Position overview
The Chief Financial Officer Division is led by the Chief Finance Officer (CFO) who reports to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Canberra Health Services. The CFO Division is responsible for the development and maintenance of budgets, financial management, and for providing strong operational finance, procurement, supply chain and performance reporting and decision support analysis across the health service. The sub-units within the CFO branch include the Financial Performance and Support Unit, Hospital Revenue and Financial Services, Decision Support Unit and Procurement & Supply.
The Senior Director, Hospital Revenue and Financial Services is a leadership and management position that provides strategic and operational leadership for Canberra Health Services own source revenue operations and has primary responsibility for managing the functions and leading the Patient Accounts and Hospital Financial Services teams.
The position is responsible for effective revenue control, recovery and private practice administration to optimise revenue outcomes, strengthen financial governance and ensure legislative and policy compliance. The role is key in leading and managing initiatives that will enhance the efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability of Canberra Health Services, focusing on revenue monitoring and assurance whilst implementing system and process improvements.
This role offers a unique opportunity to shape the financial sustainability of a major public health service, influence system-wide revenue practices, and lead transformational change across complex hospital and community care environments.
Key Responsibilities
Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following.
- Provide strategic direction and governance for Patient Accounts and Hospital Financial Services teams to deliver high quality, patient-focused account processing and a seamless end-to-end patient financial journey.
- Build a high performing team by developing capabilities in managers, embedding accountability for outcomes and fostering a culture of data-driven decision making and continuous improvement.
- Lead the development, implementation and review of financial services policies and procedures that deliver measurable improvements in cashier services, VMO claims, bonus/superannuation payments, Private Practice Fund Administration function and Interstate Patient Travel Assistance Scheme (IPTAS) tasks.
- Provide authoritative, specialist advice to executives on revenue optimisation opportunities, legislation and policy impacts (including activity-based funding), and complex revenue matters.
- Lead the development, implementation and review of revenue strategies, policies, procedures and business rules (including inpatient and outpatient billing pathways) that deliver measurable improvements in collections, reduced revenue leakage and strengthened compliance performance.
- Drive continuous improvement by establishing a framework to routinely review systems and processes, identify efficiency opportunities and implement change, including leveraging technology, automation and data to improve revenue outcomes, streamline workflows, and enhance service delivery.
- Lead revenue budgeting, forecasting and performance reporting, including monitoring and reporting against key performance indicators for revenue generation, process efficiency and debt management, and providing insight-based recommendations to senior stakeholders.
- Represent Canberra Health Services on relevant revenue governance forums, committees and user groups; maintain constructive relationships with clinical leaders, Department of Health representatives and internal/external audit to support compliance and delivery if revenue initiatives.
- Ensure patients and other staff are treated fairly and with mutual respect and understanding, regardless of cultural, religious, ethnic and linguistic backgrounds, gender, identity, ages or abilities.
- Follow defined service quality standards, occupational health and safety policies and procedures relating to the work being undertaken to ensure high quality, safe services and workplaces.
Competencies
Specific competencies include but are not limited to the following.
- Applies financial and strategic judgement to align revenue opportunities with organisational priorities, translating complex funding models and policy settings into clear, actionable strategies that optimise financial performance.
- Engages and influences senior clinical, executive, and government stakeholders to drive alignment on revenue strategies, resolve complex funding and compliance issues, and embed consistent, organisation-wide practices.
- Leverages sophisticated financial, operational, and performance data to identify revenue risks and opportunities, generate actionable insights, and support evidence-based decision-making at executive level.
- Leads and sustains organisational change by embedding new systems, processes, and ways of working, fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement to deliver measurable and lasting performance uplift.
Qualifications
Specific qualifications include, but are not limited to, the following.
Essential
- Relevant tertiary qualifications in Business, Finance, Health Administration, or related field.
- 5+ years’ experience in healthcare finance, public accounting and/or private industry with knowledge of health revenue, accounts processing and hospital financial services.
Desirable
- Certified Practicing Accountant, Chartered Accountant member or equivalent.
Experience
Specific experience includes but is not limited to the following.
Essential
- Knowledge of health revenue and funding models (e.g., ABF, Medicare, private health insurance).
- Demonstrated experience with financial reporting, budgeting and forecasting.
Desirable
- Demonstrated experience using health systems such as PBRC and DHR.
- Demonstrated experience in system and business process improvements.
Prior to commencement
Appointment to this position is conditional on being granted and retaining appropriate clearances:
- Undergo a pre-employment National Police Check.
Important information
All employees are required to:
- Adhere to the Canberra Health Services Values and the ACT Public Service Code of Conduct.
