Benefits Specialist - GA - On Site

The Benefits Specialist provides essential daily support to the Benefits Administration team by managing employee inquiries and assisting with open enrollment activities. This role ensures accurate processing of benefit enrollments, payroll deductions, assisting with claims, and qualifying life events while maintaining effective communication with insurance carriers and employees. Responsibilities include auditing open enrollment tasks, benefit deductions, resolving payroll discrepancies, supporting clients with benefit administration and generating reports.

• Provide daily support for the Benefits Administration team by actively monitoring and responding to employee inquiries via the department's Zoom queue.
• Respond to employee benefit-related questions and concerns via email, cases, or task management systems.
• Process life insurance, Short-Term Disability (STD), and Long-Term Disability (LTD) claims, and assist with claim resolution, plan changes, and enrollment updates with benefit carriers.
• Ensure all employee benefit enrollments and payroll deductions are entered accurately and in a timely manner.
• Set up and maintain employee deductions and employer contributions within the payroll system to align with benefit elections.
• Resolve urgent payroll deduction discrepancies.
• Accurately process qualifying life events (QLEs) in accordance with plan guidelines and company policy.
• Perform audits of employee benefit deductions; calculate arrears for missed deductions as needed.
• Assist employees in resolving unpaid claims or issues related to master benefit plans.
• Communicate directly with insurance carriers to resolve plan-specific questions and support issue resolution.
• Process manual benefit enrollments, updates, and terminations directly with carriers when necessary.
• Support clients with benefit administration processes, offering guidance and assistance to ensure smooth operations.
• Generate reports from Prism and respond to payroll or benefit-related audit requests.
• Regular, on-site attendance is an essential job function due to the need for secure access to systems, collaboration on sensitive technical matters, participation in operational meetings, and hands-on involvement in activities that cannot be performed remotely without compromising security, efficiency, or effectiveness.

• Build, maintain and promote relationships with team members, peers across disciplines, and all other company team members ensuring effective coordination of communications and services affecting clients.
• Attend webinars and training to stay up to date on best practices related to the company and department.
• Complete projects and other duties as assigned by supervisor.

• Builds positive relationships and handles sensitive benefits matters with professionalism and empathy.
• Provides clear, timely, and courteous support to employees seeking benefits guidance
• Works effectively with HR, payroll, finance, and vendors to ensure smooth benefits administration.
• Explains complex benefits information clearly and prepares accurate, easy to understand documentation.
• Organizational Skills, Teamwork, Enthusiasm, Willingness to learn, Flexibility, Proactive, Decisive.

• Associates degree or equivalent combination of 1-2 years of group benefit experience, skills, education (including other relevant non-traditional degree programs, certifications, or job training programs) preferred.

• Sedentary Work: Occasionally involves sitting for extended periods, often at a desk or computer.
• Manual Dexterity: Frequent use of hands and fingers to operate a computer keyboard, mouse, and other office equipment.
• Mobility: Frequent travel to meet with clients, attend conferences, and conduct other business needs. Occasionally walking or traversing throughout the office to meet with leaders and other employees or offsite locations to meet with clients.
• Visual Acuity: Ability to read and analyze data on a computer screen (or to read and analyze data with reasonable accommodation) and in printed materials.
• Lifting & Carrying: Minimal physical lifting required, but may involve handling documents, and lifting light office supplies.

• Strategic Thinking: High level of concentration required to develop and implement departmental processes.
• Decision Making: Ability to make quick, informed decisions based on data.
• Attention to Detail: Maintains a high level of accuracy when administering benefits plans, processing employee data, and preparing reports.
• Problem-Solving: Proactively identifies and resolves benefits related issues, ensuring accurate plan administration and a smooth employee experience.
• Multitasking: Manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously, often under tight deadlines.
• Stress Management: Ability to handle high-pressure situations calmly and effectively, especially when dealing with client concerns.

• Interpersonal Skills: Strong ability to build relationships and communicate effectively with employees, managers, clients and external vendors.
• Cultural Sensitivity: Communicate with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds, demonstrating cultural awareness and sensitivity.
• Written Communication: Prepare clear and concise documentation, including emails and notes.
• Verbal Communication: Conduct presentations and employee training sessions; provide clear instructions and support to clients, employees and managers.
• Presentation Skills: Proficiency in presenting sales strategies and performance reports to executive leadership and stakeholders.

This position is eligible for the following benefits:

• Health Insurance: Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Retirement Plan: 401(k) with company match
• Paid Time Off: PTO, Holidays, Parental leave and Sick Leave provided as required by applicable state law
• Other Benefits: Life insurance, short term disability, long term disability, employee assistance program (EAP), flexible spending account (FSA), health savings account (HSA), Identity theft protection, critical illness, accident, cancer, hospital protection, legal and pet insurance.
• Additional Compensation: [e.g., signing bonus, commission structure] if applicable