What are the responsibilities and job description for the HR Services- Benefits Specialist position at Higginbotham?
Higginbotham, a privately held, independent insurance and financial services firm that ranks within the top 20 nationwide, has an immediate opening for a Benefit Specialist for our HR Services Department.
Higginbotham has been honored as one of the Best Places to Work by Business Insurance, Best Companies to Work for in Texas by Texas Monthly, as well as other accolades for employment practices. The firm enjoys an employee retention rate that is higher than the industry and state averages—an indicator of our attractive employee culture and competitive employee benefits package and employee ownership opportunities.
Location: Remote; Work location will be at our office – Atlanta, GA, close to the Braves Stadium.
Essential duties and responsibilities:
- Manage ongoing Benefits Administration for assigned clients, overseeing tasks such as New Hire and Open Enrollments, Medical Support Orders, processing benefit changes at the carrier level, invoice audit and reconciliations, payroll audit and verification, and managing COBRA processes & vendor interfacing.
- Administer day-to-day support for employee benefit plans, covering medical, dental, vision, life insurance, flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts, employee/dependent eligibility, and long-term disability.
- Analyze and address client employee inquiries about benefits, emphasizing both timeliness and quality in responses.
- Ensure compliance with applicable state and federal regulations by securing and maintaining benefit documentation.
- Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of federal and state regulations, compliance requirements, and filing procedures impacting employee benefits programs, including the ACA, ERISA, COBRA, FMLA, ADA, Section 125, Medicare, etc.
- Input and maintain precise employee enrollment information in benefits-related technology, such as online carrier portals and enrollment modules.
- Conduct employee orientations to acquaint them with company benefits.
- Research and formulate responses to complex benefit issues impacting client relationships. Client Satisfaction
- Conduct conference calls and meetings with clients to discuss benefit plan administration.
- Develop and maintain employee communication, contributing to policy development.
- Provide ongoing consultation by addressing administration questions, discussing regulatory updates, resolving claim issues, and managing customer service problems with carriers.
- Assist in vendor management activities to ensure accurate and timely completion of tasks and resolution of employee questions.
- Act as a liaison with Broker-of-Record or Higginbotham Producer/Account Manager.
- Collaborate, communicate, and address inquiries related to benefits for internal stakeholders, including HR Services team members, HIG brokers, and account managers.
- Serve as a knowledgeable resource for Higginbotham team members seeking guidance on benefits administration.
- Assist with implementations and internal and external vendor or system changes. Ad-Hoc or Miscellaneous Duties
- Support various tasks and special projects as required.
- Fulfill additional responsibilities as delegated by the supervisor or management. Seeking a candidate with UKG Pro experience, ideally someone who has supported multiple clients/ HR Services ideal.
Qualifications and Skills Required:
- Strong organizational and time management skills with ability to multi-task
- Strong attention to detail and patience for tedious tasks
- Excellent communication and customer service skills with the ability to work well with others
- Ability to work well under pressure or time constraints
- Highly motivated and reliable
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office
- Ability to maintain a positive presence in the workplace and with clients
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team
Preferred Education/Training/Experience:
- Bachelor’s Degree preferred
- CEBS certification preferred
- 3-5 years benefits administration experience
- UKG and Benefits Module experience is preferred
- 1 years of experience in HR Services and/or managing multiple clients is preferred
Perks & Benefits:
- Generous employee benefits package which includes a robust wellness program
- Employee Ownership Opportunities
- Career progression opportunity – the potential for growth within the company
