Benefits Specialist

Summary

The Benefit Specialist interprets the Firm's associate benefit program. This position also leads the associate benefit program, implements projects, and addresses associate benefit needs and concerns, in both the U.S. and abroad.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate benefit projects including open enrollment and merger processes for all benefit programs to improve the associate experience.
• Participate and contribute to the strategic projects and initiatives of benefits programs to include preparing customized reports for monthly benefit auditing and vendor payment reconciliations.
• Lead and coordinate the implementation of benefit solutions, including partnering with broader internal and external stakeholders, as well as drafting and reviewing various participant facing communications.
• Conduct training and education of the health, welfare, and retirement benefit plans for benefit team members, HR team members, and participants and vendors.
• Responsible for monitoring, and communicating effective associate benefits programs to include: associate benefits administration, 401k, and Health Care Reform compliance.
• Administer benefit programs and ensure compliance by tracking associate and company contributions, legal compliance reporting requirements, and conduct the audits related to the plans.
• Develop and maintain benefit program communications and maintain program information and compliance.
• Responsible for compiling data and documentation for external and internal audits.
• Advise employees on a holistic basis regarding the associate benefits plans, and resolve disputes and claim issues.
• Partner with HR Business Partner's in presenting benefit plan summary information during new hire orientation sessions or for new branches.
• Reconcile, approve and track monthly premium statements for all group health insurance plans to ensure accuracy, process for payment, and reconcile employee benefit deductions.
• Partnering with disability/leave of absence vendor and workers compensation vendor and act as a liaison between the vendor and employees and understanding of state and federal laws.
• Periodic travel may be required particularly during open enrollment season. 

Qualifications

• Solid knowledge of E.R.I.S.A., HIPAA, and the legal requirements concerning benefit plans and administration.
• Ability to communicate and present to all levels of the Firm.
• Expert knowledge of employment law and the principles and general procedures governing human resources.
• Solid knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
• Ability to understand the parts, causes, costs, and potential outcomes of issues and problems, and to implement information or formulate corrective actions, while understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Education & Experience

• Minimum required:  Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience
• Minimum preferred:  3+ years of benefits experience

Systems & Technology

• Experience with HRIS database preferred
• Intermediate skills in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook 
• Advanced in Excel (including pivot tables, VLOOKUP's and formulas)

About Stifel

Stifel is a more than 130 years old and still thinking like a start-up.  We are a global wealth management and investment banking firm serious about innovation and fresh ideas.  Built on a simple premise of safeguarding our clients’ money as if it were our own, coined by our namesake, Herman Stifel, our success is intimately tied to our commitment to helping families, companies, and municipalities find their own success.

While our headquarters is in St. Louis, we have offices in New York, San Francisco, Baltimore, London, Frankfurt, Toronto, and more than 400 other locations.  Stifel is home to approximately 9,000 individuals who are currently building their careers as financial advisors, research analysts, project managers, marketing specialists, developers, bankers, operations associates, among hundreds more.  Let’s talk about how you can find your place here at Stifel, where success meets success.

At Stifel we offer an entrepreneurial environment, comprehensive benefits package to include health, dental and vision care, 401k, wellness initiatives, life insurance, and paid time off.

Stifel is an Equal Opportunity Employer.