Mike Christian
Director - IT Finance
Professional Overview
Mike Christian is an experienced finance executive with a proven track record of driving strategic initiatives and delivering tangible business results in the healthcare industry. As the Director of IT Finance at SSM Health, he oversees the financial management and reporting for the organization's critical IT infrastructure and systems, ensuring cost-effective and efficient operations.
Experience Summary
Current Role
As the Director of IT Finance at SSM Health, a $7 billion integrated healthcare system, Mike is responsible for managing the financial aspects of the organization's IT department. He oversees an annual IT budget of over $100 million, analyzing spending trends, identifying cost-saving opportunities, and providing strategic recommendations to IT and executive leadership. Under his guidance, the IT Finance team has implemented predictive analytics to optimize resource allocation, resulting in a 12% reduction in IT operating costs over the past two years.
Career Progression
Prior to joining SSM Health, Mike served as a Finance Consultant for a $3 billion integrated healthcare system, where he played a key role in streamlining financial reporting and implementing performance-based budgeting processes. Earlier in his career, he held leadership roles as the Director of Finance at Aurora Health Care and CVS Caremark Corporation, where he spearheaded initiatives to enhance financial controls, improve forecasting accuracy, and drive operational efficiencies.
Academic Background
Mike holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Illinois and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). He has also completed executive leadership programs at the Kellogg School of Management and the Harvard Business School.
Areas of Expertise
- Healthcare finance and accounting
- IT financial management and cost optimization
- Financial planning, budgeting, and forecasting
- Performance management and reporting
- Strategic decision-making and business partnering
Professional Impact
Throughout his career, Mike has demonstrated a keen ability to translate complex financial data into actionable insights, enabling organizational leaders to make informed decisions. He has led several high-impact projects, including the implementation of a cloud-based financial reporting system at CVS Caremark, which improved data integrity and reduced monthly close times by 30%.
Conclusion
With over 30 years of experience in healthcare finance and IT finance, Mike Christian is a seasoned leader who consistently delivers measurable results. In his current role at SSM Health, he is driving the strategic financial management of the organization's IT function, ensuring the efficient allocation of resources and supporting the organization's broader goals of delivering high-quality, cost-effective healthcare services.
