This job was posted by https://www.vermontjoblink.com : For more information, please see: https://www.vermontjoblink.com/jobs/1207600

Benefits Specialist, Retirement Programs (GMHEC)

\ \ Description\ This position is being posted on behalf of the Green Mountain Higher Education Consortium (GMHEC). Middlebury College is not the hiring entity but works closely with the consortium and is only facilitating the sharing of this position. Candidates can apply through this website or directly at GMHEC. Any inquiries can be directed to Martha Fidalgo at martha.fidalgo@gmhec.org\ \ The Benefits Specialist at GMHEC is responsible for the management and administration of twelve retirement plans for our member institutions. This includes compliance, plan documentation, vendor management, eligibility, employee education and customer service, business process development, and communication. As a part of the GMHEC Benefits Team this position is responsible for providing a high level of customer service to our member institutions.\ \ This is a hybrid role with the ability to work from home and the office in Shelburne, VT.\ \ The Benefits Specialist, Retirement Programs responsibilities include:\ \ Plan Management & Administration\

• Serves as the administrator for the twelve retirement programs including 401(a), 401(k), 403(b) and 457(b) plans\
• Assists in the operation and maintenance of the benefits module in Oracle, our human resources system\
• Maintains current and historical documentation and records\
• Ensures reconciliation of accounts and activities with systems of record including payroll, benefits and retirement vendors\
• Perform regular audits of benefits data to ensure integrity and to confirm that programs are being administered according to plan guidelines. Interact with retirement vendors, human resources, legal, finance, payroll and technical system support to ensure all benefit plans are set-up and functioning properly within human resources systems and vendor systems\
• Works collaboratively with payroll and Oracle support shared services team members

\ Compliance\

• Ensures compliance with ERISA, DOL, IRS, HIPAA, and other regulations as applicable\
• Updates and maintains all required documents (SPD, plan documents, etc.)\
• Manages and executes compliance projects such as nondiscrimination testing, audits, Form 5500 preparation, and summary annual report distribution in coordination with our member institutions\
• Conducts regular contribution reconciliations, eligibility reviews, and hours-worked assessments, Processes and communicates corrections and adjustments to ensure compliance with plan documents, ERISA and IRS regulations\
• Responds to governmental and institutional audit requests\
• Informs the colleges\' Human Resources and Finance teams and their Retirement Plan Committees of statutory and regulatory changes that affect the plan management. Makes recommendations for plan design and administrative changes in response to evolving compliance requirements.

\ Employee Support\

• Provides direct benefits customer service support to employees (future, current and past) through our service center\
• Answers questions from recruits, employees and former employees

\ Requirements\ Knowledge of:\

• Retirement plan compliance and administration\
• Payroll and benefits software\
• General accounting principles\
• Internal Revenue Service and other federal and state regulations relat d to reporting, taxation and compliance\
• Microsoft Office, Google Suite, Adobe Acrobat\
• HR information systems such as Oracle (preferred) or Workday

\ Ability to:\

• Organize and prioritize work, meet deadlines, take initiative, resolve problems and manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously\
• Recognize several likely causes of events, analyze relationships among several parts of a problem or situation and formulate a multi-step response if required\
• Build strong, positive relationships with external and internal contacts in a remote/hybrid work environment\
• Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing\
• Manage and analyze financial data accurately\
• Maintain confidentiality and appropriately handle sensitive information with discretion\
• Independently achieve results and responsibly self-direct work.

\ Education and Experience:\

• A bachelor\'s degree in human resources, business, finance or related field\
• 5-8 years of benefits management experience with a concentration in Retirement Plan Administration\
• PHR or SPHR a plus; CBP or CEBS a plus

\ The successful completion of a criminal background check is required as a condition of employment.\ \ The Consortium does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, place