Overview
Looking to be part of something more meaningful? At HonorHealth, you'll be part of a team, creating a multi-dimensional care experience for our patients. You'll have opportunities to make a difference. From our Ambassador Movement to our robust training and development programs, you can select where and how you want to make an impact. HonorHealth offers a diverse benefits portfolio for our full-time and part-time team members designed to help you and your family live your best lives. Visit honorhealth.com/benefits to learn more. Join us. Let's go beyond expectations and transform healthcare together. HonorHealth is one of Arizona's largest nonprofit healthcare systems, serving a population of five million people in the greater Phoenix metropolitan area. The comprehensive network encompasses six acute-care hospitals, an extensive medical group with primary, specialty and urgent care services, a cancer care network, outpatient surgery centers, clinical research, medical education, a foundation, an accountable care organization, community services and more. With nearly 17,000 team members, 3,700 affiliated providers and close to 2,000 volunteers dedicated to providing high quality care, HonorHealth strives to go beyond the expectations of a traditional healthcare system to improve the health and well-being of communities across Arizona. Learn more at HonorHealth.com.
Responsibilities
Job SummaryThe Research Finance Agreements Specialist is responsible for supporting financial accuracy, contract alignment, and billing compliance of third-party vendor services within sponsor-initiated clinical trials. This position serves as a first-line reviewer for issues related to vendor invoicing, fair market value (FMV), payment workflows, and contract-to-payment cross-checks. Acting as a liaison between finance, research administration, and contracting teams, the specialist ensures vendor agreements reflect appropriate reimbursement terms and are financially aligned with institutional standards.
Key responsibilities include identifying discrepancies between contract language and invoice terms, tracking vendor payment obligations, validating FMV for third-party services, and confirming that billing pathways are structured in compliance with internal and external requirements. The role also ensures profitability by confirming that sponsor reimbursement adequately supports contracted third party vendor procedures. This role helps prevent payment delays and financial risk by proactively coordinating with research finance, budget analysts, and contracting partners to ensure clarity and consistency in vendor-related financial documentation and execution.
Essential Functions
- Contract and Invoice Cross-Check: Reviews executed third-party vendor agreements, and incoming invoices to confirm alignment with contract terms, including scope of services, pricing, payment structure and deliverables. Identifies and resolves discrepancies between contracted rates, and invoiced charges. Collaborates with legal, finance, and contract team to ensure agreements accurately reflect institutional requirements and reimbursement standards. Maintains thorough documentation of all cross-checks performed for audit and compliance purposes to support audit readiness and financial compliance. Ensures sponsor reimbursement is sufficient to cover third-party vendor costs and maintain profitability.
- Payment Workflow Management and Reconciliation: Coordinates the end-to-end vendor payment process, ensuring proper documentation, approvals, and routing of payments by collaborating with an accounting team. Prepares and submits payment requests based on validated services rendered and confirmed contractual alignment. Collaborates with the Accounting team to resolve payment holds or delays. Tracks payment status and communicates with vendors to ensure expectations are met and records maintained accurately. Ensures timely and accurate payment to third-party physicians in accordance with executed RSA's or PRSA's, supporting FMV compliance and payment transparency.
- FMV Validation: Initiates and oversees FMV assessments for contracted third-party services in collaboration with the Contracts and Budgets teams. Ensure all vendor rates are benchmarked and justified according to institutional FMV standards. Reviews and tracks vendor pricing annually to account for cost-of-living adjustments, escalating any discrepancies found to the appropriate team for resolution. Documents FMV determinations and flags any deviations for correction or escalation.
- Financial Documentation Compliance and Audit Readiness: Ensures financial documentation for vendor services complies with institutional policies, and external regulatory requirements (e.g., Stark Law, Anti-Kickback Statute, False Claims Act, Etc.) Maintains accurate records to support audit readiness, including contracts, invoices, FMV support and payment histories. Performs routine internal checks for compliance and prepares data for leadership or external reviews as needed.
- Vendor Finance Communication and Support: Acts as the primary financial liaison for vendors, communicating institutional billing processes, payment timelines, and documentation standards. Coordinates with vendors to ensure all necessary financial documents are submitted in a timely and complete manner. Supports issue resolution related to payment questions or invoice corrections in partnership with internal finance teams.
Education Bachelor's Degree or 4 years' work-related experience- Finance, healthcare administration, business or related field, or a minimum of four years of directly related work experience in lieu of a degree-
RequiredMaster's Degree- Finance, healthcare administration, business, or related field- Preferred
Experience3 Years clinical research contract review and reconciling vendor invoices-
Required3 Years clinical research billing, finance, or contract/budget-
Required1 Year FMV assessments in healthcare setting-
Required1 Year knowledge of regulatory compliance (e.g., Stark Law, Anti-Kickback Statute, False Claims Act, Etc.)-
Required1 Year knowledge of Workday- Preferred1 Year vendor Management- Preferred
Certifications and Licensure
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HonorHealth
Aug 21, 2025