Benefit Specialist - Pension

Job Description

Job Description

SUMMARY: The Benefits Specialist-Pension is responsible for the financial reconciliation and month-end balancing of all pension benefit payments issued by the Fund. This role ensures the accuracy and integrity of pension payables to retirees, beneficiaries, and alternate payees. The position is not participant-facing and focuses exclusively on financial reconciliation, payment accuracy, tax reporting integrity, overpayment tracking, and compliance-related adjustments.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Management reserves the right to assign additional responsibilities as needed to meet operational requirements.

1. Reconcile all monthly pension payroll totals, including new awardees and existing payees.
2. Balance gross benefit payments, tax withholdings, levies, adjustments, and net disbursements.
3. Validate totals against system-generated reports and general ledger records.
4. Ensure accurate integration of new awards into ongoing pension payroll.
5. Prepare detailed reconciliation schedules to support month-end close.
6. Maintain tracking logs for pension overpayments.
7. Monitor participants on repayment plans, including those related to suspensible employment (working over allowable hours).
8. Reconcile repayment activity against outstanding balances.
9. Track benefit suspensions, recoupments, and reinstatements for financial accuracy.
10. Coordinate with Pension Management to ensure proper financial recording of recoupment activity.
11. Provide periodic reporting on outstanding overpayment balances, process and reconcile federal and state tax withholdings, IRS levies and garnishments, court-ordered payments and benefit adjustments and retroactive corrections.
12. Ensure all financial changes are accurately reflected in payroll and accounting records.
13. Investigate and resolve payment discrepancies.
    

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE :

1. High School diploma or GED required.
2. Associate’s or bachelor’s degree in Accounting, or related field or a combination of education and experience.
3. 2+ years of experience in pension administration preferred.
4. 2+ years of Pension & Reconciliation experience, preferably within a pension plan.
5. Experience in financial reconciliation, payroll balancing, or accounting support preferred.
6. Strong understanding of general ledger and reconciliation processes.
7. High level of accuracy and attention to detail.
8. Advanced Excel proficiency.
9. Ability to manage large volumes of financial data.
10. Prior experience in pension administration, multiemployer plans, or Taft-Hartley environment preferred.
11. Familiarity with suspendible employment rules or benefit recoupment processes preferred.
12. CEBS certification is required. If not currently obtained, employees must complete the certification within two years of employment and fulfill all continuing education requirements necessary to maintain the certification.