Coordinator, Pension

For more than 50 years the SAG-AFTRA Health Plan and SAG-Producers Pension Plan (the Plans) have provided health and retirement benefits to thousands of entertainment professionals and their dependents across the globe. The Plans are currently undergoing a major transformation focused on evolving our operations toward a participant-inspired experience.

The Pension Benefit Payment Coordinator supports the accurate and timely distribution of pension benefit payments to retirees, beneficiaries, and alternate payees. Reporting to the Supervisor, Pension Operations, you'll review new benefits, amendments, terminations, suspensions, and levies before payments are released; process check and electronic funds transfer (EFT) transactions; balance monthly pension payroll reports; and compile the reporting that supports external auditors and annual tax filings.

This role works closely and continuously with Accounting, coordinating on monthly reconciliations, check registers, wire transfer detail, and year-end tax reporting. Working alongside Pension Benefits Specialists, IT, and the payment vendor, you'll help safeguard payment accuracy through the adoption of a new in-house pension benefit administration system. Join our hybrid workplace to support a service-oriented, high-performing team in our pension and welfare plan services.

• Reviews new pension benefits, benefit amendments, terminations, suspensions, and levies for accuracy and alignment with plan rules and established procedures, escalating exceptions and unusual cases to the Supervisor for resolution before payments are released.
• Reviews all data relative to the distribution of pension checks, including new retirees, beneficiaries, lump sum death benefits, adjustments, retroactive checks, and early retiree return-to-work suspension of checks.
• Processes levies, direct bank deposits, special tax inserts for new retirees, special letters for multiple checks, termination of beneficiary and final beneficiary payments, address changes, and EFT updates.
• Processes EFT issues, including EFT stop payments, reversals, reclamations, and cancellations, coordinating with the payment vendor to resolve items within required time frames.
• Works with Accounts Payable to handle check processing issues including cancellations, reissues, stale-dated and unclaimed benefits in accordance with plan procedures and applicable escheatment requirements.
• Generates the check print file, forwards it to IT for printing, and reviews printed checks for accuracy prior to mailing.
• Maintains documentation of payment transactions and review records to support data integrity, compliance, and research of pensioner inquiries.

• Updates and balances the various pension monthly payroll reports, researching and resolving variances in advance of the first-of-month payment cycle.
• Completes various reports and forwards them to Accounting for processing, such as the 1042 report, Pension Check Register, and Wire Transfer Report.
• Works closely with Accounting to reconcile pension payment activity, providing the payment totals and supporting detail Accounting needs to fund the payroll and execute wire transfers, and researching discrepancies ahead of month-end close.
• Compiles data and supporting documentation requested by outside accountants and auditors for the audit of the pension plan, working under the direction of the Supervisor.
• Supports the annual review of 1099-R and 1042 processing, and works with Accounting to prepare amended 1099-Rs, as needed.

• Coordinates with Accounting on pension payment matters throughout the monthly payment cycle, year-end tax reporting, and the annual audit, keeping the Supervisor informed of open items.
• Partners with Pension Benefits Specialists to research payment discrepancies, eligibility questions, and data issues affecting the monthly payment cycle.
• Responds to pensioner and beneficiary inquiries regarding payment amounts, tax withholding, deposits, and check delivery, referring complex or sensitive matters to the Supervisor.
• Participates in testing of payment workflows alongside internal IT, development teams, and the payment vendor, validating output and reporting defects during and after adoption of the in-house pension benefit administration system.
• Communicates clearly with staff, leadership, Accounting, and external partners, escalating risks to payment accuracy or timing promptly.
• Commitment to staying…