SENIOR BENEFITS ANALYST

This is benefits analysis work, serving as a senior technical expert, providing advice and guidance to senior management, and developing, revising and managing a variety of benefits programs. The employee is responsible for analytical projects for all benefit programs, including the analysis of demands and the development of proposals during the collective bargaining process. Communication with City managers, employees, union officials, consultants, health care professionals and insurance carriers is a significant aspect of the work. The employee must ensure compliance of benefits administration with city policies and pertinent federal and state laws. The employee is supervised by a Deputy Human Resources Director.

ALLOCATING FACTORS: (The following conditions must be met for a position to be allocated to this class.)

Tracks and monitors monthly claims spending, utilization trends and accuracy of self insured claims invoice files

Assists Manager in the evaluation and analysis of existing programs, proposed enhancements or modifications to existing programs as well as new programs

Manages the HR Benefits System to ensure accurate employee information, maintenance of benefits, and training of HR staff to ensure accurate information in the system

Provides financial administrative assistance to management staff to include maintaining a data bases of relevant benefit financial information; documenting and reconciling balances of funding documents; developing and revising budget models; reconciling budget variances and initiating corrective action with management

Assists in the management and coordination of the City’s disease management and wellness initiative

Keeps current with industry trends and other pertinent information on each benefit program assigned

Provides oversight of staff on eligibility determination, eligibility issues, new enrollees, employee status changes and other questions involving plan participants.

Administration of health and welfare plans for City Administered employees and serve as liaison for health plan vendors

Maintains accurate and complete files on benefit provider/carriers regarding plan descriptions, contracts, amendments and other benefit related documents

Administers COBRA benefits program, including COBRA open enrollment by designing forms and providing plan information to COBRA participants; set up yearly elections

Carries out court-mandated benefits filings, including Medicare Retiree Drug Subsidy and future filing that may be a result of the health care reform initiative

Provides support in the development and implementation of employee education and integrated communication plans, including organizing communication and materials required for annual benefits open enrollment

Assists in training department human resources staff for yearly open enrollment.

KNOWLEDGE OF:

Complex employee health benefits plans typical of public sector employers, such as Health, Life, Dental, and Vision Insurance, PPO/HMO Health Plans, and flex spending accounts.
Finance, specifically in self insured insurance programs
Employee benefits plan design and administration.
Federal and/or state regulations affecting the administration of benefit plans, such as FMLA, COBRA, HIPAA, IRS regulations.
Microsoft Office applications, such as Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint.
HRIS software and benefit enrollment systems
Disease management and wellness programs.

SKILL IN:

Strong analytical skills
Strong MS Office skills

ABILITY TO:

Interact and communicate effectively in a clear and concise manner with all levels of employees, managers, vendors, consultants, and legal advisors.
Effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, employees and union officials.
Work with confidential materials and employee information and maintain confidentiality at all times.
Read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations and legislation.
Write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.
Work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference.
Apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.
Develop and maintain a working knowledge of City procedures, regulations and labor contracts.
Plan, assign and review the work of employees in the benefits unit.
Learn to use an Oracle HRIS system.
Work effectively in a fast paced environment of change.

EDUCATION
Completion of a bachelor's degree program at an accredited college or university with major course work in business, finance, actuarial science, human resources, nursing or a related field. AND

Three years experience in the administration or analysis of a large self insured employee benefits program that has included administering large scale benefits financial data and a demonstrated level of technical proficiency in MS Word, Excel, HRIS software, and vendors’ proprietary software.

OR
Any equivalent combination of acceptable education and experience determined to be acceptable by the Office of Human Resources that includes possession of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.

PREFERRED EDUCATION:
Master’s degree program from an accredited college or university in business, finance, actuarial science, human resources, nursing or a related field.

PHYSICAL AND MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS
Ability to physically perform the duties and to work in the environmental conditions required of a position in this class.

PAY RANGE: EP21

Class Established: 6/89

CSC: 2/10, Ad Board: 3/10

Class Code changed 11/10

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2H51SENIOR BENEFITS ANALYST

2H51
SENIOR BENEFITS ANALYST