The Senior Benefits Specialist performs the overall benefits administration for Emplicity clients. Duties and responsibilities require collaboration with other benefits team members, HR Consultants and internal employees in operations departments. The Senior Benefits Specialist will work as part of a specialized team, creating internal processes, managing specific benefits services as assigned and serving as primary contact to clients and employee regarding their benefit programs (including but not limited to: health amp; welfare, LOA, Cobra, and 401(k)).
Overall Benefits Administration Functions
- Benefits administration, enrollments, midyear changes, audits, open enrollment, day-to-day benefits inquiries, claims resolution, terminations, beneficiaries processing, disability, accident and death claims, LOA and 401(k).
- Prepare and review summary plan descriptions and other documents that communicate the provisions of each benefit program customized for client use.
- Conduct new client employee benefits and annual open enrollment meetings.
- Promote and maintain high quality, professional, services-oriented company image in working with client, client employees, peers and management team. Escalates issues/concerns/special requests to Senior Benefits Analyst.
- Manage the company’s COBRA administration program on behalf of clients. Oversee and develop a system for coordinating with insurance carriers and notifying employees according to federal and state guidelines and requirements.
- Participate in company-sponsored seminars, training workshops and webinars to enhance insurance industry education
- Mentor and coach benefits specialists, team members and other departments.
- Maintain a thorough knowledge of the company’s service platform, operating systems, and web-based applications including but not limited to PrismHR, CRM and MyEmplcity, Smartsheet and OnBase.
- Assist and coordinate annual Section 125 testing with vendor(s) and client contacts.
- May perform a variety of other projects or tasks as needed from time to time.
- Other duties as assigned, including but not limited to subject matter responsibilities.
401(k)
- Set up client 401(k) plan information in HRIS system.
- Input and process 401(k) initial enrollment, deferral changes and loans, creating and downloading reports as necessary to audit transactions.
- Responsible for coordination of the annual Plan audit and any other special audits.
- Responsible for the coordination of periodical compliance testing, including review of results with clients.
- Trouble shoot with payroll any issues regarding 401(k) loans or contributions.
- Assist with the set up and conducting of 401(k) education meetings, including preparing any materials.
Leave of Absence Management
- Establishes LOAs; tracks and codes documentation in accordance with client and internal workflow processes.
- Analyzes LOAs to determine eligibility and certification in compliance with state and federal regulations.
- Identifies action plan; determines benefits due; and makes timely case decisions based on service expectations as established by the client.
- Communicates decisions and on-going expectations with claimants and clients.
Requirements
- Excellent organizational and project management skills with the ability to prioritize and handle multiple and complex tasks in a demanding, fast paced work environment---must be self-motivated.
- Learns quickly when facing new problems. Open to change. Enjoys the challenge of unfamiliar tasks and can act without having the total picture.
- Extensive knowledge of all pertinent federal and state regulations, filing and compliance requirements affecting both adopted and pending employee benefit programs, including HIPAA, ERISA, PPACA, COBRA, FMLA, ADA, SECTION 125, COBRA, and Social Security and DOL requirements.
- Ability to exercise considerable judgment with highly confidential information; demonstrates a superior work ethic and will be able to multi-task effectively while taking pride in everyday tasks.
- HIPAA compliant; ability to maintain strict adherence to a clean desk policy.*
- Advanced technology skills, able to work comfortably in a variety of software applications; proficient in Microsoft applications (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook).
- A high level of professionalism and an understanding that no task is too menial.
- Excellent written and oral communication, interpersonal and relational skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with internal/external clients and vendors
- Excels as part of a cooperative, dynamic team, always displaying a positive attitude and a desire to solve for