Retirement Counselor I (Finance)

Position Summary

Works under the general supervision of the Retirement Supervisor and Manager to perform day-to-day administration including customer service for plan participants handling active and retired employees’ concerns or requests for service following plan provisions established policies and regulations.  

Pay Grade: 48

Salary Commensurate with Experience and Education.
 

Minimum Qualifications

• Three (3) years of experience in pension administration and/or insurance benefits; AND
• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in business administration, human resources or a closely related field; OR
• An equivalent combination of related education and/or experience.
• PROOF OF EDUCATION, TRAINING AND/OR EXPERIENCE IS REQUIRED.
   

Duties and Responsibilities

• Interprets pension benefits, policies, procedures and legal requirements to employees and beneficiaries.
• Serves as the subject matter expert to respond to requests about retirement programs and provisions; pension disability and pension appeals.
• Assists with the development of information needed for Pension Administration Board and other related committees.
• Researches, interprets and applies current pertinent codes, laws, rules and state/federal regulations to all benefit programs.
• Conducts retirement and pension related calculations; pension service credit and deferred retirement.
• Conducts individual counseling sessions with employees regarding retirement and pension options; required documentation.
• Complies with fiscal controls and program information.
• Assists retirees with health, life and voluntary insurance benefits, prepares life claims.
• Explains IRS tax regulations as it pertains to pension benefits, refunds and rollovers.
• Acquires and distributes relevant information and documentation to plan participants and beneficiaries and separated members.
• Serves as liaison between beneficiaries and participants and the plan manager, handling or facilitation requests for contribution judgements, refunds and other administrative charges.
• Coordinates with Accountant and other professionals to provide verified and compiled data for administration of benefits.
• Prepares, analyzes and inputs data into health and voluntary benefit applications via web-based programs.
• Performs related duties as assigned or directed.
   

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 

• Excellent interpersonal skills with ability to clearly explain pension plans in easily understood terms.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to provide courteous and professional customer service to employees and pension beneficiaries.
• Ability to communicate effectively in verbal and written form and make public presentations.
• Thorough understanding of laws, regulations and agency interpretations or opinions related to pension benefits.
• Extensive knowledge of public administration functions, programs, policies and practices.
• Knowledge of retiree health insurance programs.
• Ability to analyze data.
• Ability to make mathematical calculations.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office and related software.
   

Disclaimer

This position is subject to a background check for any convictions that have a substantial relationship to potential job duties. Only convictions that are substantially related to potential job duties will be considered and will not automatically disqualify the candidate.
 

Shelby County Resident Disclaimer

All employees hired after September 1, 1986, must be residents of Shelby County and shall continue to reside in the County as a condition of their employment. The residency requirement shall not apply to certain public safety/civil service employees. This means exemption from this policy is in effect for the following departments and positions: (1) Sheriff Deputy Patrol Officers, Deputy Jailers and Dispatchers, employed by the Sheriff Department, (2) Correction Officers employed by the Division of Corrections, (3) Firefighters, Paramedics and Dispatchers employed by the Shelby County Fire Department. The residency exemption for public safety/civil service employees does not include Appointed positions with Sheriff’s Office, Division of Corrections or the Fire Department.