Retirement Benefits Specialist - Harrisburg, United States - State of Pennsylvania

Description

THE POSITION

Are you an organized self-starter with a penchant for math and analytical challenges? Do you value working with independence while also serving on a small, cohesive team? If so, a Retirement Benefits Specialist position at the State Employees' Retirement System (SERS) may be the right job for you.

This work involves in-depth research of member accounts and the calculation of benefits relating to member divorce, recalculation of benefits, change of retirement options, and more.

Ideal candidates will possess Microsoft Office experience and be driven by accuracy and attention to detail. If this sounds like you, we invite you to apply today


DESCRIPTION OF WORK

These Retirement Benefits Specialist opportunities are located in the Technical Services Section of the Benefits Determination Division and are responsible for reviewing historical account information, analyzing a wide variety of data, and interpreting and applying the terms and provisions of governing policies, procedures, contracts, legal documents, and actuarial calculations.

Employees in these positions perform mathematical calculations, provide technical assistance to other teams, and provide customer service.

They serve as liaisons to the Chief Counsel's Office of SERS, interpreting domestic relations orders pertaining to divorced member accounts.

Responsibilities also include calculating combined benefits for members with both SERS and PSERS service, as well as calculating multiple service disability benefits

Interested in learning more? Additional details regarding this position can be found in the position description.

About


SERS:

Established in 1923, SERS is one of the nation's oldest retirement plans for public employees and manages the pension benefits of nearly 240,000 employees and retirees for 98 public sector employers.

In 2023, SERS paid about $3.9 billion in benefits and managed $36.4 billion in assets. A wealth of information is available at

Our mission is to prepare our members and participants to achieve financial security in retirement.

We achieve this through focusing on our mission, acting ethically and with integrity, empowering our members, embracing innovation, fostering life work balance, modeling an inclusive and respectful workplace, valuing and developing team members, collaborating, and finding joy in our work.

SERS is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all qualified individuals to our team.

We are committed to an inclusive and respectful work environment that fosters personal and professional growth, embraces the contributions of all team members, and values diversity in people, ideas, and experiences to achieve our highest potential.

Work Schedule and Additional Information:

• Full-time employment, 37.5-hour work week, Monday through Friday.
• Option 1: 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. with a one-hour unpaid meal period from 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

OR

Option 2: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. with a half-hour unpaid meal period from 12:00 - 12:30 or 12:30 - 1:00 p.m.

• Telework: You may have the opportunity to work from home part-time (hybrid telework schedule), depending on operational needs and progress in learning assigned tasks. In order to telework, you must have a securely configured high-speed internet connection and work from an approved location inside Pennsylvania; otherwise, you must work on-site at the work location specified in this job posting.
• Salary: In some cases, the starting salary may be non-negotiable.
• You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE, TRAINING & ELIGIBILITY


QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Experience and Training Requirements:

• One year as a Retirement Technician; or
• One year as a Fiscal Technician performing work within a public pension or retirement system or related area, such as a Comptroller's Office; or
• Two years as a Human Resources Assistant 2 performing work in the areas of benefits or systems processing; or
• An associate's degree and two years of experience in the processing of benefit payments; or
• Four years of experience in the processing of benefit accounts or payments within a public pension or retirement system or related area, such as medical insurance or other insurance or pension benefits; or
• An equivalent combination of experience or training.

Other Requirements:

• You must meet the PA residency requirement. For more information on ways to meet PA residency requirements, follow the link and click on Residency.
• You must be able to perform essential job functions.

How to Apply:

• Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents will not be reviewed, and the information contained therein will not be considered for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position. Information to support your eligibility for the position must be provided on the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education).
• If you are claiming education in your answers to the supplemental application questions, you must attach a copy of your college transcripts for your claim to be accepted toward meeting the minimum requirements. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.
• Your application must be submitted by the posting closing date. Late applications and other required materials will not be accepted.
• Failure to comply with the above application requirements may eliminate you from consideration for this position.

Veterans:

• Pennsylvania law (51 Pa. C.S. §7103) provides employment preference for qualified veterans for appointment to many state and local government jobs. To learn more about employment preferences for veterans, go to and click the Veterans' Preference tab or contact us at ra-cs-Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS): 711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals).

If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodations due to a disability, please discuss your request for accommodations with the interviewer in advance of your interview date.

The Commonwealth is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce.

The Commonwealth values inclusion as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified people to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania.

The Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, disability, or any other categories protected by applicable federal or state law.

All diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.


EXAMINATION INFORMATION

• Completing the application, including all supplemental questions, serves as your exam for this position. No additional exam is required at a test center (also referred to as a written exam).
• Your score is based on the detailed information you provide on your application and in response to the supplemental questions.
• Your score is valid for this specific posting only.
• You must provide complete and accurate information or: your score may be lower than deserved.

* you may be disqualified.

You may only apply/test once for this posting.
Your results will be provided via email.

Learn more about our Total Rewards by watching this short video

Health & Wellness

We offer multiple health plans so our employees can choose what works best for themselves and their families. Our comprehensive benefits package includes health coverage, vision, dental, and wellness programs.

Compensation & Financial Planning

We invest in our employees by providing competitive wages and encouraging financial wellness by offering multiple ways to save money and ensure peace of mind including multiple retirement and investment plan options.

Work/Life Balance

We know there's more to life than just work Our generous paid leave benefits include paid vacation, paid sick leave, eight weeks of paid parental leave, military leave, and paid time off for most major U.S.

holidays, as well as flexible work schedules and work-from-home opportunities.

Values and Culture

We believe in the work we do and provide continual opportunities for our employees to grow and contribute to the greater good.

As one of the largest employers in the state, we provide opportunities for internal mobility, professional development, and the opportunity to give back by participating in workplace charitable giving.

Employee Perks

Sometimes, it is the little "extras" that make a big difference. Our employees receive special employee-only discounts and rates on a variety of services and memberships.

For more information on all of these Total Rewards benefits, please visit and click on the benefits box.

• Eligibility rules apply.

01

Have you been employed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as a Retirement Technician for one or more years full-time?

• Yes
• No

02

If you are claiming experience in the above question, please list the employer(s) where you gained this experience in the text box below.

The employer(s) and a description of the experience must also be included in the appropriate sections of your application if you would like the experience to be considered in the eligibility decision.

If you claimed you do not have experience, type N/A in the text box below.

03

Have you been employed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as a Fiscal Technician for one or more years full-time performing work within a public pension or retirement system or related area, such as a Comptroller's Office?

• Yes
• No

04

If you are claiming experience in the above question, please list the employer(s) where you gained this experience in the text box below.

The employer(s) and a description of the experience must also be included in the appropriate sections of your application if you would like the experience to be considered in the eligibility decision.

If you claimed you do not have experience, type N/A in the text box below.

05

Have you been employed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as a Human Resource Assistant 2 for two or more years full-time performing work in the areas of benefits or systems processing?

• Yes
• No

06

If you are claiming experience in the above question, please list the employer(s) where you gained this experience in the text box below.

The employer(s) and a description of the experience must also be included in the appropriate sections of your application if you would like the experience to be considered in the eligibility decision.

If you claimed you do not have experience, type N/A in the text box below.

07

Have you completed a bachelor's degree (or higher) which includes completion of at least 18 college credits in Accounting, Auditing, Business Law, Communication Studies, Counseling, Finance, Journalism, Labor Economics, Macro/Micro Economics, Marketing, Money and Banking, Personnel/Human Resource Administration, Public Finance, Public Speaking, Political Science, Sociology, and/or Statistics?

If you are claiming credits/degree, you must upload a copy of your college transcript(s) for this education to be considered in the eligibility decision.

Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.

You must attach your transcript(s) prior to the submission of your application by using the "Attachments" tab on the left.

You will not be able to add a transcript(s) to the application after it has been submitted.

If you answer "yes" to this question based on education acquired outside of the United States, you must also upload a copy of your foreign credential evaluation.

For more information on foreign education credentials, please visit and click on Other Information.

• Yes
• No

08

How many years of full-time experience in the processing of benefit payments do you possess?

(Experience processing benefits payments includes applying rules, regulations, laws and formulas in the calculation and determination of benefits, adjustments or purchases and explaining benefit laws, rules and regulations to members.)

• 4 years or more
• 3 but less than 4 years
• 2 but less than 3 years
• Less than 2 years
• No

ne

09

If you are claiming experience in the above question, please list the employer(s) where you gained this experience in the text box below.

The employer(s) and a description of the experience must also be included in the appropriate sections of your application if you would like the experience to be considered in the eligibility decision.

If you claimed you do not have experience, type N/A in the text box below.

10

Have you completed a bachelor's degree in Communication, Human Resources, Business Administration, Business Management, Psychology, Labor Relations or a related area?

