Benefits Analyst Job Descriptions, Average Salary, Interview Questions

A benefits analyst is needed for urgent hire at [Your Company Name]. It is the responsibility of this role to handle everything associated with benefits and compensation. This goes into several different jobs. First and foremost, you must have a good understanding and remembrance of the benefits the company offers. This is vital because you will be recommending it to employees, as well as updating them on any changes made. In case you do not remember it all, and for legal reasons, you must also create written descriptions of these different offers. If management decides to change these terms, you must inform employees, and update all descriptions of the benefits and compensation. A basic understanding of laws and regulations for what the company offers is required for this job. The analyst must ensure the company and employees follow these laws. On top of all this, it is the duty of this role to continually analyze everything the company offers, in hopes of finding more viable benefits. Talking with management and discussing these topics will be necessary for you to flourish in this role. 

Typical duties and responsibilities

• Research compensation and benefits plans and policies for an organization
• Analyze data and costs to make recommendations on plans and policies
• Evaluate employee position descriptions to determine classification and salary for each 
• Ensure and maintain company compliance with state and federal laws
• Be a liaison with third-party vendors like insurance companies and investment managers
• Coordinate company wellness initiatives 
• Make recommendations to human resources management

Education and experience

This position requires a bachelor’s degree in human resources management, business administration, finance, or a related field.

Required skills and qualifications

• A clear understanding of the industry to create best employee benefits packages at the lowest cost to the company
• Strong mathematical and analytical skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Adaptability, accountability, and confidentiality 
• Highly organized
• Ability to multitask  
• Proficient using Microsoft Office Suite

Preferred qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree
• 3+ years of experience working with benefits
• Ability to self-manage
• Extremely motivated to help others

Duties and requirements

• Responsible for customer service of benefits overseeing and monitoring calls, benefits inbox, resolving issues, monitoring/creating metrics, and working directly with Managers to ensure reasonable timeframes for issues resolution
• Comply with government and state regulations and plan provisions to ensure equitable administration to employees
• Process and approve qualifying status changes (determine validity; communicate with employees)
• Manage enrollment and educational material
• Manage Retiree medical: eligibility, communication, and payments
• Manage payments for employees on LOA, administer evidence of insurability in accordance with plan rules
• Investigate and resolve eligibility file issues, research and resolve file discrepancies reported by carriers
• Responsible for new hire-dependent supporting document review and follow-up
• Provide policy interpretation and clarify procedures to HR and Department management
• Assist in pension audits
• Assist in annual benefits open enrollment including plan design changes and testing; conduct open enrollment presentations
• Assist in identifying inefficiencies and areas in need of improvement
• Perform other duties when necessary

Competencies

• 2-5 years of experience administering employee benefits or insurance benefit information
• Work effectively and efficiently within strict deadlines as part of a team
• Strong organization and time management skills
• Ability to self-manage in a fast-paced environment and to troubleshoot issues as they arise
• Strong knowledge of Excel and experience navigating online systems
• Excellent interpersonal, analytical, and written communication skills
• Experience working in a strong customer-service-focused environment within human resources
• The retirement plan administration field is strongly preferred
• Experience in developing educational and training materials

Education

• College degree or equivalent professional experience

Responsibilities

• Day-to-day administration of all health and welfare and retirement plans, fringe benefits, life & disability insurance, and COBRA, including but not limited to: processing enrollments, elections, life events, LOA requests, ensuring effective transfer of eligibility, and elections to vendor partners (including management of error reporting and troubleshooting any system or integration issues). Oversee other benefit operation tasks such as COBRA, death claims, rollovers, QMCSOs, 401(k) distributions & loans, etc.
• Assist with the reconciliation of all benefit accounts, audits, and billing
• Assist in annual benefit open enrollment process, internal communications, updating new elections
• Manage health & wellness initiatives such as wellness campaigns
• Monitor compliance with benefit plans and recommend necessary changes: annual filings, file feeds, plan documents, SPDs, and, other legal notices
• Responsible for understanding, interpreting, and complying with all state and federal laws related to health and welfare plans
• Act as subject matter expert on employee benefits for internal customers, vendors, auditors, etc.
• Responsible for reconciling benefit or claims issues and discrepancies, and determining solutions to resolve issues
• Work collectively with Payroll and HRIS to ensure the proper deductions (and/or adjustments) is taken for final pay processing
• Assist and complete special projects as assigned

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in HR or related field. Required education may be substituted by additional years of experience
• 2-3 years of benefits administration experience
• Certified Benefits Professional (CBP) or Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS) status preferred
• Professional Human Resources (PHR) certification preferred
• Experience with Benefits Administration to include medical and dental plans, retirement plans, health savings accounts, flexible spending accounts, life, AD&D, short and long-term disability, FMLA, State leave policies, and LOA management
• Knowledge of benefit plan cost drivers and plan designs
• Knowledge of various laws such as ERISA, FMLA, OFLA, ACA, etc.

Responsibilities

• Administer employee benefits programs such as medical, dental, vision plans, life, and disability insurance plans, leaves of absence, and 401k retirement plan
• Work closely with the benefits team, benefits consultants, and insurance vendors to implement approved new plans or changes to existing plans by preparing announcement materials, gathering plan summary documents, updating the employee intranet, and other media for communicating plans to employees
• Act as a subject matter expert for escalation of employee benefits inquiries and complaints to ensure a quick, equitable, and courteous resolution
• Maintain contact by zoom, phone, or email, with insurance companies, employees, and beneficiaries to facilitate proper and complete utilization of benefits for all employees
• Craft content and communications for employees that are approachable, succinct, and reflect company culture
• Prepare benefits reports for plan audits, actuaries, insurance carriers, and management
• Lead and act as project manager for the following benefit plans/programs:
• Compliance management; ensure the program is meeting all legislative requirements including, but not limited to 5500 filings, ACA reporting, and distribution of required notices. Continually evaluate and proactively inform on upcoming changes that may impact the company
• Leave of Absence Administration
• Workday benefits system administration
• Guardian Dental, Vision, Life/AD&D, and LTD
• Kaiser Medical
• Federal COBRA
• And other programs as assigned
• Co-manage the following:
• Employee tickets through ServiceNow
• Bi-weekly onboarding
• Open Enrollment

Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree and 6 or more years of experience in benefits administration
• Strong customer service skills with a focus on employee education
• Ability to develop strong working relationships and collaborate with a cross-functional group of partners, both internal and external
• Proven capability to independently manage projects, including communications, and change management
• Ability to adapt and drive improvements and continuously simplify processes with compliance in mind
• Comfortable with ambiguity, uncertainty, and change
• Expertise in Workday benefits administration
• Working knowledge of Excel for reporting and auditing purposes