Scheduled Hours

40

Position Summary

The Director of Billing Operations is responsible for overseeing and leading all aspects of the professional fee billing cycle for the department. This position ensures accurate, timely, and compliant billing and collections, and plays a key leadership role in optimizing revenue cycle performance. The Director works closely with department leadership, faculty, clinical operations, compliance, and central finance teams to align billing operations with institutional goals, clinical workflows, and academic priorities.

Job Description

Strategic Leadership

• Provide strategic direction and operational leadership for all billing functions, including charge capture, coding, claims submission, accounts receivable management, and denials management.

• Lead continuous improvement initiatives to enhance billing efficiency, revenue realization, and patient satisfaction.

• Develop and maintain performance dashboards and KPIs for revenue cycle metrics.

• Direct activities between WashU Physicians Billing Service and Medical School Finance (journals, report requests, budgets, year-end close).

• Recommend and develop strategies to enhance revenue across the department’s clinical mission.

• Consult and advise senior management and institutional partners on significant revenue cycle or government payer issues.

Financial Oversight and Reporting

• Analyze revenue trends and identify areas of opportunity or concern.

• Participate in annual budgeting and forecasting processes related to professional billing revenue.

• Provide regular reporting to departmental leadership on billing performance, productivity, and collection rates.

• Evaluate processes across each functional area to ensure efficiency and optimal automation.

• Ensure monthly reconciliation of accounts, and prepare and distribute audits and reports as required.

Team Management and Development

• Supervise a team of billing managers, coders, charge entry specialists, and revenue analysts.

• Foster a culture of accountability, training, and professional development within the billing team.

• Collaborate with Human Resources and Finance to recruit, train, and retain top-tier billing professionals.

• Assist managers in setting and achieving quality and productivity targets.

Collaboration and Third-Party Vendor Management

• Serve as the primary departmental liaison with the external coding vendor to ensure timely, accurate, and compliant coding of clinical services.

• Establish and monitor performance expectations, turnaround times, and coding accuracy benchmarks.

• Facilitate regular meetings with the vendor to review audit results, resolve coding issues, and implement workflow improvements.

• Collaborate with compliance, IT, and clinical teams to ensure seamless data transmission, proper documentation standards, and alignment with institutional policies.

• Serve as the primary liaison between the department and central billing, compliance, and IT teams.

Compliance and Quality Assurance

• Develop and maintain policies and procedures related to payment posting, batching, reconciliations, purchasing, and related functions.

• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and institutional billing regulations and policies (e.g., CMS, HIPAA, OIG).

• Coordinate internal and external audits, ensuring accurate documentation and timely responses.

• Monitor and respond to payer policy changes and billing updates.

• Demonstrated ability to identify key revenue cycle or regulatory issues, develop actionable plans, and implement them to successful resolution.

Innovation and Special Projects

• Handle high-priority and ad-hoc projects as needed.

• Work collaboratively with the department’s informatics and analytics team to advance revenue cycle capabilities.

• Utilize Medical School and national resources to benchmark and innovate billing processes.

• Represent the Department/Medical School/University on committees and in institutional activities.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Working Conditions:
Job Location/Working Conditions

• Normal office environment
• Hybrid work arrangement

Physical Effort

• Typically sitting at desk or table
• Repetitive wrist, hand or finger movement

Equipment

• Office equipment

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by the personnel so classified. Management reserves the right to revise or amend duties at any time.

Required Qualifications

Education:

Bachelor’s degree or combination of education and/or experience may substitute for minimum education.

Certifications:

No specific certification is required for this position.

Work Experience:

Supervisory (5 Years)

Skills:

Accounting, Accounts Receivable (AR), Budgeting

Driver's License:

A driver's license is not required for this position.

More About This Job

WashU seeks highly motivated individuals who are able to perform duties in a manner consistent with our core mission and guiding principles.

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

Master's degree - Business Administration, Master's degree - Healthcare Administration, Master's degree - Public Health

Certifications:

No additional certification beyond what is stated in the Required Qualifications section.

Work Experience:

No additional work experience beyond what is stated in the Required Qualifications section.

Skills:

Analytical Thinking, Business Acumen, Conflict Resolution, Data Analytics, Due Diligence, Effective Written Communication, Financial Modeling, Healthcare Environments, Healthcare Financing, Interpersonal Communication, Leadership, Market Analysis, Microsoft Excel, Multitasking, Negotiation, Operational Models, Oral Communications, Organizational Tasks, Organizing, People Management, Personal Computer (PC) Software, Project Management, Revenue Cycle, Verbal Presentations, Written Communication

Grade

G16

Salary Range

$96,000.00 - $169,300.00 / Annually

The salary range reflects base salaries paid for positions in a given job grade across the University. Individual rates within the range will be determined by factors including one's qualifications and performance, equity with others in the department, market rates for positions within the same grade and department budget.

Questions

For frequently asked questions about the application process, please refer to our External Applicant FAQ.

Accommodation

If you are unable to use our online application system and would like an accommodation, please email [email protected] or call the dedicated accommodation inquiry number at 314-935-1149 and leave a voicemail with the nature of your request.

All qualified individuals must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily and, if requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship.

Pre-Employment Screening

All external candidates receiving an offer for employment will be required to submit to pre-employment screening for this position. The screenings will include criminal background check and, as applicable for the position, other background checks, drug screen, an employment and education or licensure/certification verification, physical examination, certain vaccinations and/or governmental registry checks. All offers are contingent upon successful completion of required screening.

Benefits Statement

Personal

• Up to 22 days of vacation, 10 recognized holidays, and sick time.

• Competitive health insurance packages with priority appointments and lower copays/coinsurance.

• Take advantage of our free Metro transit U-Pass for eligible employees.

• WashU provides eligible employees with a defined contribution (403(b)) Retirement Savings Plan, which combines employee contributions and university contributions starting at 7%.

Wellness

• Wellness challenges, annual health screenings, mental health resources, mindfulness programs and courses, employee assistance program (EAP), financial resources, access to dietitians, and more!

Family

• We offer 4 weeks of caregiver leave to bond with your new child. Family care resources are also available for your continued childcare needs. Need adult care? We’ve got you covered.

• WashU covers the cost of tuition for you and your family, including dependent undergraduate-level college tuition up to 100% at WashU and 40% elsewhere after seven years with us.

For policies, detailed benefits, and eligibility, please visit: https://hr.wustl.edu/benefits/

EEO Statement

Washington University in St. Louis is committed to the principles and practices of equal employment opportunity and especially encourages applications by those from underrepresented groups. It is the University’s policy to provide equal opportunity and access to persons in all job titles without regard to race, ethnicity, color, national origin, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information.

Washington University is dedicated to building a community of individuals who are committed to contributing to an inclusive environment – fostering respect for all and welcoming individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. Individuals with a commitment to these values are encouraged to apply.