SUMMARY

• Accomplished Benefits Management professional with outstanding qualifications in benefit administration, including implementation and management of employee benefit and 401(k) programs. In - depth of knowledge in all facets of retirement plan administration and management, including annual retirement plan audits and valuations. Strong history of employee support and benefits issue resolution, with excellent analytical and problem solving skills. Leverages technology to simplify and streamline internal processes. Strengths include:
• Multi-industry experience with a demonstrated ability to integrate human resources partnership with business unit and company objectives.
• Flexible, adaptable and composed in fast-paced, rapidly evolving environments.
• Strong understanding of ERISA, PPA, PBGC, FMLA, and other applicable federal and state regulations.
• Proven customer service skills delivered with a sense of urgency, accountability and integrity.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with proficiency in building and maintaining strategic client relationships, while interfacing positively with people of diverse personalities and backgrounds.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Client Support Administrator

Confidential, Pleasanton, CA

Responsibilities:

• Respond to Account Executives and Clients inquiries/requests regarding WORKTERRA administration, processing, and system issues,
• Generate weekly system reports and update client employee records as needed,
• Process client QMSCO notifications timely,
• Participate in teh annual testing of system updates prior to client annual Open Enrollments,
• Contribute to teh revision/creation of documented company policies to secure client and employee privacy rights.
• Attend corporate Benefits Fairs and answer employee inquiries about teh benefits provided under teh OptumHealth Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Provide Optum with feedback from employees regarding teh EAP benefits/services provided.

Confidential, Plan Oakland, CA

Responsibilities:

• Oversaw all aspects of benefits programs as they apply to retirement plan administration for one of teh largest not-for-profit managed health care companies in teh US.
• Provided knowledgeable guidance and support on questions / concerns regarding retirement plan rules and benefits from various sources, including HR Service Center, regional benefits staff, third-party plan administrators, and legal counsel.
• Conducted ongoing strategic review of retirement plans, drafted plan design changes, and developed and executed plan refinements / changes that best supported needs of participants and company.
• Developed plan amendments and maintained retirement plans to reflect changes / additions in compliance with federal and state laws and employee contract agreements.
• Revamped department’s plan amendment process to maximize efficiency and minimize paper usage.
• Collaborated with HRIS to standardize systematic years of service calculations for Kaiser money purchase pension plan participants across all regions.
• Provided retirement plan expertise on task force group established to substantiate and implement benefit changes negotiated under Labor Management Partnership (LMP) Agreement. Authorized final wording of LMP employee communications to ensure language fully and accurately reflected company’s established provisions as of contract signature date.
• Provided final review of annual retirement plan benefit communications for accuracy and clarity.

Benefits Analyst

Confidential, Walnut Creek, CA

Responsibilities:

• Processed retirement plan applications for teh United Food & Commercial Workers ( Confidential ) Employers Benefits Plans of Northern California Group Administration, which administers all aspects of teh Confidential retirement programs.
• Automated and standardized career service credit calculations by creating finely-tuned customized spreadsheets that improved speed and ensured accuracy.
• Assessed employee retirement plan application information by reviewing/confirming retirement applicant’s service credit accrual and plan contribution totals and correcting as necessary.
• Audited application calculations completed by other analysts. Recalculated and reconciled problems and discrepancies that were identified via teh audit process.
• Counseled retirement plan participants and beneficiaries regarding retirement plan payment options and applicable plan provisions to ensure informed decision-making.
• Oversaw daily valuation recordkeeping, full compliance and administrative services of CSAA pension and 401(k) retirement plans for one of teh largest motor clubs in teh American Automobile Association (AAA) National Federation.
• As retirement benefits subject matter expert (SME), supervised, trained and evaluated support staff.
• Diffused potentially difficult or volatile client situations, such as complaints concerning benefit cost hikes, by relating facts and figures in clear, tactful, and understandable terms.
• Partnered with outside consultants and corporate legal counsel to ensure plan accuracy and compliance in agreement with documented plan regulations and federal laws.
• Participated as a key member of a task force established to complete annual IRS 5500 tax forms for corporate retirement plans.
• Worked with Payroll, HR Systems, and vendors to improve processes and ensure integrity of employee data.
• Collaborated with medical company representatives and reviewed / analyzed data to identify and improve retiree medical coverage errors and resolve monthly billing problems.

Senior Benefits Analyst

Confidential, Oakland, CA

Responsibilities:

• Capably handled administrative procedures to determine participant contribution limitations for over 90,000 active participants in teh Confidential Tax-Deferred 403(b) Plan for Teh Office of teh President, teh system-wideheadquarters of teh Confidential, managing its fiscal and business operations and supporting teh academic and research missions across its campuses.
• Identified erroneous formula and created accurate customized 403(b) plan worksheet, resulting in permitting employees to increase their 403(b) plan contributions
• Conducted oral presentations at annual benefit representative meetings to clarify 403(b) plan limitations, calculations, and ERISA updates.