- Act in accordance and comply with all relevant Safety and Quality policies and procedures.
CHS is leading the drive to digitally transform health service delivery in Australia through the implementation of a territory wide Digital Health Record. Computer literacy skills are required, which are relevant to this role as you will be responsible for completing required documentation and becoming a proficient user of the Digital Health Record and/or other Information Technology systems; once proficient, you will need to remain current with changes, updates, and contingencies.
What you Require (Key Selection Criteria)
These are the key selection criteria for how you will be assessed in conjunction with your resumé and experience.
- Demonstrated expert knowledge of own-source revenue, private patient regulatory requirements, Medicare requirements, patient billing activities and referral processes in a public hospital, primary health care, community and aged care environment.
- Proven ability to provide authoritative strategic advice to senior leaders and translate legislation and policy into practical governance, processes, controls and business rules.
- Demonstrated success in leading revenue optimisation and continuous improvement initiatives, including the effective use of technology, automation and data-driven performance insights, resulting in measurable financial improvement.
- Strong people leadership capability, including coaching and developing managers, leading change and fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.
- Demonstrated experience in delivering accurate budgets for revenue, reliable monitoring and forecasting, and insightful variance commentary and analysis.
- Highly developed communication, negotiation and stakeholder management skills, including the ability to influence and buildpartnerships with clinical leaders, Department of Health representatives and internal/external audit.
- Demonstrates understanding of, and adherence to, safety and quality standards, Work Health and Safety and the positive patient experience. Displays’ behaviour consistent with CHS’s values of reliable, progressive, respectful, and kind.
Work environment description
The following work environment description outlines the inherent requirements of the role and indicates how frequently each of these requirements would need to be performed. Please note that the ACT Public Service is committed to providing reasonable adjustments and ensuring all individuals have equal opportunities in the workplace.
| Administrative | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Telephone use | Frequently |
| General computer use | Frequently |
| Extensive keying/data entry | Frequently |
| Graphical/analytical based | Occasionally |
| Sitting at a desk | Frequently |
| Standing for long periods | Never |
| Psychosocial demands | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Distressed People e.g. Emergency or grief situations | Never |
| Aggressive & Uncooperative People e.g. drug / alcohol, dementia, mental illness | Never |
| Unpredictable People e.g. Dementia, mental illness, head injuries | Never |
| Restraining e.g. involvement in physical containment of clients/consumers | Never |
| Exposure to Distressing Situations e.g. Child abuse, viewing dead / mutilated bodies; verbal abuse; domestic violence; suicide | Never |
| Physical demands | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Distance walking (large buildings or inter-building transit) | Occasionally |
| Working outdoors | Never |
| Manual handling | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Lifting 0 - 9kg | Occasionally |
| Lifting 10 - 15kg | Never |
| Lifting 16kg+ | Never |
| Climbing | Never |
| Running | Never |
| Reaching | Occasionally |
| Kneeling | Never |
| Foot and leg movement | Frequently |
| Hand, arm and grasping movements | Frequently |
| Bending/squatting | Occasionally |
| Bend/Lean Forward from Waist/Trunk twisting | Occasionally |
| Push/pull | Occasionally |
| Sequential repetitive movements in a short amount of time | Occasionally |
| Travel | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Frequent travel – multiple work sites | Occasionally |
| Frequent travel – driving | Occasionally |
| Specific hazards | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Working at heights | Never |
| Exposure to extreme temperatures | Never |
| Operation of heavy machinery e.g. forklift | Never |
| Confined spaces | Never |
| Excessive noise | Never |
| Low lighting | Never |
| Handling of dangerous goods/equipment e.g. gases; liquids; biological. | Never |
| Slippery or uneven surfaces | Never |
Directorate: Canberra Health Services
Division: CFO Division
Business Unit: Revenue, External Budgets and Finance Process Improvements
Position number: P70906
Position title: Senior Director – Patient Accounts, Hospital Revenue and Financial Services
Classification: Senior Officer Grade A
Location: Bowes St, Phillip / ABW
Reporting relationships:
Direct Manager: EBM, Revenue, External Budgets and Finance Process Improvements
Manager +1: EGM, CHS CFO
Canberra Health Services (CHS) is focussed on the delivery of high quality, effective, person-centred care. We provide acute, sub-acute, primary and community‐based health services, to the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and surrounding regions. More information can be found on the CHS website.
Our Vision: creating exceptional health care together
Our Role: to be a health service that is trusted by our community
Our Values: Reliable, Progressive, Respectful and Kind