Summary

The benefits specialist is responsible for performing HR-related duties on a professional level and works closely with the Payroll & Benefits Administrator. This position carries out responsibilities in the following functional areas for benefits and retirement programs: medical, dental, ancillary products, life insurance, short- and long-term disability, 401(k) plan and timekeeping for payroll. This role provides administrative support including record keeping, file maintenance and human resource information system entry. The individual is an effective and collaborative member of the Human Resources team.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Ensures the accuracy of all benefits enrollments in the HRIS to provide vendors with accurate eligibility information.
• Performs quality checks of benefits-related data.
• Assists with semi-monthly payroll.
• Assists managers and employees with timecard approvals for payroll.
• Assists employees regarding benefits claim issues and plan changes.
• Distributes all benefits enrollment materials and determines eligibility.
• Enrolls employees with carriers and process life status changes.
• Responds to benefits inquiries from managers and employees on plan provisions, benefits enrollments, status changes and other general inquiries.
• Processes and administers all leave-of-absence requests and disability paperwork: medical, personal, disability and FMLA.
• Effectively interprets FMLA and ADA implications as they relate to leaves of absences/disabilities.

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Extensive knowledge of employee benefits and applicable laws.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or similar software.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

Competencies

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies :

Interpersonal Skills - Maintains confidentiality.

Planning/Organizing - Prioritizes and plans work activities; Uses time efficiently; Plans for additional resources; Sets goals and objectives

Initiative - Volunteers readily; Undertakes self-development activities; Seeks increased responsibilities; Takes independent actions and calculated risks; Looks for and takes advantage of opportunities; Asks for and offers help when needed.

Innovation - Displays original thinking and creativity; Meets challenges with resourcefulness; Generates suggestions for improving work; Develops innovative approaches and ideas; Presents ideas and information in a manner that gets others' attention.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience

Required:

• Associate's degree in HR, Accounting or related field, but experience and/or other training/certification may be substituted for the education.
• Two years' experience in HR and/or benefits administration.

Preferred:

• Bachelor's degree in human resources, accounting or related field of study.
• SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) or SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) certification credential.

Language Skills

Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos. Ability to write simple correspondence. Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to customers, clients, and other employees of the organization.

Mathematical Skills

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

Reasoning Ability

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

Computer Skills

To perform this job successfully, an individual should have working knowledge of both Microsoft Word and Excel. Previous HRIS system experience preferred.

Physical Demands The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, skills, or working conditions.

ADA Disclaimer: In developing this job description care was taken to include all competencies needed to successfully perform in this position. However, for American with Disabilities Act (ADA) purposes, the essential functions of the job may or may not have been described for purposes of ADA reasonable accommodation. All reasonable accommodation requests will be reviewed and evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Illinois National Bank is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity with respect to recruitment, hiring, training, promotion, and other terms and conditions of employment. It is INB's policy to afford equal opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, national origin, disability, religion, veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by law. The EEO Law poster is available here:

https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/migrated_files/employers/poster_screen_reader_optimized.pdf