Benefits Analyst

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Benefits Analyst is responsible for, on a monthly basis, auditing, bill processing and reconciliation of Health, Dental, Vision, Life and Flexible Spending accounts to the city’s database. Additionally, the Benefits Analyst assists with the overall maintenance of updated Health, Dental, Vision, Life, Long Term Disability and Flexible Spending records of subscribers and dependents in the HRIS database. Employee is required to perform all similar or related duties as assigned.

Under the Assistant Director of Benefits Administration’s direction, the individual establishes short‑range plans and objectives, owns performance standards and assumes direct accountability for department results. Consults with the Assistant Director where clarification, interpretation, or exception to municipal policy may be required. The employee is responsible for developing and implementing job aids and workflow to complete essential functions. The employee is also expected to resolve conflicts that arise and coordinate with the Assistant Director as necessary.

The position does not require regular supervision of employees but may supervise the work of volunteers or interns. The work requires examining, analyzing and evaluating facts and circumstances surrounding individual problems, situations or transactions, and determining actions to be taken within the limits of standard or accepted practices. Guidelines include a large body of policies, practices and precedents that may be complex or conflicting.

Judgment is used in analyzing specific situations to determine appropriate actions. Employee is expected to weigh efficiency and relative priorities in conjunction with procedural concerns in decision making. Requires understanding, interpreting and applying federal, state and local regulations.

Specific duties include but are not limited to:

• Critically evaluate data gathered from multiple sources, identify and reconcile discrepancies/conflicts.
• Monitor budget balances and complete analysis of bills against deductions taken and GL postings as part of the reconciliation process.
• Track, record and review monthly discrepancies as part of the reconciliation process.
• Maintain and organize spreadsheets to balance and track monthly totals of bills, deductions and GL postings.
• Reconcile the benefit “Administrative Cost” to the current HRIS payroll system and the G/L on a monthly basis.
• Perform an analysis to ensure there are no subscribers with duplicate plans, unpaid premiums, etc. on a monthly basis.
• Perform benefit audits to ensure charges correspond to subscriber’s deductions.
• Reconcile to ensure subscriber’s Health Care, Dental, Vision, Flexible Spending, Long Term Disability and Life contribution rates agree per the Group Rates on a monthly basis.
• Analyze data to minimize Health Care costs to the City.
• Assist with the preparation of mandated reports, e.g., Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Governmental Account Standards Board (GASB) reporting.
• Establish documented guidelines and procedures on how to handle various benefit‑related scenarios, e.g., protocols on individuals going on Leave of Absence, individuals going into an unpaid status, etc.
• Assist in formulating and costing management proposals pertaining to employee benefits and collective bargaining.
• Monitor and communicate with employees on Leave of Absence to ensure benefits do not become unpaid.
• Participate in RFP processes.
• Reconcile and pay for Health, Dental, Vision and Life and Flex Spending invoices monthly.
• Monthly billing of retirees/survivors spouses who are not receiving a pension or are balance billed.
• Research and report on unemployment bills; coordinate cost reimbursement from departments.
• Maintain training and tuition reimbursement accounts and records.
• Communicate benefit changes to payroll and employees by drafting letters/emails and posting changes in the system.
• Participate in HRIS system maintenance, implementations, upgrades and testing.
• As part of the benefit team, some benefits administration is required particularly during open enrollment in processing employee benefit changes in People Soft and vendor systems…