If you are claiming credits/degree, you must upload a copy of your college transcript(s) for this education to be considered in the eligibility decision.

Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.

You must attach your transcript(s) prior to the submission of your application by using the "Attachments" tab on the left.

You will not be able to add a transcript(s) to the application after it has been submitted.

If you answer "yes" to this question based on education acquired outside of the United States, you must also upload a copy of your foreign credential evaluation.

For more information on foreign education credentials, please visit and click on Other Information.

• Yes
• No

11

If you have not completed a conferred college degree, how much college coursework have you completed?

If you are claiming credits/degree, you must upload a copy of your college transcript(s) for this education to be considered in the eligibility decision.

Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.

You must attach your transcript(s) prior to the submission of your application by using the "Attachments" tab on the left.

You will not be able to add a transcript(s) to the application after it has been submitted.

If your education was acquired outside of the United States, you must also upload a copy of your foreign credential evaluation.

For more information on foreign education credentials, please visit and click on Other Information.

• 60 credits or more
• 30 but less than 60 credits
• Less than 30 credits
• No

ne

12

CS-INSTRUCTIONS You must complete the supplemental questions below. These supplemental questions are the exam and will be scored.

They are designed to give you the opportunity to relate your experience and training background to the major activities (Work Behaviors) performed in this position.

Failure to provide complete and accurate information may delay the processing of your application or result in a lower-than-deserved score or disqualification.

You must complete the application and answer the supplemental questions.

Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents will not be reviewed for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position or to determine your score.

All information you provide on your application and supplemental questions is subject to verification. Any misrepresentation, falsification or omission of material facts is subject to penalty.

If requested, you must provide documentation, including names, addresses, and telephone numbers of individuals who can verify the validity of the information you provide in the application and supplemental questions.

Read each question carefully. Determine and select which "Level of Performance" most closely represents your highest level of experience/training. List the employer(s)/training source(s) from your Work or Education sections of the application where you gained this experience/training.

The "Level of Performance" you choose must be clearly supported within the description of the experience and training information entered in your application or your score may be lowered.

In order to receive credit for experience, you must have worked in a job for at least six months in which the experience claimed was a major function.

If you have read and understand these instructions, please click on the "Yes" button and proceed to the exam questions.

If you have general questions regarding the application and hiring process, please refer to our FAQ page.

• Yes

13

WORK BEHAVIOR - PROCESSES REQUESTS, MAINTAINS AND RECONCILES ACCOUNTS

(A)

Processes requests by checking member account for all details, (i.e., service, hours, contributions, and earnings accuracy, etc.) and researching the retirement code to determine accuracy of account details (B) Maintains retirement member accounts by applying debts, establishing member arrears, changing member accounts status, correcting hours, contributions, earnings, and applying credited service, etc.

(C) Reconciles accounts to determine:

monies owed by members or monies owed by the Commonwealth and/or reporting units, and informs members of the status of their accounts, or employers etc.

Levels of Performance

Select the Level of Performance that best describes your claim.

• A. I have clerical or technical experience of an independent nature in all of the areas listed; (A) processing requests, (B) maintaining retirement accounts, and (C) reconciling accounts.
• B. I have clerical or technical experience of an independent nature in at least one of the areas listed; (A) processing requests, (B) maintaining accounts, or (C) reconciling accounts.
• C. I have NO experience related to this work behavior.

14

In the text box below, please describe your experience as it relates to the level of performance you claimed in this work behavior.

Please be sure your response addresses the items listed below which relate to your claim. If you indicated you have no work experience related to this work behavior, type N/A in the box below.

• The name of the employer where you gained this experience.
• The actual duties you performed related to the level of performance you claimed on this Work Behavior.
• Your level of responsibility.

15

WORK BEHAVIOR - COMPLETES COMPUTATIONS AND VERIFIES INVOICES

Completes multiple data computations and verifies accounts for accuracy. Uses financial mathematics, i.e. subtraction, multiplication, division, ratios, percentages, etc. to determine the amounts and accuracy of various elements relating to members benefit account, etc.

This includes computing the monies reported by member or employer to SERS (State Employee Retirement System); verifies against owed to member account per retirement code.

Levels of Performance

Select the Level of Performance that best describes your claim.

• A. I have clerical and/or technical experience of an independent nature completing multiple data computations, and detailed research for accuracy.
• B. I have clerical and/or technical experience of a limited nature completing multiple data computations, and verifying calculations and input done by coworkers.
• C. I have NO experience related to this work behavior.

