Benefits Specialist

Job Description
General Nature of Work

Oversee and coordinate the day-to-day operations of group benefits by providing excellent customer service and quality benefits plans, investigating new benefits programs, improving existing programs, monitor benefits administration; design employee benefit plans and provide analytical and technical support in the delivery of the benefit programs.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

The following duties are normal for this position. The omission of specific statements of the duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this classification. Other duties may be required and assigned.
• Provide customer service support to internal and external customers; develop communication tools to enhance understanding of the company's benefits package; design and distribute materials for benefits orientations, open enrollment and summary plan descriptions.
• Act as the single point of contact for all employee benefits; resolve administrative benefit issues with various carriers and brokers.
• Conduct benefit orientations for eligible new hires throughout the year; lead annual Open Enrollment initiatives.
• Coordinate daily benefits processing; enrollments, COBRA, terminations, beneficiaries, disability, accident, changes, and death claims, rollovers, QDROs, QMCSOs, distributions, loans, hardships and compliance testing; oversee maintenance of employee benefit files, maintain group benefits database, and update employee payroll records.
• Serve as primary contact for plan vendors and third-party administrators; coordinate transfer of data to external contacts for services, premiums and plan administration; evaluate and revise internal processes to reduce costs and increase efficiency; document and maintain administrative procedures for assigned benefits processes. Ensure compliance with applicable government regulations; ensure timeliness and accuracy of required reporting and fees.
• Gather employee data and oversee the processing of monthly billings and the preparation of vouchers for payment of administrative fees for all group plans; allocate group health and dental claims monthly and reviews quarterly.
• Research employee benefits plans and vendors to identify those that present the best value; design, recommend and implement new benefits programs; examine possible plan designs and benefits cost changes; negotiate with vendors and administrators for best plans, options and rates.
• Review both short- and long-range cost estimates/projections and relevant statistical analyses regarding modifications in benefits programs and implementation of new programs.
• Survey industry trends; complete benefits surveys and review information obtained from the results. Analyze complex benefits information; forecast trends and assist with future benefits designs; develop specific recommendations for review by management.
• Monitor administrative costs of benefits programs and recommend cost containment strategies, including alternative methods for administration and funding; prepare budgetary recommendations and assist in the monitoring, verifying, and reconciling of budgeted funds.
• Review all benefit invoices for accuracy prior to sending to Accounting; keep digital invoices well organized in the share drive.
• Process and administer all leave-of-absence requests and associated paperwork.
• Assist with all new hire on-boarding administration, including employee set up in HCM and benefits enrollment.
• Handle all company level reporting through Employee Navigator on a regular and/or as-needed basis.
• Complete filings for ACA.
• Facilitate the annual flu shot clinic.
• Maintain employee files and keep the HCM system up to date on a regular basis.
• Respond to all benefit and admin inquiries from employees as needed.
• Perform general HR tasks such as sending out email communications, coordinating events, and conducting audits.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
• Bachelor's degree
• Minimum of 2 years of benefits administration experience
• Knowledge of HCM solutions such as ADP or UltiPro, MS Office XP (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Detail oriented; ability to problem solve
• Keen sense of customer service
• Ability to work in both a team situation and independently

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, and ABILITIES
• Ability to evaluate, audit, deduce, and/or assess data using established criteria. Includes exercising discretion in determining actual or probable consequences and in referencing such evaluation to identify and select alternatives

Human Interaction: Requires the ability to apply principles of persuasion and/or influence over others in coordinating activities of a project, program, or designated area of responsibility.

Equipment, Machinery, Tools, and Materials Utilization: Requires the ability to operate, maneuver and/or control the actions of equipment, machinery, tools, and/or materials used in performing essential functions.

Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to utilize a wide variety of reference, descriptive, and/or advisory data and information.

Mathematical Aptitude: Requires the ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication and division; ability to calculate decimals and percentages; may include ability to perform mathematical operations with fractions; may include ability to compute discount, interest, and ratios; may include ability to calculate surface areas, volumes, weights, and measures.

Functional Reasoning: Requires the ability to apply principles of rational systems; to interpret instructions furnished in written, oral, diagrammatic, or schedule form; and to exercise independent judgment to adopt or modify methods and standards to meet variations in assigned objectives.

Situational Reasoning: Requires the ability to exercise judgment, decisiveness and creativity in situations involving the evaluation of information against sensory, judgmental, or subjective criteria, as opposed to that which is clearly measurable or verifiable.

ADA Requirements: Individuals applying for the posted position must be able to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.

Physical Requirements: This position classifies the physical exertion requirements as sedentary work involving lifting no more than 10 pounds at a time and occasionally lifting or carrying articles like docket files, ledgers, and small tools. Although a sedentary job is defined as one which involves sitting, a certain amount of walking and standing is often necessary in carrying out job duties. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required occasionally, and other sedentary criteria are met.

Environmental Factors: Essential functions are regularly performed without exposure to adverse environmental conditions.

Benefits

The City of Kennesaw provides the following group benefits to eligible employees: comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance with HSA and FSA options (includes employer contribution to HSA plans); life and AD&D insurance for employee and dependent(s); employer paid short and long-term disability insurance for employee; accrued vacation and sick leave (with option to sell back); tuition reimbursement program (employer pays 70%); 12 paid holidays; 2 paid personal days; longevity pay bonuses (after every 5 years); 1% employer contribution on first 2% of employee contribution toward a 457 deferred compensation plan; 4% employee contribution toward a defined benefit pension plan (vested after 10 years); wellness benefits such as flu shots and biometric screenings (includes discounted gym memberships through Cigna's Active and Fit Program).

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