Senior Director of Operations Finance & Budget

Centralus Health is a comprehensive system serving a broad geographic area. The system is inclusive of Cayuga Health System and Arnot Health System. Combined employment, including affiliated organizations, is over 6,500 employees. Centralus Health is a partnership of advocates who strive to eliminate barriers to better health, innovating and evolving in our communities for enhanced holistic care close to home. Visit www.centralushealth.org for more information.

Summary

The Senior Director of Operations Finance & Budget reports directly to the Chief Operating Officers of Arnot Health System and Cayuga Health System and is responsible for directing and overseeing financial performance, productivity, and operational efficiency across system operations.

This role integrates operational workflows, informatics, technology, and financial systems to identify, collect, analyze, and manage data that drives administrative practice, improves efficiency, and enhances productivity. The Senior Director ensures operational departments meet financial targets, optimize resource utilization, and advance systemwide performance improvement initiatives.

The role requires a comprehensive understanding of operational drivers in a complex health system and the ability to translate data into actionable strategies that improve service value, operational throughput, and financial performance across Centralus Health.

Roles and Responsibilities

Communication & Relationship Management

• Serves as a liaison between information services, finance, and operational departments to advance fiscal integrity and operational performance.
• Communicates effectively across all levels of the organization to support decision‑making and ensure alignment of operational and financial goals.
• Resolves issues related to the selection, implementation, or modification of operational and financial management systems.

Operational Finance Leadership

• Leads productivity management, budgeting, and continuous forecasting efforts in partnership with operational leaders and the Centralus finance team.
• Guides operational departments in aligning financial performance with systemwide transformation initiatives.
• Monitors pay practices, staffing models, and operational expenses to identify trends and develop cost‑reduction strategies.

Knowledge & Analytics

• Participates in activities to enhance knowledge of operational finance, business intelligence, and emerging technologies.
• Reviews historical budgets, analyzes trends, and collaborates with leaders to develop accurate operating and capital budgets.
• Manages operational finance dashboards and collaborates with leaders to develop corrective action plans for variances.

Leadership

• Mentors and coaches operational leaders in financial literacy, variance analysis, and performance improvement.
• Recommends opportunities for savings, revenue enhancement, and operational optimization.
• Collaborates across interdependent departments to ensure a coordinated approach to achieving organizational fiscal goals.

Professionalism

• Demonstrates personal and professional accountability, ethical behavior, and commitment to a just culture.
• Applies effective change‑management strategies to support operational transformation.
• Maintains composure and professionalism in interactions with staff, leaders, and stakeholders.

Business Skills & Fiscal Management

• Compiles and analyzes operational data to determine resource needs, expense drivers, and opportunities for efficiency.
• Partners with leaders to ensure new initiatives include ROI projections and tracks performance against those projections.
• Plans, forecasts, organizes, and evaluates processes necessary to achieve operational and financial goals.

Quality, Safety & Operational Excellence

• Collaborates with operational and clinical leaders to develop strategies that improve systemwide outcomes while maintaining fiscal integrity.
• Integrates operational performance metrics into decision‑making frameworks to enhance service delivery, throughput, and reliability.
• Supports initiatives that elevate patient experience, operational efficiency, and safety across the system.

Required Skills and Experience

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree preferred (MBA, MHA, MS in Operations, or related field).
• Minimum of 8-10 years of progressive operational or financial leadership experience in a healthcare setting.
• Proven experience leading financial improvement and operational performance projects.
• Strong analytical, business intelligence, and financial modeling skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross‑functional teams and influence organizational change.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Certification in healthcare leadership, operations, or finance preferred.
• Experience with productivity systems, operational benchmarking, budgeting, and enterprise resource planning tools is required.

Physical Requirements

Repetitive use of hands and fingers (e.g., computer keyboard); may require lifting and carrying light loads (up to 40 pounds), including boxes, equipment, and supplies. Sitting, walking, or standing for long periods may be necessary. Must be able to operate equipment required for the role.

Location and Travel Requirements

Onsite. Travel may be required between Centralus facilities and locations.

Centralus Health System and its affiliates are committed to treating all patients, providers, staff and volunteers equitably and with dignity, ensuring the highest levels of safety, care and respect, and striving to recognize and overcome biases and policies that contribute to disparities in healthcare access, equitable care and positive health outcomes for all.

We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer, supporting the growth and health of our employees and community by embracing the rich diversity, needs and circumstances of all peoples and prioritizing opportunities to build a diverse and inclusive workplace. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable protected characteristics.

If you require reasonable accommodation to complete a job application, pre-employment testing, and a job interview, or to otherwise participate in the hiring process, please contact the Centralus Health Talent Acquisition team at talentacquisition@cayugahealth.org.