Financial Analyst Budgeting (Behavioral Health )

Role Summary
Own budgeting, forecasting, and unit-cost modeling for Regional Center (RC) funded behavioral health programs (e.g., SLS/ILS, Day Services, ABA, Residential/EBSH). You’ll translate authorizations and rate sheets into program budgets, track actuals vs. plan, and partner with Operations/HR to keep programs compliant and financially healthy under California DDS and RC rules.

Key Responsibilities

• Budgeting & Forecasting

  • Build annual program budgets (OPS & POS revenue assumptions, staffing models, benefits/burden, OT, mileage, training, and overhead allocations).

  • Maintain rolling monthly forecast (volume/utilization, cancellations, no-shows, unit rates, staffing changes).

  • Create scenario models for new programs, expansions, and RFPs (best/base/worst cases).

• Revenue, Rates & Utilization

  • Convert authorizations (units/hours/visits) into revenue plans; reconcile to delivered services and claims.

  • Maintain rate/rule library for RC contracts and vendorization terms (units, billing rules, caps, holidays/closure days).

  • Monitor utilization KPIs (authorized vs. delivered hours, productivity, cancellation rates) and flag risks early.

• Cost & Variance Analysis

  • Monthly budget-to-actuals with clear variance narratives for leadership.

  • Track labor cost drivers (base, differentials, OT, call-outs, per-diem usage) and recommend staffing mix changes.

  • Maintain unit economics (cost per hour/visit/day; contribution margin by program, site, and payer/RC).

• Compliance & Documentation Support

  • Partner with QA/Operations to understand DDS/RC directives, HCBS requirements, and Title 17/Title 22 financial impacts (e.g., staffing ratios, training mandates).

  • Support audits (RC/DDS, internal/external), cost backup, and source documentation (timesheets, mileage, schedules, authorizations, delivered units).

  • Familiarity with Regional Center forms and workflows (e.g., 6023/6024) and how they affect billing, service delivery, and budgeting.

• Cross-Functional Partnership

  • Work with Scheduling to align staffing to authorizations; translate OT reduction plans into budget savings.

  • Work with HR/TA on headcount plans, pay bands, and differentials aligned to program budgets.

  • Collaborate with Billing/AR to resolve denials/discrepancies and accelerate cash flow.

• Tools & Reporting

  • Build automated dashboards for KPIs (utilization, revenue, margin, OT, vacancies).

  • Maintain standardized budget templates and program pro formas.

  • Present monthly finance packs to Program Directors and leadership.

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Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or related field (Master’s or CPA a plus).

• 3–5 years in healthcare/behavioral health FP&A or provider finance; RC/DDS experience strongly preferred.

• Advanced Excel/Google Sheets (INDEX/MATCH/XLOOKUP, pivot tables, Power Query or equivalent).

• Experience with accounting/ERP (QuickBooks, Sage Intacct, NetSuite) and a BI tool (Power BI, Looker, Tableau).

• Working knowledge of California RC/DDS ecosystem (vendorization, authorizations, units/rates, POS/OPS), and practical familiarity with Title 17/22, HCBS, and HIPAA privacy in handling PHI.

Preferred Experience

• Budgeting for SLS/ILS, Day Services/DTAC, ABA, Residential/EBSH programs.

• Building rate models from RC contracts and responding to RFPs with compliant budget narratives.

• Inland Regional Center (IRC) or other RCs (e.g., RCOC, SARC, NLACRC) exposure.

• Understanding of 6023/6024 processes and their operational/financial implications.

Core Competencies

• Analytical rigor & accuracy • Financial storytelling • Stakeholder partnership

• Systems thinking (operations finance) • Confidentiality & compliance mindset

• Process improvement & automation • Deadline discipline in a multi-program environment

Success Metrics (examples)

• Monthly close variance vs. budget within ±2–3% and clear drivers identified.

• Utilization uplift (authorized delivered) by 5–10% within first two quarters.

• OT reduced to target band via staffing plan alignment.

• On-time submission of RC/DDS finance deliverables and clean audit results.

• Launch of self-serve dashboards adopted by Program Directors.

Physical & Other Requirements

• Ability to handle confidential financial/PHI in compliance with HIPAA; Live Scan/clearances as required by contracts.

• Occasional travel to program sites and RC meetings.

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Salary : $35 - $40