Benefits Account Analyst

• Communicates benefit changes to payroll and employees by drafting letters/emails. 
• Prepares project plans for major project (i.e. Open Enrollment, Section 18) and coordinates with the appropriate resources
• Reconciles benefit “Administrative Cost” to current HRIS payroll system and the G/L on a monthly basis
• Performs an analysis to ensure there are no subscribers with duplicate plans, unpaid premiums etc. on a monthly basis
• Performs benefit audits to ensure charges correspond to Subscriber’s name or dependents
• Ensures that all Subscriber’s with dependents have proper legal documentation (e.g., marriage, birth, legal guardian certificates) maintained in the personnel file.
• Reconciles to ensure Subscriber’s Health Care, Dental, Vision, Flexible Spending, Long Term Disability and Life contribution rates agree per the Group Rates, on a monthly basis
• Performs audits to ensure individuals on the plan are eligible for benefits
• Analyzes data to minimize Health Care Costs to the City
• Assists with the preparation of mandated reports, i.e. ACA Reporting
• Performs an audit on the City and School Retiree to ensure individuals are legitimate school teacher retirees from Somerville and update HRIS database as needed with retiree information
• Establishes documented guidelines and procedures on how to handle various benefit related scenarios, e.g., protocols on individuals going on Leave of Absence, individuals not being able to pay the contribution, etc.
• Assists in formulating and costing management proposals pertaining to employee benefits and collective bargaining
• Monitors and communicates with employees on Leave of Absence to insure benefits do not become unpaid.
• Participates in RFP processes
• Reconcile and pay for Health, Dental, Vision and Life and Flex Spending invoices monthly.
• Update Benefit Calculation Spreadsheets bi-annually
• Delta Dental COBRA administration
• Monthly billing of retirees/surviving spouses who are not receiving a pension or are balance billed.
• Performs annual HIRD audit.

Education and Experience: College Degree and five (5) years’ experience with account reconciliations; or any equivalent combination of education, training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Knowledge, Abilities and Skill
Knowledge: Understanding of Employee Benefits Administration. Proficient in Excel (e.g. V lookups, pivot tables, concatenate, writing formula etc.)

Ability: Ability to handle problems and emergencies effectively; ability to communicate clearly, both orally and in writing; ability to operate a personal computer; ability to maintain confidential information; ability to maintain, manage, and organize records; ability to deal appropriately with City employees, City officials and members of the general public.

Skill: Strong interpersonal skills; excellent communication skills both oral and written; proficient computer skills for all office software programs including word processing and spread sheet applications. Bilingual or multilingual skills preferred.

Work Environment
The work environment involves everyday discomforts typical of offices, with occasional exposure to outside elements.  Noise or physical surroundings may be distracting, but conditions are generally not unpleasant.  Employee may be required to work beyond normal business hours in response to attend evening meetings or complete work assignments.

Physical and Mental Requirements
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 position’s essential functions.

Physical Skills
Few physical demands are required to perform the work. Work effort principally involves sitting to perform work tasks, with intermittent periods of stooping, walking, and standing.  May also be some occasional lifting of objects such as office equipment and computer paper (up to 30 lbs.)

Motor Skills
Duties are largely mental rather than physical, but the job may occasionally require minimal motor skills for activities such as moving objects, operating a telephone, personal computer and/or most other office equipment including word processing, filing and sorting of papers.

Visual Skills
Visual demands require constantly reading documents for general understanding and analytical purposes.

Send your resume and cover letter by Thursday, April 13, 2017 to:

City Hall Personnel Office
93 Highland Avenue
Somerville MA 02143
Fax: 617-666-4426
TTY: 1-866-808-4851
Email: employment_opportunities@somervillema.gov

City of Somerville residents are especially encouraged to apply.

The City of Somerville is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, disability or any other protected category. Women, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Auxiliary aids and services, written materials in alternative formats, and reasonable modifications in policies and procedures will be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities free of charge, upon request.