Retirement Benefits Specialist

What Success Looks Like In This Job

Executes complex professional, administrative, and technical duties when analyzing and administering essential components of the Adams County Retirement Plan (“Retirement Plan”), while maintaining a very high level of integrity and confidentiality.

Examples of Duties for Success

• Possesses a thorough and accurate understanding of the benefits offered under the Retirement Plan.
• Performs accounting functions including reconciliation of accounts, preparing and posting general ledger entries, and data entry.
• Compile data for actuarial valuation, annual audit and monthly trustee reconciliations.
• Serves as a liaison with the Board of Retirement (“Retirement Board”), employers, attorney, actuary, investment consultant and other vendors.
• Coordinates materials for monthly Retirement Board meetings; prepares and disseminates the Board packets; prepares summaries of investment performance and Retirement Plan expenditures; and posts agenda at appropriate sites in accordance with the Colorado Open Records Act.
• Serves as Corresponding Secretary for Retirement Board.
• Attends All Board Meetings.
• Counsels active, deferred vested and disabled members to explain various types of benefits offered by the Retirement Plan; meets with surviving beneficiaries to obtain necessary information and explain available benefits and options.
• Calculates pension benefits, analyzes and responds to inquiries from active, deferred vested, disabled, retired members and beneficiaries relating to eligibility, benefit amounts and benefit options.
• Provides exceptional customer service to the employees and retirees answering their benefit questions in a timely manner and resolving problems related to payment of benefits.
• Ensures compliance with state and federal policies, procedures and laws including preparation of reports and tax filings and timely remittance of same to federal and state agencies.
• Reads, reviews, interprets and implements legislative changes affecting the Retirement Plan.
• Maintains knowledge of government regulations.
• Maintains benefit records.
• Assists with maintenance of Retirement website.
• Assists, initiates, documents and tests applications regarding operating system software changes.

Qualifications for Success

To be successful, our ideal candidate should have the following ability to:

• Plan, assign, coordinate, organize and prioritize work
• Work independently
• Maintain accurate, neat and complete financial and retirement records
• Perform arithmetic calculations including fractions and percentages
• Research, compile and present financial data
• Identify and resolve discrepancies in financial and accounting records
• Read, learn and apply complex policies, procedures and laws
• Learn and apply state and county retirement codes, regulations and laws related to death benefits and divorce settlements
• Learn and apply actuarial principles pertaining to retirement system funding
• Clearly explain irrevocable retirement options to retirees
• Interact effectively with participants in sensitive and stressful situations
• Use personal computers and word-processing, database management and spreadsheet applications
• Enter data using computer keyboard
• Maintain confidentiality of member data
• Write clear and concise letters and reports using proper English, punctuation, spelling and grammar
• Work effectively under deadlines
• Communicate effectively, clearly and concisely.

More Qualifications for Success

Education & Experience:

• Associate’s Degree in business administration, public administration, benefits administration, finance, economics, accounting or certifications in Employee Benefits such as Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS), Retirement Plans Associate (RPA), Certificate of Achievement in Public Plan Policy (CAPPP)
• Two years of professional retirement administration experience.

OR

• A combination of training, education and experience that is equivalent to the employment standard listed above and which provides the required knowledge and abilities.

Experience providing retirement benefits administration for a public employee’s retirement system or comparable retirement system, including experience with operating system software (PensionGold, QuikBooks) is highly desirable.