Vice President of Accounting

Additional Information About the Role The Vice President, Accounting serves as the enterprise senior accounting executive for BJC Health, providing strategic leadership and oversight for all system-wide accounting functions across one of the nation's largest integrated academic health systems. The VP, Accounting is responsible for ensuring the integrity, accuracy, and transparency of financial reporting; maintaining a highly effective internal control environment; and leading enterprise accounting operations, including consolidated financial statements, month-end close, regulatory reporting, technical accounting, and audit coordination.

This executive leads major accounting transformation initiatives, including ERP and financial systems implementations, automation strategies, process redesign, and accounting integration efforts associated with mergers, acquisitions, affiliations, and other strategic transactions. The role partners closely with executive leaders, Treasury, Tax, Internal Audit, Operational Finance, and business units to support enterprise strategy through timely, compliant, and actionable financial information.

The VP, Accounting develops high-performing teams, advances accounting excellence, and ensures compliance with GAAP, regulatory requirements, and organizational governance standards while supporting BJC's mission of delivering exceptional patient care. Overview BJC HealthCare is one of the largest nonprofit health care organizations in the United States, delivering services to residents primarily in the greater St. Louis, southern Illinois and southeast Missouri regions.

With net revenues of $6.3 billion and more than 30,000 employees, BJC serves patients and their families in urban, suburban and rural communities through its 14 hospitals and multiple community health locations. Services include inpatient and outpatient care, primary care, community health and wellness, workplace health, home health, community mental health, rehabilitation, long-term care and hospice. BJC is the largest provider of charity care, unreimbursed care and community benefits in the state of Missouri.

BJC and its hospitals and health service organizations provide $785.9 million annually in community benefit. That includes $410.6 million in charity care and other financial assistance to patients to ensure medical care regardless of their ability to pay. In addition, BJC provides additional community benefits through commitments to research, emergency preparedness, regional health care safety net services, health literacy, community outreach and community health programs and regional economic development.

BJC’s patients have access to the latest advances in medical science and technology through a formal affiliation between Barnes-Jewish Hospital and St. Louis Children’s Hospital with the renowned Washington University School of Medicine, which consistently ranks among the top medical schools in the country.

Role Purpose: The Vice President, Accounting serves as the enterprise senior accounting executive for BJC Health, providing strategic leadership and oversight for all system-wide accounting functions across one of the nation's largest integrated academic health systems. The VP, Accounting is responsible for ensuring the integrity, accuracy, and transparency of financial reporting; maintaining a highly effective internal control environment; and leading enterprise accounting operations, including consolidated financial statements, month-end close, regulatory reporting, technical accounting, and audit coordination.

This executive leads major accounting transformation initiatives, including ERP and financial systems implementations, automation strategies, process redesign, and accounting integration efforts associated with mergers, acquisitions, affiliations, and other strategic transactions. The role partners closely with executive leaders, Treasury, Tax, Internal Audit, Operational Finance, and business units to support enterprise strategy through timely, compliant, and actionable financial information.

The VP, Accounting develops high-performing teams, advances accounting excellence, and ensures compliance with GAAP, regulatory requirements, and organizational governance standards while supporting BJC's mission of delivering exceptional patient care. Accountabilities: Enterprise Accounting LeadershipDevelop and execute the enterprise accounting strategy in alignment with organizational objectives, governance requirements, and long-term financial priorities.

Establish and maintain accounting policies, standards, and practices that support consistency, compliance, and operational effectiveness across BJC Health. Serve as the principal accounting advisor to executive leadership on accounting matters, financial reporting implications, and emerging regulatory developments. Lead enterprise accounting transformations that enhance scalability, efficiency, financial transparency, and decision support capabilities.

Technical Accounting and Audit OversightProvide executive oversight for complex accounting transactions, technical accounting assessments, and financial policy interpretation. Direct enterprise account reconciliation processes, journal entry governance, and accounting controls. Coordinate annual financial statement audits and maintain productive relationships with external auditors.

Partner with Internal Audit to strengthen financial controls, mitigate risk, and address audit findings. Ensure effective documentation, monitoring, and testing of key financial controls. Strategic Transactions and Transformation Support mergers, acquisitions, partnerships, joint ventures, and other strategic initiatives, including purchase accounting and post-transaction integration activities.

Lead accounting workstreams associated with large-scale ERP implementations, system conversions, and financial technology upgrades. Drive automation and continuous improvement initiatives that increase efficiency, reduce manual effort, and improve reporting quality. Champion standardization and modernization of accounting processes across the enterprise.

Financial Stewardship and Operational ExcellenceDevelop and manage departmental operating budgets, staffing plans, and resource allocations. Monitor key accounting performance metrics and implement strategies that improve service delivery and organizational outcomes. Establish enterprise standards for financial reporting quality, timeliness, and accountability.

Identify opportunities to improve operational effectiveness while maintaining strong compliance and control environments. Leadership, Talent Development and CultureBuild, lead, and develop a high-performing accounting organization through recruitment, coaching, mentoring, succession planning, and leadership development. Establish clear performance expectations and accountability measures for accounting leaders and team members.

Foster collaboration across Treasury, Tax, Internal Audit, Finance, Operations, and executive leadership teams. Promote a culture of integrity, inclusion, continuous improvement, accountability, and professional growth. Serve as a visible and engaged leader who models BJC values and drives organizational excellence.

Position

Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field required; Master’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field preferred.10+ years of progressive accounting and financial experience 5-10 years of management experience leading accounting, finance, or related functionsExperience leading managers and large, geographically dispersed teamsSignificant experience within large, complex organizations with multi-entity financial reporting structuresDemonstrated responsibility for consolidated financial reporting, audits, technical accounting, and compliance oversightHealthcare industry experience within integrated delivery systems, academic medical centers, or large health systems strongly pre