The Principal of Healthcare Economics & AI Strategy serves as a strategic authority tasked with advancing HFMA’s body of knowledge in four critical domains: revenue cycle optimization, value-based economics, AI-enabled transformation, and workforce evolution. This role is responsible for synthesizing complex market signals into actionable practice frameworks that empower finance leaders to navigate rapid industry maturation.

The Principal bridges the gap between emerging innovation and fiscal reality. By providing credible, non-commercial insights, they ensure HFMA’s thought leadership remains the industry standard for CFOs and revenue cycle executives. As healthcare finance moves from fee-for-service to risk-based models and manual to AI-augmented workflows, the Principal ensures HFMA remains the trusted partner helping leaders move from uncertainty to strategic action.

Responsibilities

Thought Leadership & Knowledge Stewardship

• Serve as a recognized authority on revenue cycle financing models, value-based care economics, and financial risk management across provider and payer environments.
• Develop and curate HFMA’s body of knowledge related to healthcare finance transformation, including frameworks, playbooks, benchmarks, and executive guidance.
• Author or co-author white papers, research briefs, practice advisories, and executive-level content aligned to HFMA’s strategic priorities.
• Translate emerging trends (AI, automation, alternative labor models) into practical financial and operational implications for healthcare organizations.

AI & Technology Enablement

• Assess and interpret the impact of AI, analytics, and automation on healthcare finance functions, including revenue cycle, contracting, forecasting, and performance management.
• Define use cases, guardrails, and capability requirements for AI adoption in healthcare finance and revenue cycle operations.
• Partner with internal teams to ensure HFMA guidance reflects responsible, value-creating AI use rather than speculative or vendor-driven narratives.

Workforce & Operating Model Evolution

• Analyze and provide guidance on healthcare finance workforce transformation, including skill shifts, role redesign, productivity models, and alternative labor strategies.
• Develop insights on the future of finance talent, including AI-augmented roles, upskilling pathways, and organizational design implications.
• Contribute to HFMA’s perspectives on sustainable workforce models amid labor shortages, margin pressure, and increasing technical complexity.

Value-Based Care & Revenue Transformation

• Provide expertise on value-based payment models, risk-based contracting, and their downstream impact on revenue cycle financing and cash flow.
• Evaluate financial readiness and performance measurement approaches for organizations transitioning from fee-for-service to value-based arrangements.
• Help define financial best practices for integrating clinical, operational, and financial data in value-based care environments.

Internal Collaboration & External Engagement

• Collaborate with Learning, Editorial, Research, Events, and Member Experience teams to ensure consistency and credibility of HFMA content.
• Support executive-level convenings, roundtables, and advisory councils with expert facilitation and insight.
• Engage with external stakeholders (providers, payers, innovators, policymakers) to stay current on market realities and emerging practices.

Perform other duties as needed

Qualifications & Experience

• 10+ years of experience in healthcare finance leadership, consulting, research, or policy.
• Advanced degree (MBA, MHA, or MPH) or professional certification (CPA, FHFMA) is strongly preferred; an equivalent combination of deep industry experience and recognized thought leadership will be considered.
• Experience working across providers, payers, or health systems in complex, regulated environments.
• Prior thought leadership, publishing, or speaking experience with senior healthcare audiences.
• Familiarity with professional associations, standards organizations, or research institutions.
• Deep expertise in healthcare finance, with emphasis on revenue cycle financing, value-based care, or healthcare economics.
• Demonstrated experience evaluating or implementing AI, analytics, or advanced technology within healthcare finance or adjacent functions.
• Strong understanding of healthcare workforce dynamics, including finance talent, productivity models, and operating design.
• Proven ability to translate complex topics into clear, executive-level insights.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.

Critical Competencies

• Establishes and sustains HFMA’s credibility through guidance that resonates with, and is adopted by, CFOs and senior finance leaders.
• Influences HFMA’s long-term positioning by shaping narratives around the future of healthcare finance, AI, and workforce transformation.
• Consistently produces clear, relevant, and timely insights that meet the needs of a diverse and evolving member base.
• Demonstrates sound professional judgment and earns trust as a go-to expert among internal leaders and cross-functional teams.