Fran Caracappa, CPA

Vice President, Finance and Controller

Professional Overview
Fran Caracappa is an accomplished finance executive with over 35 years of experience in the healthcare industry. As the Vice President of Finance and Controller at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, she oversees all financial operations and serves as a strategic advisor to the organization's leadership team.

Experience Summary

Current Role
In her current position, Ms. Caracappa is responsible for managing a team of 50 finance professionals and overseeing a budget of $2.5 billion. She has played a crucial role in streamlining financial processes, improving financial reporting, and enhancing budgetary controls to ensure the medical center's fiscal stability and growth. Under her leadership, the finance department has consistently received positive audits and achieved significant cost savings through strategic initiatives.

Career Progression
Prior to joining Columbia University, Ms. Caracappa served as the Sr. Director of Finance and Controller at NYU School of Medicine, where she led the implementation of a new enterprise resource planning (ERP) system and spearheaded the development of a comprehensive financial reporting framework. Earlier in her career, she held the position of Chief Financial Officer for the Medical Group at Montefiore Medical Center, where she played a pivotal role in managing the financial integration of multiple healthcare facilities.

Academic Background
Ms. Caracappa holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from New York University and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). She has also served as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Health Policy and Management department at Columbia University, where she has taught courses on healthcare finance and accounting.

Areas of Expertise

• Healthcare finance and accounting

• Financial reporting and budgeting

• Strategic financial planning and analysis

• ERP system implementation and optimization

• Financial process improvement and control

• Team leadership and talent development

Professional Impact
During her tenure at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, Ms. Caracappa has spearheaded several initiatives that have had a significant impact on the organization's financial performance. These include the implementation of a robust financial forecasting model that has helped the medical center navigate complex budgetary challenges, the development of a comprehensive financial dashboard that provides real-time insights to executive leadership, and the optimization of the accounts receivable process, which has resulted in a 20% reduction in outstanding balances.

Conclusion
Fran Caracappa's extensive experience, strong technical expertise, and strategic leadership make her a valuable asset to the Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Her commitment to driving financial excellence and fostering a culture of continuous improvement has been instrumental in supporting the organization's mission and ensuring its long-term sustainability.