Benefit Consultant

Gallagher

Rolling Meadows, Illinois

JOB DETAILS
JOB TYPE
Full-time
SKILLS
Administrative Skills, Analysis Skills, COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985), Claims Management, Communication Skills, Compensation and Benefits, Consulting, Customer Relations, Customer Retention/Renewal, Customer Satisfaction, Customer Service Management, Customer Support/Service, Customer Training, Delivery Management, ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974), Employee Benefits, Federal Laws and Regulations, Flexible Spending Accounts, HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), Healthcare, Industry/Trade Analysis, Leadership, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office, Microsoft PowerPoint, Multitasking, Negotiation Skills, Organizational Skills, Presentation/Verbal Skills, Problem Solving Skills, Process Development, Process Improvement, Program Planning, Project Planning, Project Tracking, Project/Program Management, Regulatory Compliance, Request for Proposals (RFP), Resolve Customer Issues, Sales, Sales Management, Sales Prospecting, Secondary School, Seminars, Service Delivery, Spreadsheets, State Laws and Regulations, Strategic Planning, Team Player, Technical Support, Time Management, Webinar, Willing to Travel, Writing Skills
LOCATION
Rolling Meadows, Illinois
POSTED
10 days ago
Introduction:
At Gallagher Benefit Services, you’re a trusted partner to organizations navigating some of their most important people decisions. We help clients build better workplaces, where people feel supported, empowered, and inspired to thrive. Whether it’s shaping benefit strategies, designing wellbeing programs, or advising on workforce challenges, the work you do here creates meaningful change for businesses and the people who power them. We’re a community of bold explorers, trusted experts, and compassionate partners; working side by side to solve problems, and shape the future of work. Here, curiosity is encouraged, collaboration is second nature, and your ideas have room to grow. If you’re looking for a place where your contribution matters and where you can help build a better world of work; think of Gallagher.
 
Overview:

The Account Manager works closely with GBS Consultants to support and develop effective employee benefit strategies and programs for assigned clients.  The Account Manager is responsible for the day-to-day account management for routine/moderately complex client accounts and manages an assigned book of business.  Serving as the primary internal point of contact for all day-to-day service requirements, the Account Manager will work closely with assigned clients to form effective business relationships through proactive client service, managing renewals, coordinate the appropriate resources to address the clients’ needs and lead any ongoing problem resolution. May coordinate the work of administrative support staff and provide support to GBS Consultant.

How you'll make an impact:
  • Act as primary contact for all day-to-day service issues and other inquiries for all assigned clients; act as liaison between client and vendors to resolve issues and identify process improvement opportunities.
  • Prepare and manage all client deliverables.
  • Manage and collaborate with client service team members to effectively on-board new GBS clients.  The Account Manager, in conjunction with the Consultant will oversee the implementation project plan, facilitate resources and ensure that service deliverables meet sales guarantees and satisfy client expectations.
  • Develop and manage strong business relationships with assigned clients in conjunction with GBS Consultant through in-person visits, entertainment opportunities and phone contact at multiple levels within client organization.
  • Manage client service plan with corresponding activities and deliverables, including action planning, mid-year and renewal planning and management objective setting.
  • Provides guidance on regulatory issues that impact health & welfare benefit plans. 
  • Analyze carrier reports, benefit plan structures, plan design and industry trends and make appropriate benefit plan recommendations in conjunction with GBS Consultant.
  • May be prepared to handle market Requests for Proposals (RFPs), prepare client renewals and negotiate rates with carriers in conjunction with GBS Consultant; may prepare and present alternate benefit options when appropriate.
  • Provide consulting to clients regarding health & welfare benefit program plan design and trends within the benefits industry (healthcare, voluntary benefits, etc.) in conjunction with GBS Consultant.
  •  Assist clients in developing employee communication strategies & materials.  Be prepared to create and deliver employee communication through technology tools, benefit summaries, webinars, open enrollment meetings and other methods as required and appropriate.
  • Provide compliance reviews for clients and make recommendations for changes to bring clients into compliance in conjunction with GBS Consultant.
  • Review all new and renewal policies, summary plan descriptions (SPDs) and plan amendments for accuracy (using required procedures) prior to delivery
  • Adherence to BOSS mandatory compliance standards
  • Identify new business opportunities and additional lines of coverage for GBS products and services among the current book of business client.
  • Ability & willingness to travel 25% of the time

 

Leadership, team participation and self-development:

  • Establish and maintain solid working relationships with GBS Consultants, fellow account managers and other Employee Benefits team members
  • Provide technical support to GBS Consultants and Employee Benefits staff, and work as a team to effectively cross-train client assignments and workflow
  • Demonstrate initiative to continue growing personally and professionally as our industry changes.
  • Solutions focused approach for addressing and resolving internal and external challenges
  • Attend available training classes, including established webinars and local seminars
  • Participate in industry related educational and product information seminars and courses
  • Attendance required at regular department meetings

 

About you:

Required:

  • Bachelor's degree and 3 or more years client coordination and/or claims management experience, OR High School degree with 8 or more years client coordination and/or claims management experience.
  • License required.
  • Able and willing to travel approximately 25% of the time.

Preferred:

 

  • Experience managing, implementing and renewing small and large group health & welfare plans including medical, dental, ancillary, FSA and COBRA plans
  • Working knowledge of HIPAA, ERISA, COBRA and other state and federal employee benefit regulations
  • Basic understanding of the key challenges in employee benefit plans and current health care trends, including Health Care Reform
  • 100% client focused
  • Excellent verbal/written/communication skills
  • Strong presentation skills and confidence in presenting in front of large groups
  • Ability to work under significant pressure in order to handle frequent interruptions and high volume activity
  • Ability to coordinate and manage multiple projects while ensuring timely and accurate client deliverables, with effective problem solving and resolution skills
  • Strong organizational, project planning and management, analytical and multi-tasking skills
  • Multi-level relationship building skills
  • Self-motivated; must be able to work independently, be goal and people oriented, with ability to work towards team and individual goals
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite – ability to create & deliver charts/graphs, spreadsheets, formulas and presentations utilizing PowerPoint and Excel required

 

Behaviors:

  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Able to quickly determine critical issues.
Compensation and benefits:

At Gallagher, we believe supporting our colleagues goes far beyond the role itself. For more information, visit our Benefits page.

  • Competitive compensation
  • Comprehensive benefits programs designed to support your well-being 
  • Career development opportunities and ongoing learning 
  • A collaborative, people-first culture with accessible leadership 
  • The opportunity to do meaningful work with global reach and local impact 

At Gallagher, we are dedicated to building an inclusive and authentic workplace. If your past experience doesn’t align perfectly, we encourage you to join our Talent Community to stay connected to additional career opportunities. At times, we will consider transferable skills from previous roles.

Gallagher is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer (Minorities/Females/Veterans/Disabled)

About the Company

G

Gallagher

Gallagher, a global insurance brokerage and risk management services firm, helps clients address risk, protect assets and recover from losses. The products and services we provide keep businesses and institutions running, and enable individuals and families to rebuild their lives. Gallagher is the only insurance broker recognized by the Ethisphere Institute as a World's Most Ethical Company.

Gallagher provides retail and wholesale property and casualty brokerage, alternative risk transfer services, employee benefit consulting, and actuarial services. Gallagher also offers claims and information management, risk control consulting and appraisal services, human resource consulting, and retirement services.

COMPANY SIZE
10,000 employees or more
INDUSTRY
Insurance
FOUNDED
1927
WEBSITE
https://www.ajg.com/