardship, accountability, transparency, and mission-driven decision-making.
This executive will play a critical role in helping VUH achieve its strategic, operational, quality, and financial objectives while maintaining Vanderbilt's commitment to exceptional patient care, innovation, education, and research.
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Key Responsibilities:
Financial Leadership & Strategic Partnership
- Serve as the principal finance partner to Vanderbilt University Hospital leadership.
- Collaborate with operational, clinical, physician, and nursing leaders to align financial strategies with organizational priorities.
- Provide financial insights and recommendations that support growth, performance improvement, and long-term sustainability.
- Translate complex financial information into actionable business strategies and operational plans.
Budgeting, Forecasting & Financial Stewardship
- Lead the development, implementation, and management of the annual operating budget for Vanderbilt University Hospital.
- Partner with shared services organizations, department leaders, and physician leadership on budget development and resource allocation.
- Ensure transparency, accountability, and stewardship in all financial planning processes.
- Oversee forecasting, variance analysis, and performance monitoring to ensure achievement of operating targets.
- Lead corrective action planning when financial performance falls below expectations.
Hospital & Service Line Financial Performance
- Oversee financial performance for Vanderbilt University Hospital and key clinical service lines.
- Partner with service line leaders to evaluate profitability, cost performance, clinical productivity, and resource utilization.
- Provide analysis related to:
- Margin improvement
- Cost-per-case performance
- Case mix index
- Length of stay
- Capacity utilization
- Operational efficiency
- Support evaluations of service expansions, consolidations, and redesign initiatives based on strategic and financial considerations.
- Lead financial recovery and stabilization efforts for underperforming programs or services.
Revenue Cycle & Financial Optimization
- Monitor net revenue performance and key revenue cycle indicators.
- Partner with Revenue Integrity, Clinical Documentation Improvement, Compliance, and operational teams to optimize financial performance.
- Support efforts to reduce denials, improve reimbursement, and strengthen revenue capture while maintaining the highest standards of compliance and patient-centered care.
- Balance revenue optimization with VUMC's commitment to patient access, affordability, and community service.
Cost Management & Operational Improvement
- Lead strategic cost management initiatives across hospital operations.
- Partner with operational and clinical leaders to improve labor productivity, workforce sustainability, and operational efficiency.
- Collaborate with Supply Chain leadership on cost optimization opportunities.
- Identify and eliminate non-value-added expenses while preserving quality, safety, and patient outcomes.
- Promote sustainable expense management practices that support long-term financial strength rather than short-term cost reductions.
Financial Reporting & Decision Support
- Ensure the integrity, consistency, and accuracy of hospital and service line financial reporting.
- Produce executive-level financial analyses supporting:
- Strategic planning
- Business development
- Capital investments
- Operational decision-making
- Performance improvement initiatives
- Present financial results and recommendations to executive leadership teams, management councils, and operational leadership groups.
- Develop meaningful dashboards and performance metrics that inform organizational decision-making.
Capital Planning & Resource Allocation
- Partner with the CFO and capital planning leadership to evaluate capital investment opportunities.
- Develop business cases and financial analyses supporting capital investments.
- Prioritize capital requests based on strategic alignment, community impact, return on investment, quality, safety, and operational effectiveness.
- Monitor implementation and financial outcomes of approved projects.
Compliance, Risk Management & Accountability
- Support financial audits, regulatory reviews, and reporting requirements.
- Partner with Compliance and Legal teams to mitigate financial risk.
- Ensure adherence to applicable regulatory and reimbursement requirements.
- Support sound financial controls and accountability across hospital operations.
Leadership & Talent Development
- Lead and develop high-performing finance teams supporting hospital operations and clinical service lines.
- Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement.
- Serve as a trusted advisor to leaders throughout the organization.
- Recruit, retain, mentor, and develop finance talent.
- Support succession planning and leadership development initiatives across the finance organization.
Qualifications
Required Experience
- Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Healthcare Administration, or related field.
- Minimum of 10 years of progressive healthcare finance leadership experience, including serving as the senior finance executive for a hospital, health system market, or major operating division.
- Significant experience in hospital operations finance within a complex health system environment.
- Deep understanding of healthcare reimbursement, financial management, budgeting, forecasting, and performance improvement.
Preferred Qualifications
- Master's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Healthcare Administration, or related field.
- CPA, CFA, FHFMA, or other relevant professional certification.
- Experience in an academic medical center, integrated health system, or large not-for-profit healthcare organization.
- Familiarity with governmental reimbursement programs and complex provider financial environments.
Leadership Competencies
The successful candidate will demonstrate:
- Exceptional strategic and financial acumen
- Strong partnership skills with physicians, nurses, and operational leaders
- Executive presence and influence without reliance on positional authority
- Proven ability to lead transformational change
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving capabilities
- Superior communication and presentation skills
- Demonstrated commitment to talent development and succession planning
- Ability to balance mission, quality, growth, and financial performance
- Commitment to stewardship, integrity, accountability, and service excellence
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Core Accountabilities:
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Core Capabilities :
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Position Qualifications:
Responsibilities:
Certifications:
Work Experience:
Relevant Work Experience
Experience Level:
7 years
Education:
Master's
This role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact within Vanderbilt Health, supported by a comprehensive benefits package which may include health, disability, retirement and/or wellness offerings to enhance your well-being and professional growth.
