Benefits Analyst - Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP

Location: New York or Washington, DC
Schedule: 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM
FLSA: Exempt
Position Type: Full-Time/Regular

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP is a leading international law firm with more than 900 lawyers in offices throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. We are currently seeking a Benefits Analyst in the Human Resources department, reporting to the Benefits Manager (Health).

The role can reside in either the New York or Washington, DC office with hybrid work capabilities and will be responsible for the daily support of the firm’s benefit plans such as domestic and expat medical and dental, executive physical, vision, FSA, HSA/HRA, EAP, and other specialty benefits, including all program aspects such as benefits set-up, maintenance, processing and reporting; coordination and validation of benefit-related payroll changes; and communication and carrier liaison duties. The Benefits Analyst is expected to perform all responsibilities with a commitment to providing superior service to the firm’s lawyers and staff, efficient and effective departmental operations, and an atmosphere of teamwork and continuous improvement. Above all, the Benefits Analyst must fulfill the needs of the office in a manner which is consistent with the Firm’s Core Values.

Key responsibilities of this position include:

Benefits Administration

• Handle day to day operational duties for the firm’s benefits plans and programs, including, but not limited to: domestic and expatriate medical; domestic and expatriate dental; health savings accounts (HSAs), health reimbursement accounts (HRAs) and flexible spending accounts; vision; ACA and other compliance requirements; specialty programs including executive physical program, telehealth programs, EAP, health advocacy program, and second opinion / specialty provider resources; back-up childcare; and COBRA.
• Perform day-to-day operational duties to include enrollment, eligibility files, communications, reporting, ongoing and periodic audits, employee issue troubleshooting and resolution, and vendor liaison.
• Oversee and process full cycle of benefit vendor billing and invoices.
• First line of response for telephone and email requests to individual lines and Benefits Support mailbox for benefits information from lawyers and business service staff in a timely fashion.
• Manage annual Flexible Spending Account discrimination testing, corresponding participant communications, and forfeiture reconciliation.
• Manage potential partner retiree tracking and support for retiree medical purposes.
• Complete Medicare employer forms and other verification requests as needed.
• Oversee and support all mid-year life event coverage updates.
• Monitor, collect and follow-up on premium payments for employees on paid and unpaid leaves of absence to ensure billing, receipt of payments, correct GL posting, and W-2 exception tracking.
• Maintain familiarity with all benefit areas through cross-training, process documentation, and open and on-going communication.
• Provide support for Benefits team, as needed, to accommodate department leaves, projects and initiatives.
• Conduct new hire orientation on a rotating basis.

Systems and Payroll

• Assist with all benefits-related system maintenance and testing as needed due to system patches, upgrades and/or plan modifications/additions/deletions.
• Provide accurate and timely management of the monthly and semi-monthly payroll files, reports and other tasks relating to each domestic payroll cycle, including auditing and validating deduction calculations and file set-up.

Reporting, Compliance, and Communications

• Assist Manager and Director in preparation of annual reports for plan renewals, 5500 filing requirements, regional reportings like San Francisco Health Care Ordinance and Commuter filing requirements, and other needs as they may arise.
• Manage monthly ACA compliance tracking and annual filing requirements, including coordination with third party vendors for disclosure filing and distribution.
• Prepare reports for Chief HR Officer, Directors, Managers and others in HR and other firm departments as needed and as requested.
• Create, post and refresh communications relating to areas of responsibility for internal Akin Connect, bswift benefits site, other department materials like Benefit Guides and flyers, and for general program promotion as needed
• Assist Manager with various projects such as, but not limited to: survey requests, 5500 processing, SARs, HIPAA, CMS and other required notifications.

Carrier Liaison

• Oversee and audit periodic transmissions of eligibility files to bswift, and other third-party administrators, as applicable and as relating to areas of responsibilities.
• Oversee and audit weekly data transmissions of new hires and terminated employees to COBRA administrator.
• Participate in status meetings with benefit vendors as requested regarding current and upcoming projects.

Open Enrollment

• Participate proactively in annual Open Enrollment Process, including verifying and updating benefits, performing system and process testing, and assisting with communications.
• Coordinate annual COBRA Open Enrollment process.
• Conduct open enrollment/year-end auditing.

Well-Being Program

• Provide day-to-day support of the well-being program with the Well-Being Benefits Manager.

Qualifications (Experience, Knowledge, Skills & Abilities):

• Bachelor’s degree required; an advanced degree and/or professional certification helpful
• Minimum of 5 years of related benefits experience
• Demonstrated knowledge of health care group insurance, retirement and welfare plans, and general benefit policies, practices and legal requirements
• Thorough knowledge of MS Office applications including Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint
• Demonstrated mastery of HRIS (WorkDay preferred), benefits systems (bswift preferred) and file interfaces
• Working knowledge of Medicare and available resources to assist with participant inquiries
• Demonstrate ownership of areas of responsibility with an aptitude to anticipate and pro-actively execute tasks while identifying areas of enhancement, efficiencies, and solutions as needed
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including strong oral and written communication skills and the ability to communicate potentially detailed and complex information to others
• Confidentiality, discretion and tact
• Aptitude and willingness to work with complex procedures
• Strong organizational skills including effective documentation management and attention to detail
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and adjust to changing priorities and deadlines in a professional and positive manner
• Ability to work independently and with a team
• Strong work ethic with willingness and ability to assume new tasks and responsibilities
• Ability to exercise initiative, independent judgment and common sense
• Strong service orientation, and an ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with users, peers, office and firm management, and outside business partners
• Ability to work well under pressure, facilitate solutions, and meet deadlines and milestones for projects assigned
• Ability to work extended hours as necessary to fulfill time sensitive responsibilities
• Commitment to professional growth and development

The base salary range for this position in Washington, DC is $85,000 to $105,000. The base salary range for this position in New York is $100,000 to $115,000.Additional information about benefits and rewards can be found here.

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP participates in E-Verify for purposes of verifying employment eligibility
#LI-DNI