Chris Perry
Chief Financial Officer, Radiology Associates PA
Little Rock
In 2007, Chris Perry considered leaving the public accounting field. At the time, Perry was an audit manager at JPMS Cox PLLC of Little Rock, but the hours on the road visiting clients kept him away from his family for several weeks a year.
Then a friend mentioned that Radiology Associates PA of Little Rock had a controller position open.
So Perry applied and landed the job. He eventually was promoted to CFO.
At RAPA, Perry has faced one challenge after another. In addition to dealing with declining reimbursements from insurance companies and government programs, he has to contend with the uncertainty of health care reform.
And among his duties is overseeing the human resources department for the company, which has 120 employees and 40 doctors.
As CFO, Perry, 32, has been pushing to make more efficient use of the physicians’ time by encouraging the use of telemedicine. Under Perry’s leadership, when the bills are submitted, they are being paid faster. Now it takes only about 55 days for Radiology Associates to get paid. When Perry started, it took about 65 days.
Perry’s management style is to lead by example.
“I want to be a good steward of the company’s resources and, hopefully, that trickles down and all the employees see that,” he said.
He doesn’t mind giving guidance and direction where needed but doesn’t like to “micromanage,” he said.
Perry declined to release revenue figures, but said Radiology Associates’ numbers had been flat over the past few years. Still, for a company in the health care industry, “we’re doing well,” he said.
Growing up just outside of Dallas, Perry was interested in numbers but wasn’t sure what career he wanted to enter. After taking a few business classes at Harding University in Searcy, however, he thought accounting would be a good career move.
“I knew that would serve me well in any type of business situation,” Perry said.
After graduating in 2001 with a degree in business administration and a major in accounting, Perry took the job with JPMS Cox as staff auditor. At JPMS Cox, he did audits for several industries, from construction to government agencies.
Perry prefers working for Radiology Associates because he can focus his attention on one industry.
Outside the office, Perry helped form the Arkansas chapter of the Radiology Business Management Association and is currently its treasurer.
Perry said he gives all the credit for his success to Jesus Christ. “He helps me to succeed,” Perry said.
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