Benefits Specialist at DeKalb County in Decatur, GA

BENEFITS SPECIALIST Location: Decatur, GA, United States Job Code: 21056 Salary Grade: 12 Salary Range: $42,553 - $68,510  FLSA: Nonexempt Department - Risk Management  The purpose of this classification is to process and resolve employee and retiree insurance and pension benefits issues and to perform payroll processing functions.   Essential Functions: The following duties are normal for this position. The omission of specific statements of the duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this classification. Other duties may be required and assigned. Processes and reports retiree payroll; processes pension, payroll interface, and general deductions; processes and terminates direct deposits and Automated Clearing House (ACH) reversals; processes tax data changes; and runs queries. Runs periodic processing and queries; formats multiple general pension plan lists; updates maturity rate/calculation tables and spreadsheet; runs disability and beneficiary queries; updates and tracks employee’s amount of contributed earnings toward pension benefits; generates cash balance history of terminated employees; and finalizes refunds. Enrolls new and returning employees in pension plan; determines eligibility based on established criteria; enters data into departmental database and payroll systems; calculates and resolves payroll issues; sets up vested terms; activates employees; performs benefits calculations; prepares required paperwork; reviews completed forms and documents for accuracy and completeness; and provides technical guidance regarding the individual benefits-related module for departmental databases. Formats beneficiaries refund table and updates death audit systems; configures deceased employee’s beneficiaries for pension refund; calculates eligible refund amount; processes eligible benefits for beneficiaries; processes death audit protocols; and prepares related letters and correspondence. Calculates pension benefits for new retirees; formats payee data access and retiree job records; inputs health benefits records, direct deposit records, tax data, and general deductions; generates and manages beneficiaries table; formats a manual payment schedule; imports retiree interface file; identifies and corrects errors; schedules one-time adjustments; and sets up vested terms for payments. Performs related work functions; participates in employee relations and various pension benefit initiatives; audits and verifies pension disability; processes 1099 requests; provides information and answers questions; and maintains complete and accurate personnel records and files regarding benefit programs. Participates in special projects as assigned; assists with testing for database upgrades, implementation of new pension reporting requirements, and online paycheck data; assists in developing new processes; participates in upgrades and improvements for database and software systems; and assists in developing and integrating tools to improve overall system efficiencies. Minimum Qualifications: High school diploma or GED required, with vocational or technical training in business, human resources, accounting or related field required; two years of experience in processing employee benefits and pension issues; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job. Specific License or Certification Required:  Must possess and maintain a valid Georgia driver’s license.