Associate Director - Billing

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 Billing Operations Leader is responsible for end-2-end revenue cycle management including billing, cash application, and collections within a complex, high-volume environment. This role ensures accurate Invoicing, timely cash application, efficient collections, and compliance with financial controls, while driving process standardization, automation, and continuous improvement. The leader partners cross-functionally with Finance, IT, Sales, and Operations to deliver seamless billing processes and optimize cash flow performance.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Billing & Revenue Cycle Operations
  • Lead end-to-end billing cycles (monthly, quarterly, ad-hoc) ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and contractual compliance
  • Manage invoice generation across multiple revenue streams (service fees, subscriptions, usage-based, pass-through)
  • Review and approve billing adjustments, credits, write-offs, and reconciliations
  • Drive standardization and scalability of billing processes across business units
• Cash Applications
  • Ensure timely and accurate application of incoming payments (ACH, wire, checks, lockbox, digital)
  • Oversee allocation of receipts, including resolution of unapplied and misapplied cash
  • Investigate and resolve discrepancies in collaboration with billing and collections teams
  • Maintain strong audit trails and compliance controls for all cash application activities
• Collections & Accounts Receivable
  • Lead collections strategy to improve cash flow and reduce Days Sales Outstanding (DSO)
  • Monitor AR aging, portfolio health, and collections performance metrics
  • Manage escalations for delinquent accounts and drive timely resolution
  • Partner with Sales and Account Management to resolve disputes and improve customer payment behavior
  • Implement credit controls, including risk assessment and credit limit governance
• Operational Leadership
  • Lead, coach, and develop teams across billing, cash applications, and collections
  • Define and track KPIs (billing accuracy, cycle time, DSO, cash application efficiency)
  • Drive operational excellence through process redesign, productivity improvements, and defect reduction
  • Partner with IT to enhance billing and AR systems, reporting, and workflows
  • Lead digital transformation initiatives (RPA, analytics, workflow automation)
• Stakeholder Management
  • Act as escalation point for billing disputes, payment issues, and collections challenges
  • Collaborate with Finance, Sales, Customer Success, and Operations to resolve revenue cycle issues
  • Ensure high-quality customer experience across invoicing and payment processes
  • Present financial insights and operational performance to senior leadership
• 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 regards 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 or Master degree in Accounting/ Finance or related field
• 12+ years of experience in billing operations, accounts receivable, or revenue cycle management
• Proven leadership experience in managing large, high-volume operations
• Deep understanding of financial controls, audit, and compliance frameworks
• Proficiency in ERP systems PeopleSoft, Salesforce, Customer Billing Portal
• Proven solid expertise in end-2-end revenue cycle (billing, cash applications, collections)
• Proven advanced analytical and problem-solving skills
• Proven ability to manage complex, high-volume transactional environments
• Proven solid stakeholder management and communication skills
• Proven track record in process optimization, automation, and transformation

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in shared services or global business services (GBS) environments
• Experience leading large-scale transformation or automation initiatives
• Proven exposure to multi-entity and multi-currency operations

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.