Cost Accountant - Remote

Optum is a global organization that delivers care, aided by technology to help millions of people live healthier lives. The work you do with our team will directly improve health outcomes by connecting people with the care, pharmacy benefits, data and resources they need to feel their best. Here, you will find a culture guided by diversity and inclusion, talented peers, comprehensive benefits and career development opportunities. Come make an impact on the communities we serve as you help us advance health equity on a global scale. Join us to start Caring. Connecting. Growing together.

Optum Insight is seeking a service-oriented Cost Accountant to join our Analytics Center of Excellence and provide strategic insights to our partner provider health systems. This role will be responsible for configuring, maintaining, and analyzing our partner cost accounting systems to provide accurate and timely financial information to support decision-making across systems. You will be part of a team that works closely with operational leaders to understand the drivers of financial performance and identify opportunities to improve.

You’ll enjoy the flexibility to work remotely * from anywhere within the U.S. as you take on some tough challenges.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Provide ongoing training and guidance to all relevant levels of leadership
• Develop and maintain documentation of cost accounting policies and procedures
• Develop and maintain standard cost models to ensure accurate cost reporting and support pricing decisions
• Monitor and report on key performance indicators related to cost, including variances to budget and forecast
• Partner with other subject matter domain leaders to infuse insights into the decision-making process for clinical, operational, growth, and other health system analytics focus areas
• Analyze and interpret cost data to identify trends and drivers of cost, and present findings to key stakeholders
• Provide ad-hoc analyses to drive and support new strategic initiatives for the client
• Lead efforts to configure, maintain, and update partner cost accounting systems (Strata) to accurately capture and allocate costs to support financial decision-making
• Collaborate with operational leaders to understand their business and provide financial insights to support decision-making

You’ll be rewarded and recognized for your performance in an environment that will challenge you and give you clear direction on what it takes to succeed in your role as well as provide development for other roles you may be interested in.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field
• 1+ years of experience with maintaining a cost accounting system like Strata
• 1+ years of experience guiding and developing junior team members
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and other financial software applications
• 3+ years of experience in hospital finance, healthcare cost accounting or related area

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree or CPA
• Proven excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Experience and credibility interacting with all levels of leadership
• Proven solid attention to detail and accuracy
• Proven solid analytical and problem-solving skills
• Proven ability to work independently and as part of a team
• 1+ years of healthcare cost accounting experience
• Proven ability to communicate complex concepts verbally and in writing, taking audience into consideration

Careers with Optum. Our objective is to make health care simpler and more effective for everyone. With our hands at work across all aspects of health, you can play a role in creating a healthier world, one insight, one connection and one person at a time. We bring together some of the greatest minds and ideas to take health care to its fullest potential, promoting health equity and accessibility. Work with diverse, engaged and high-performing teams to help solve important challenges.

California, Colorado, Connecticut, Nevada, New York, Rhode Island, or Washington Residents Only: The salary range for California, Colorado, Connecticut, Nevada, New York, Rhode Island or Washington residents is $67,800 to $133,100. Pay is based on several factors including but not limited to education, work experience, certifications, etc. In addition to your salary, UnitedHealth Group offers benefits such as, a comprehensive benefits package, incentive and recognition programs, equity stock purchase and 401k contribution (all benefits are subject to eligibility requirements). No matter where or when you begin a career with UnitedHealth Group, you’ll find a far-reaching choice of benefits and incentives.

*All employees working remotely will be required to adhere to UnitedHealth Group’s Telecommuter Policy

At UnitedHealth Group, our mission is to help people live healthier lives and make the health system work better for everyone. We believe everyone–of every race, gender, sexuality, age, location and income–deserves the opportunity to live their healthiest life. Today, however, there are still far too many barriers to good health which are disproportionately experienced by people of color, historically marginalized groups and those with lower incomes. We are committed to mitigating our impact on the environment and enabling and delivering equitable care that addresses health disparities and improves health outcomes - an enterprise priority reflected in our mission.

Diversity creates a healthier atmosphere: UnitedHealth Group is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.

UnitedHealth Group is a drug-free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.