Benefits Specialist - Irvine, United States - Advantage Solutions

Description

Summary:

Benefit Specialist

Remote in Central, Mountain, or Pacific time zone

The Benefits Specialist oversees the administrative and compliance duties for the company's benefits programs, covering health and welfare as well as retirement plans. This involves ensuring adherence to ERISA, HIPAA, COBRA, and relevant Federal and/or State employment laws in the U.S. Additionally, the role extends support to benefit programs in Canada.

Our Offerings Include:

• Full-Time Benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance)
• 401(k) with Company Match
• Training and Career Development Opportunities
• Generous Paid Time Off

Responsibilities:

• Administers and communicates company benefits, including plan options, policy features, enrollment, and regulatory requirements.
• Acts as a liaison between benefit vendors and multi-state employees, offering clear guidance on qualified life events, eligibility, coverage, and open enrollment.
• Supports HR and employees in promptly resolving benefit inquiries.
• Ensures accuracy in processing and auditing benefit changes.
• Conducts precise payment reconciliations with AP to ensure accuracy.
• Manages benefit updates for payroll, including premium adjustments and corrections, and handles documentation such as court orders, disability claims, and state forms.
• Advises employees on benefit premiums during leaves, tracks payments, and collaborates with payroll as needed.
• Plays a key role in HRIS system testing during implementations and open enrollment preparations.
• Reviews vendor error reports, identifies issues, and collaborates with the HRIS team on resolutions.
• Maintains administrative and compliance procedures for assigned benefits processes.
• Contributes to the training and guidance of new team members joining the benefits team.

Qualifications:

• Associate's Degree in Human Resources Management or Business Administration, or equivalent job-related experience required
• 3+ years of experience in Human Resources and/or Benefits, with a basic understanding of LOA, ADA, benefit types, programs, etc.
• Exceptional customer service and organizational skills
• Proficient in project management and multitasking
• Self-starter and motivator, with a track record of creating processes and procedures
• Experience working within an HRIS system

Job Will Remain Open Until Filled

Responsibilities:

The Company is one of North Americas leading sales and marketing agencies specializing in outsourced sales, merchandising, category management and marketing services to manufacturers, suppliers and producers of food products and consumer packaged goods. The Company services a variety of trade channels including grocery, mass merchandise, specialty, convenience, drug, dollar, club, hardware, consumer electronics and home centers. We bridge the gap between manufacturers and retailers, providing consumers access to the best products available in the marketplace today.

Position Summary

The Benefits Specialist performs the day-to-day administrative and compliance functions for the Company's benefits programs, including health and welfare and retirement plans, in compliance with ERISA, HIPAA, COBRA, and applicable Federal and/or State employment laws in the U.S. The role will also support the benefit programs in Canada.

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities

Benefit Plan Administration

The Benefits Specialist administers and communicates the companys benefits regarding plan options, policy features, enrollment and regulatory requirements.
Provides guidance to the Company's multi-state employees, acting as a liaison between benefit vendors and employees. Advises employees in a clear and concise manner on qualified life events, eligibility, coverage, open enrollment questions, and other benefits matters.
Supports HR and employees and/or dependents in resolving benefit inquiries timely.
Process and audit employee benefit changes, carrier discrepancy reporting, and open enrollment data changes.
Responsible for benefit updates for payroll, including benefits premium adjustments and corrections.
Completes documents including court orders, disability, and State forms.
Advise employees on required benefit premiums while on leave, track payments, and interface with payroll as needed.
Participates in testing the HRIS system during implementations and preparation for open enrollment.
Review vendor error reports, research, and identify issues. Work with the HRIS team on the resolution.
Document and maintain administrative procedures for assigned benefits processes.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Direct Reports

This position does not have supervisory responsibilities for direct reports

Indirect Reports

This position does not have guidance or mentoring responsibilities for indirect reports

Travel and/or Driving Requirements

Travel and Driving are not essential duties or functions of this job

Minimum Qualifications

Education Level: (Preferred): Associate's Degree or equivalent job-related work experience

Field of Study/Area of Experience: Human Resources Management or Business Administration

• 1-3 years of experience administering health and welfare benefit programs

Skills, Knowledge and Abilities

- Working knowledge of ERISA, DOL, IRS, COBRA, HIPAA, PPACA
- Solid knowledge of fundamental issues surrounding health and welfare and savings (401(k)) programs
- Exceptional attention to detail and time management
- Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, self-directed, team-based environment.
- Demonstrates empathy for personal circumstances of associates, while remaining objective.
- Interpersonal savvy and ability to develop peer relationships
- Ability to plan by incorporating good problem-solving skills and prioritizing to obtain results
- Excellent communication skills both verbal and written; ability to explain programs/policies in a way that is understood by others
- Strong analytical, financial skills, and problem-solving skills
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite excel spreadsheets, word processing, presentation development
- Oracle, PeopleSoft, ADP or other HR system experience required

Environmental & Physical Requirements

Office / Sedentary Requirements

Incumbent must be able to perform the essential functions of the job. Work is performed primarily in an office environment. Typically requires the ability to sit for extended periods of time (66%+ each day), ability to hear the telephone, ability to enter data on a computer and may also require the ability to lift up to 10 pounds.

Additional Information Regarding The Company Job Duties and Job Descriptions

Job duties include additional responsibilities as assigned by ones supervisor or other manager related to the position/department. This job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required for the position. The Company reserves the right at any time with or without notice to alter or change job responsibilities, reassign or transfer job position or assign additional job responsibilities, subject to applicable law. The Company shall provide reasonable accommodations of known disabilities to enable a qualified applicant or employee to apply for employment, perform the essential functions of the job, or enjoy the benefits and privileges of employment as required by the law.

Important Information:

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of associates so classified.

The Company is committed to providing equal opportunity in all employment practices without regard to age, race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, religion, physical or mental disability, or any other category protected by law. As part of this commitment, the Company shall provide reasonable accommodations of known disabilities to enable an applicant or employee to apply for employment, perform the essential functions of the job, or enjoy the benefits and privileges of employment as required by the law.