Benefits Specialist - Mount Dora, United States - City of Mount Dora

City of Mount Dora

Verified Company

Mount Dora, United States

2 weeks ago

Posted by:

Mark Lane

beBee recruiter

Description

Benefits Specialist

Human Resources

Full-time - Non-Exempt

Pay Range:
$21.84/hr - $26.22/hr

Under direction of the Human Resources Director, administers the City's employee benefit programs including medical, dental, retirement, life insurance, flexible spending accounts, supplemental insurance plans, Family & Medical Leave under the Family & Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and functions as City's designated HIPAA Compliance Officer.

Essential Duties

Ensures compliance with state and federal regulations relating to benefit administration, including HIPAA, Section 125 Flexible Benefit Plans, Medical/Childcare Reimbursement Plan, COBRA and FMLA, and ensures compliance to the policies and procedures of the City's third party benefit administrators.
Serves as the City's HIPAA Compliance Officer and primary point of contact for providing information to employees, retirees and former employees on all benefit related questions, including medical, dental, COBRA, retirement, life insurance, flexible spending accounts, supplemental insurance, worker's compensation, and the Family & Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
Investigates, analyzes and resolves a wide range of benefits issues, including documentation of the steps taken in the resolution process.
Processes all enrollments and terminations in the City's benefit programs and acts as the primary city administrator of the online benefit system including insurance, retirement and COBRA transactions.
Coordinate the City's benefit plans, e.g. group life, medical, dental, vision, working in concert with the carrier's representatives and claims departments, the payroll department and/or employee for possible payroll deduction changes.
Coordinates the City's Annual Open Enrollment including conducting employee meetings, designing and distributing information and materials, and processing all changes to insurance and flexible spending accounts.
Plans and coordinates the annual Health and Benefits Fair and assists in planning and coordinating employee recognition events
Plans, develops, recommends and provides for the implementation of a variety of employee wellness and employee assistance programs.
Monitors employee benefit costs and makes recommendations regarding plan design and cost containment.
Conducts or participates in employee benefits workshops and employee orientation.
Case manages all FMLA leave including notifications, certifications, coordination with payroll and tracking of leave.
Maintains and creates spreadsheets, databases and filing systems to track enrollments, transactions and coverage levels for benefit plans.
Reconciles employee benefit billings for accuracy and conformity with specifications and employee records.
Prepares and creates reports for a variety of users and customers and for analysis.
Processes benefit changes and works closely with payroll department.
Enrolls and/or makes changes to employee 457 and 401A accounts.
Answer any inquiries of employees regarding their benefits and/or files; answer any inquiries of verification of employment date, title and confirm salary given to person seeking this verification.
Answers telephone and walkin inquiries related to job information, personnel procedures, and provides other related information.
Assists the Chair of the General Employees' Pension Board with the Board meeting agenda, and attachments for Trustee Agenda packets. Act as liaison with Actuary and/or Custodian regarding monthly retiree payments, disbursements, etc.
Works with Actuary and other appropriate vendors in obtaining forms of retirement benefits available and notifying employees electing to retire from City. Coordinate with Actuary, Pension Board and departing employees regarding refund of their contributions to the Fund.
Maintain contact and correspond with City retirees when necessary. Maintain retiree files of current addresses, benefits, benefit changes due to age and monitor changes and notify insurance carriers and payroll dept.
Maintains Relationships with all vendors
Performs as Primary Contact for City's Health and Wellness Center
Cross Trains with other department employees
Performs other duties as assigned

Qualifications

Graduation from an accredited high school/vocational school or GED required, Associates Degree preferred.
A minimum of five (5) years personnelrelated and benefits administrative experience, preferably in local government.
Currently possess or have the ability to obtain State of Florida Notary Public License.
A comparable amount of education and/or experience can be substituted for the minimum qualifications.
Valid Florida Driver's License required.
Complete the required National Incident Management System (NIMS) training within 6 months of completion of probationary period.

A comprehensive job description is available upon request.
This employer participates in E-Verify and will provide the fed