16

In the text box below, please describe your experience as it relates to the level of performance you claimed in this work behavior.

Please be sure your response addresses the items listed below which relate to your claim. If you indicated you have no work experience related to this work behavior, type N/A in the box below.

• The name of the employer where you gained this experience.
• The actual duties you performed related to the level of performance you claimed on this Work Behavior.
• Your level of responsibility.

17

WORK BEHAVIOR - REVIEWS, ANALYZES, INTERPRETS, AND EXPLAINS RETIREMENT CODE

Reviews, analyzes, interprets and/or explains the provisions of the (A) retirement code, (B) rules and regulations and (C) legal opinions, policies and procedures as they apply to members' accounts.

This includes assisting in the preparation of detailed reports, recommendations and justifications for findings and/or changes to the retirement code, rules, etc.

as well as personnel actions and the overall operations. This may also include designing forms and/or developing and maintaining manuals for the retirement system.

Levels of Performance

Select the Level of Performance that best describes your claim.

• A. I have clerical or technical experience of an independent nature reviewing, analyzing, and interpreting provisions in all areas listed; (A) retirement code, (B) rules and regulations and (C) legal opinions, policies and procedures as they apply to members' accounts.
• B. I have clerical or technical experience of an independent nature reviewing, analyzing and interpreting provisions in at least one of the areas listed; (A) retirement code, (B) rules and regulations, and (C) legal opinions, policies and procedures as they apply to members' accounts.
• C. I have NO experience related to this work behavior.

18

In the text box below, please describe your experience as it relates to the level of performance you claimed in this work behavior.

Please be sure your response addresses the items listed below which relate to your claim. If you indicated you have no work experience related to this work behavior, type N/A in the box below.

• The name of the employer where you gained this experience.
• The actual duties you performed related to the level of performance you claimed on this Work Behavior.
• Your level of responsibility.

19

WORK BEHAVIOR - CONDUCTS RESEARCH AND ANALYZES INFORMATION

(A) Conducts research and (B) analyzes information gathered, and/or (C) prepares written responses to requests for information.

Examples of these requests include inquiries (i.e.

status of member accounts), information on retirement code, how service purchases are calculated, clarification of information received, complaints, grievance settlements, arbitration awards, appeals, and tax information (i.e.

consequence of option selected, laws that pertain to withholding).

These requests are from system representatives, tax consultants/financial advisors, executors of estates, bank personnel, attorneys, legislators, agency personnel offices, members of the retirement system, the general public, and others.

Levels of Performance

Select the Level of Performance that best describes your claim.

• A. I have clerical or technical experience of an independent nature in all of the areas listed; (A) conducting research, (B) analyzing information, and (C) preparing written responses.
• B. I have clerical or technical experience of an independent nature in at least one of the areas listed; (A) conducting research, (B) analyzing information, and (C) preparing written responses.
• C. I have NO experience related to this work behavior.

20

In the text box below, please describe your experience as it relates to the level of performance you claimed in this work behavior.

Please be sure your response addresses the items listed below which relate to your claim. If you indicated you have no work experience related to this work behavior, type N/A in the box below.

• The name of the employer where you gained this experience.
• The actual duties you performed related to the level of performance you claimed on this Work Behavior.
• Your level of responsibility.

21

WORK BEHAVIOR - RESPONDS ORALLY TO RQUESTS AND CONDUCTS TRAINING

(A) Responds orally to requests for inquiries and complaints from members, employers, agencies, reporting units, attorneys, member representatives and employee organizations, etc. (B) Conducts small group training. This includes explanations of all aspects of member accounts, procedures, documentation, etc., to staff members and new counselors periodically in a small group setting.

Levels of Performance

Select the Level of Performance that best describes your claim.

• A. I have clerical or technical experience in both of the areas listed above; (A) responding orally to requests and (B) conducting small group training.
• B. I have clerical or technical experience in one of the areas listed above; (A) responding orally to requests or (B) conducting small group training.
• C. I have NO experience related to this work behavior.

22

In the text box below, please describe your experience as it relates to the level of performance you claimed in this work behavior.

Please be sure your response addresses the items listed below which relate to your claim. If you indicated you have no work experience related to this work behavior, type N/A in the box below.

• The name of the employer where you gained this experience.
• The actual duties you performed related to the level of performance you claimed on this Work Behavior.
• Your level of responsibility.

Required Question

Agency Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Address 613 North Street

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 17120

Website