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HUMAN RESOURCES ADMINISTRATION - Benefits Associate
Job Classification
Hourly Full-time (35-40)
Position summary
Responsible for assisting in the coordination of the university's benefit plans, maintains and reconciles benefit accounts, coordinates the worker's compensation program and assists customers at the employment office front desk.
Qualifications summary
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed in the full position description are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
Must be a Seventh-day Adventist in good and regular standing.
Duties and responsibilities
Includes the following duties, as well as other responsibilities that may be assigned as needed:
University benefits program
(by applying government regulations, AU Working Policy, Employee Handbook, General Conference and North American Division (GC/NAD) policies):
Provide routine employee services by
Answering benefits questions
Responding to daily emails
Communicating any individual benefit changes and updates
Assisting in benefits enrollment through the benefits management system (BMS)
Investigating coverage discrepancies
Audit benefit eligibility and missed biweekly premiums, and process findings accordingly
Determine and submit for processing final deduction amounts for terminating employees
Maintain employee dependents through monitoring the BMS, updating Banner, and ensuring complete records are obtained and matched
Monitor automated processes and correct data as needed to maintain health coverage periods in Banner, in support of ACA 1095-C production
Facilitate resolution related to employee benefit issues, ensuring the BMS and payroll processing are accurate
Assist with the distribution of the summary of benefit coverages (SBCs) compliance documents
Authorize free class and tuition assistance benefits and address any related issues
Implement Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) procedure, including keeping accurate and complete records, ensuring consistent application of policy, and managing short-term disability process
Facilitate the Long Term Disability insurance application and process, including benefit and pay timelines
Manage the wellness award process throughout the plan year, ensuring employees with status changes are appropriately reflected, monitoring completion reports, and entering appropriate data in Banner
Assist with and coordinate open enrollment (OE) and other related events
Town Hall Meetings
Flu Shot Clinic
OE wellness award requirements, including arrange, facilitating completion, and tracking.
Health/Benefits Fair
Acts as liaison with Corewell Health Primary Care Berrien Springs and other benefits providers to coordinate additional benefits for employees
Pursues and resolves service, quality, and plan issues with medical insurance and other benefit plan providers
Participates in monthly healthcare meetings with the AU benefits consultant and the health insurance third party administrator (TPA)
Manage employee elections in the BMS, including releasing pended elections, applying UNUM evidence of insurability (EOI) results, starting and ending benefit enrollment outside of normal new hire, life event, benefit class change, and open enrollments
Benefits accounts:
Create or review bill reconciliations; resolve discrepancies between BMS, vendor, payroll and employee; and process invoice payments for benefits accounts with the following vendors:
HMA (TPA for health insurance), ASR (flexible spending accounts), Drexi
UNUM self-bill (life insurance, long-term & short-term disability, accidental death & dismemberment, supplemental life insurance, accident, hospital, critical illness)
UNUM worksite (whole life)
Legal Resources
CompOne & West Bend (workers compensation)
AI Technologies (benefit management system)
Reconcile benefits clearing accounts for payroll deduction vs invoice payments
Worker's Compensation Program
Miscellaneous
Supervisory responsibilities
Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws.
Supervise student assistants working on projects.
Qualifications
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
Education and/or Experience: Associate degree, or two to three years' related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience. CEBS is desirable.
Language Skills: Ability to read, analyze, and interpret plan documents, financial reports, and legal documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers and medical plan providers. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedures manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups, managers, clients, customers, and the general public. Strong written and oral communication skills.
Mathematical Skills: Ability to work with mathematical concepts. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations. Knowledge and ability in basic accounting and accounts reconciliations.
Must be a Seventh-day Adventist in good and regular standing.
Technical competencies
Proficient in Microsoft Office tools including MS Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoin, etc.
Interpersonal interactions
Ability to work with all types of personalities in challenging situations.
Physical demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand and walk.
Work environment
The work environment characteristics are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Normal office environment with noise level usually moderate and expectations of some interruptions.