Opportunity

The Executive Director, Shared Services Finance role at Cleveland Clinic offers a rare opportunity to shape the future of finance operations within one of the world’s most respected health systems. Cleveland Clinic is an $18.3 billion integrated academic health system with 23 hospitals, more than 83,000 caregivers, and 6,600 physicians and scientists, with an international footprint spanning the United States, Canada, the Middle East, United Kingdom, and other international markets. The Executive Director will have the platform, scale, and influence to drive enterprise-wide financial strategy across a highly complex organization while partnering directly with senior executive leadership on initiatives that shape the system’s long-term growth, operational performance, and financial stewardship.

Reporting to the Senior Vice President, Finance and Chief Accounting Officer, the Executive Director will lead a team of 130 and oversee critical enterprise functions, including accounting, payroll, accounts payable, enterprise resource planning (ERP) system operations, and financial operations for shared services, while spearheading modernization and innovation through automation, artificial intelligence, and process redesign. The successful candidate will step into a highly visible leadership position with the ability to influence how a world-class health system leverages technology to improve efficiency, strengthen controls, and support its mission of exceptional patient care, research, and education. This leader will be energized by the opportunity for transformation, innovation, and enterprise impact across Cleveland Clinic’s global footprint.

Position Summary

A leader who excels in this role will:

• Direct financial accounting in the general ledger for expense and capital activities, including accounts payable, payroll, fixed assets, inventory, salary and benefits, unclaimed property, system allocations, and travel and expense.
• Oversee all capital accounting functions, including building, property, lease, construction-in-progress, and depreciation accounting.
• Partner with the peer Executive Director to ensure the accuracy and integrity of financial statements, including compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and, where appropriate, International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).
• Ensure the efficient and accurate processing of all accounts payable, payroll, and travel expense transactions throughout the enterprise.
• Oversee accounts payable and payroll operations, vendor management, compliance, internal controls, process improvement, and technology utilization.
• Lead the finance enterprise resource planning (ERP) platforms, including the Oracle general ledger and Workday payroll, encompassing ongoing production management, upgrades, and business process planning and implementation.
• Deliver all department services leveraging automation, machine learning, and artificial intelligence to ensure efficient and effective service delivery.
• Collaborate with other finance departments, information technology, human resources, supply chain, and other shared services and operational leaders to continually improve efficient, secure, and cost-effective system processes and controls that support exceptional and affordable patient care.
• Work with other finance leaders to ensure the finance ERP platforms support best-practice enterprise financial planning and analytics.
• Manage the Shared Services Financial Operations team, which provides strategic financial advisory services to shared services teams including information technology, building and design, human resources, legal, finance, revenue cycle management, strategy, and the executive office.
• Lead financial operations for shared services departments, including financial reporting and oversight, operating and capital budgeting, forecasting, business plan development, finance department compliance, and financial improvement activities, and serve as a liaison between shared services and other finance departments.
• Identify and mitigate financial risk through the design, implementation, maintenance, and remediation of internal controls that safeguard assets, ensure accurate financial reporting, and prevent fraud.
• Plan, organize, and direct all strategic activities related to staffing, including hiring, orienting, evaluating, disciplinary actions, and continuing education initiatives.
• Ensure the highest level of customer support for all key stakeholders within operations and shared services.
• Foster a collaborative team environment, providing opportunities for professional development and ensuring the team has the resources and support it needs to thrive.
• Prepare multiple departmental budgets and ensure that departments operate in compliance with allocated funding.
• Monitor and promote compliance with Cleveland Clinic policies.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Position Requirements

Minimum qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree and 15 years of professional, functionally relevant experience, including demonstrated management experience; OR master’s degree and 10 years of professional, functionally relevant experience, including demonstrated management experience.
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or Certified Management Accountant (CMA) certification, or a master’s degree in business administration or a related field.
• In-depth knowledge of financial systems analysis and a strong understanding of GAAP.
• Demonstrated history of working collaboratively in a matrixed environment.
• Demonstrated change leadership ability to accomplish results and meet deadlines and commitments.
• Strong networking and consulting skills, with strong internal and external relationships.
• Strong servant leadership skills.
• Ability to interpret and communicate technical information in business language.

Preferred qualifications for the ideal future caregiver include:

• Master’s degree in healthcare, accounting, or a business-related field, preferably with a secondary focus in information technology and project management.
• Strong accounting foundation and accounting leadership experience.
• Big 4 or adjacent firm experience.
• Leadership of large finance functions or transferable consulting experience.
• Experience in financial operations.
• Experience with large-scale systems or transformation work.
• Experience leading innovation and AI transformation initiatives.
• Experience with Oracle and/or Workday.
• Proven ability to build and scale high-performing teams and operations.
• Healthcare or hospital finance experience.

Compensation

A successful candidate’s actual compensation will be determined after considering factors such as work history, experience, skill set, and education. Cleveland Clinic is pleased to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.