What are the responsibilities and job description for the Human Resources Benefits Coordinator position at Optimal Staffing?
Key Responsibilities
Benefits Billing & Payment Administration
Receive, review, and process benefit invoices (medical, dental, vision, life, disability, COBRA, HSA/FSA, wellness, etc.).
Verify billing accuracy against eligibility files, plan enrollments, and contracts.
Identify, research, and resolve billing discrepancies, overcharges, and missing credits.
Ensure timely payment of invoices to avoid service disruption or penalties.
Coordinate with Accounts Payable to process payments according to internal controls.
Data Reconciliation & Reporting
Reconcile carrier invoices against payroll, HRIS, and benefits administration systems.
Track monthly, quarterly, and annual benefit costs and prepare reconciliation reports.
Support audits, internal reviews, and financial reporting related to benefit expenses.
Maintain billing documentation, payment histories, and audit trails.
Vendor & Stakeholder Coordination
Serve as primary point of contact for carriers, benefit vendors, brokers, and third‑party administrators regarding billing issues.
Collaborate with HR, Payroll, Finance, and Legal teams to resolve discrepancies.
Support vendor implementations, renewals, and plan changes related to billing setup.
Compliance & Process Improvement
Ensure billing processes align with plan documents, contracts, and regulatory requirements (ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA).
Maintain confidentiality of employee health and compensation data.
Identify opportunities to improve billing accuracy, controls, and process efficiency.
Assist with benefit year‑end activities, rate changes, and carrier renewals.
Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Accounting, Finance, Business, or related field, or equivalent experience.
2–4 years of experience in benefits administration, benefits billing, payroll, or finance.
Strong knowledge of health and welfare benefit plans and billing structures.
High attention to detail with strong analytical and reconciliation skills.
Experience working with HRIS and benefits administration systems.
Proficiency in Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, data analysis).
Strong communication skills and ability to work cross‑functionally.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience with multi‑carrier or multi‑entity billing environments.
Familiarity with vendors such as Aon, Mercer, ADP, Workday, Alight, Fidelity, or similar platforms.
Understanding of accounting principles related to accruals and expense tracking.
Experience supporting audits or compliance reviews.
Knowledge of union or international benefit billing (if applicable).
Key Competencies
Accuracy and financial diligence
Problem‑solving and root‑cause analysis
Confidentiality and data integrity
Vendor management
Process improvement mindset
Strong organizational and time‑management skills
Working Relationships
Internal: HR/People Team, Payroll, Finance/Accounting, Legal
External: Insurance carriers, brokers, TPAs, benefits vendors