Senior Benefits Analyst

Purpose:

The Sr Benefit Analyst is responsible for coordinating daily benefit processes and activities to ensure that plans, policies, and procedures are administered correctly for Health & Welfare and Retirement benefit programs in North America.  This position is responsible for working with team members, vendors, other NASC departments, and field Human Resources staff and for performing all other responsibilities as directed by the business or as assigned by management.

Essential Functions:

• Develops and maintains positive working relationships with benefit vendors, ensuring issues and questions are handled efficiently and accurately according to regulatory and contractual obligations.
• Serves as primary point of contact for NASC and Field Human Resources team members.
• Resolves cases set up by benefit administration vendors for timely, consistent, and accurate administration.
• Coordinates system changes, updates, deduction management, and testing between various systems and vendors.
• Identifies issues or problems, follows up to recommend and implement appropriate solutions.
• Performs eligibility and enrollment verifications.
• Performs tasks related to financial administration of benefit plans (funding, journal entries, participant direct payments, etc.)
• Performs compliance tasks required by ERISA, IRS, and DOL, or locale-specific regulations.
• Coordinates directives and orders with TPA and directly responds to numerous other inquiries (QMCSO orders, state, Medicare Secondary Payor and Data Match, QDROs) as required.
• Assists in preparing and reviewing benefit communication materials for required content and readability for plan participants.
• Thoroughly researches and responds to all inquiries and appeals received by the Benefits Department while adhering to deadlines and applicable regulations.
• Coordinates and conducts events such as benefits orientation, Annual Benefits Fair, and wellness activities.

Reporting Relationship:

• Sr Benefit Analyst position as described falls under the Fair Labor Standards Act as an Exempt position.
• This position reports to the Senior Director Benefits.

Major Interdependencies:

Payroll, HR Information Technology, Corporate Finance, Accounting, Field Finance, Field Operations Management, Field HR

Minimum Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills, and Work Environment:

Education and Experience: The combination of education and professional experience must exceed 6 years. 

• In a technical role: Requires 6-8 years of experience engaged in administering health & welfare and/or retirement benefit plans.  A bachelor’s degree in a program related to the functional area can count for 3 of the 6-year requirement.

• In the industry: Hospitality, F&B and/or Retail experience 3-5 years.
• Specialized Training requirements:

• Training that leads to an in-depth understanding of benefit plan operation and compliance functions, such as eligibility, enrollment, funding, communications, and reporting.
• Working knowledge of state and federal IRS/DOL regulations and statutes, such as ERISA, ACA, HIPAA
• Specialized Skillset/Competencies/Traits

• • Highly proficient in all areas of the Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook).

• Demonstrated attention to detail, strong time management, customer service skills, and organization skills.
• Requires the ability to maintain information in confidence.
• Requires strong oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills.

• • Requires experience administering multi-employer benefits plans and collective bargaining agreements.

• Demonstrated history of understanding the needs of the business, stakeholders, the employee population and individual circumstances.

Location/Travel:

• This position is based at the MD North American Support Center
• May require occasional travel to NJ North American Support Center or other locations