Associate Director Accounting – Accounts Payable

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 inclusion, talented peers, comprehensive benefits and career development opportunities. Come make an impact on the communities we serve as you help us advance health optimization on a global scale. Join us to start Caring. Connecting. Growing together.

The Accounts Payable Lead will provide strategic leadership and operational oversight of the AP function within a pharmaceutical or PBM (Pharmacy Benefit Management) environment. This role ensures accurate, compliant, and timely processing of invoices and payments, while driving process excellence, automation, and adherence to financial controls aligned with healthcare industry regulations.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Delivery:
  • Manage the full life cycle of payments including invoice validation, payment scheduling, execution, and reconciliation
  • Monitor payment runs and resolve any issues related to payment failures or discrepancies
  • Monitor and enforce internal controls across AP processes, including exception handling, reconciliations, and client payment accuracy
  • Lead teams in understanding vendor and payer contracts to ensure correct financial accounting and reporting
  • Ensure compliance with all legal, regulatory, and healthcare industry requirements, including payment transparency, anti-kickback regulations, and SOX controls
  • Collaborate with finance and compliance teams to align AP processes with corporate objectives and regulatory mandates
  • Lead and support the closure of AP-related audit issues and ensure all documentation meets internal and external audit standards
• Strategic Leadership
  • Provide strategic leadership for the Accounts Payable process to ensure accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with industry standards, internal controls, and corporate policies
  • Develop and implement efficient AP systems and processes tailored to the Pharma / PBM business, delivering value to both internal stakeholders and clients
  • Establish and maintain mitigating measures and financial controls to manage risks and ensure audit readiness

  • Be a change agent to drive awareness about global locations, culture to promote a solid «One teamwork» environment

     

• Transformational:
  • Integration with business by understanding their Challenge and Opportunities – Evaluating and driving process improvement as per business prioritization
  • Support business transformation programs through engagement of the Fin Tech team across location
  • Drive process improvements and strengthen the control environment around key finance processes
• Team Management:
  • Define and communicate functional goals. Ensuring alignment with broader finance and business objectives
  • Provide leadership, coaching, and performance management for the AP team to drive efficiency, accountability, and professional development
  • Oversee the performance of direct reports, ensuring KPIs and SLAs are well-defined, tracked, and met consistently
  • Foster a culture of accuracy, compliance, and continuous improvement within the finance operations team
• Comply with the terms and conditions of the employment contract, company policies and procedures, and any and all directives (such as, but not limited to, transfer and/or re-assignment to different work locations, change in teams and/or work shifts, policies in regard to flexibility of work benefits and/or work environment, alternative work arrangements, and other decisions that may arise due to the changing business environment). The Company may adopt, vary or rescind these policies and directives in its absolute discretion and without any limitation (implied or otherwise) on its ability to do so

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance
• Professional certifications such as CPA, CMA, or CA (preferred)
• 15+ years of progressive experience in Accounts Payable or Finance Operations, preferably within the Pharma, PBM, or Healthcare industry
• Experience with ERP systems (e.g., Oracle, servicenow) and AP automation tools
• Solid understanding of GAAP, internal controls, SOX compliance, and healthcare financial regulations
• Advanced analytical and information gathering skills; ability to evaluate and prioritize extensive detailed data
• Ability to prioritize multiple projects and meet internal deadlines, work effectively under pressure
• Proven excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent PC skills: Excel, PowerPoint, Access, SharePoint, Hyperion, Essbase, and others if any
• Open for evening shifts -: 15:30 to 01:00 (late night shift 17:45 to 03:30 during closing period).

Core Competencies: 

• Leadership and people management
• Solid analytical and problem-solving abilities
• In-depth knowledge of pharmaceutical / PBM finance operations
• Process improvement and automation expertise
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
• Ability to produce deliverables of high quality.
• Understanding of revenue cycle, cash flow and different payment modes.

Preferred Qualification:

• End to End payments cycle management
• Health care experience
   

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.