What are the responsibilities and job description for the Benefits Specialist position at Pennant?

Position Summary :

We seek a Senior Benefits Specialist to join our team and play a key role in administering our employee benefits programs. This position requires strong project management skills, attention to detail in financial and benefits transactions, and high customer service to support employees with their benefits needs. The ideal candidate will also provide critical support during mergers and acquisitions, ensuring a smooth integration of benefits programs. This role will require travel ranging from 10% to 25%. Additionally, you may work outside of business normal business hours and on occasional weekends when we have acquisition activity.

Key Responsibilities :

Benefits and LOA Administration & Compliance

Administer health, welfare, and retirement benefits programs, ensuring compliance with company policies and regulatory requirements (ERISA, HIPAA, ACA, etc.).
Serve as a subject matter expert on general and escalated benefits-related inquiries, providing accurate and timely responses to employees.
Assist employees with benefits enrollment, life event changes, and termination, ensuring the best possible experience.
Assist with administration and occasionally serve as back-up to the leave of absence team.

Benefits and Retirement Plan Billing, Funding and Reconciliation

Process and reconcile benefits invoices, ensuring timely and accurate payment to vendors.

Process, Fund, and Reconcile 401(k) and Deferred Comp Funding against payroll and resolve discrepancies.

Collaborate with Finance and Accounting teams to track benefits costs and resolve discrepancies.

Assist in the preparation of annual benefits cost analysis and financial reporting.

Audit benefits payroll files, process adjustments, and handle discrepancies.

Assist with annual benefit plan audits.

Project Management & Process Improvement

Support benefits-related projects, including system and vendor implementations, annual open enrollment, vendor file feed processing, and process automation.

Identify and recommend opportunities to improve benefits processes and the employee experience.

Support and occasionally lead out on cross-functional team projects.

Partner with internal teams and external vendors to ensure accurate data reporting and system functionality.

Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) Support

Provide benefits, due diligence, and integration support for mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures.

Work closely with internal teams, finance, HR, legal, and HRIS, as well as external vendors and consultants on benefit offerings pre- and post-acquisition.

Facilitate employee transition by communicating benefit changes and supporting employees with their benefits.

Employee Experience & Communication

Deliver exceptional customer service by assisting employees with general and complex benefits questions.

Develop and distribute benefits communication materials, presentations, and training sessions.

Conduct benefits education sessions during onboarding and annual open enrollment.

Qualifications & Skills :

Bachelor's Degree and 4 years of experience in benefits administration (or equivalent experience), with a strong understanding of health & welfare, retirement plans, and regulatory compliance

Experience in reconciling benefits invoices, funding retirement plans, and managing financial transactions.

Excellent project management skills with a proven ability to drive initiatives and process improvements.

Experience supporting mergers and acquisitions from a benefits perspective is highly desirable.

Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office, HRIS, and benefits administration systems (Workday, ADP, Business Solver, Alight, etc.).

Excellent problem-solving, organizational, and communication skills.

Customer-focused mindset with the ability to handle sensitive employee concerns with empathy and confidentiality.

This role offers the opportunity to meaningfully impact the overall employee experience while driving efficiency and innovation in Pennant Services benefits programs.

If this role excites you, but you don't meet every single requirement of the role or your prior experience does not align perfectly, we encourage you to apply.

The employer for this position is stated in the job posting. The Pennant Group, Inc. is a holding company of independent operating subsidiaries that provide healthcare services through home health and hospice agencies and senior living communities located throughout the US. Each of these businesses is operated by a separate, independent operating subsidiary that has its own management, employees and assets. More information about The Pennant Group, Inc. is available at

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