Clerical Assistant 3

The Position

The Pennsylvania State Employees' Retirement System (SERS) is looking for a Clerical Assistant to join the Benefits Determination Division. If you have clerical experience and enjoy helping others, we encourage you to apply for this opportunity to be involved with work that touches the lives of thousands of individuals across the Commonwealth.

Description Of Work

This position provides clerical support to the Disbursements work unit and is primarily responsible for updating member data (addresses, federal withholding, bank information, power of attorney, death benefits, etc.) through the State Employee Retirement Information System (SERIS). This position reviews retirement applications; processes agency debts, salary claims, and withdrawals; and responds to requests for pension verifications. This position also communicates verbally and in writing with retired members and their beneficiaries. Key functions as a Clerical Assistant 3 include:

• Packet Review: Examine withdrawal, death benefit, and retirement documents for completeness and accuracy
• Record Updates: Enter address, withholding, direct deposit, and other changes into the SERIS system
• Claim Processing: Review agency debts and salary claims and determine appropriate deductions
• Member Support: Respond to inquiries from members, beneficiaries, and attorneys using available records and guidelines
• Verification Work: Complete pension verification requests and prepare necessary correspondence
• Workflow Coordination: Scan, index, sort, and route incoming documents and mail to appropriate queues

Interested in learning more? Additional details regarding this position can be found in the position description.

About SERS: Established in 1923, SERS is one of the nation's oldest retirement plans for public employees and manages the pension benefits of more than 240,000 employees and retirees for 99 public sector employers. In 2024, SERS paid about $4.0 billion in benefits and managed $38.7 billion in assets. Additional information is available at

Our mission is to prepare our members and participants to achieve financial security in retirement. We achieve this through focusing on our mission, acting ethically and with integrity, empowering our members, embracing innovation, fostering life work balance, modeling an inclusive and respectful workplace, valuing and developing team members, collaborating, and finding joy in our work.

SERS is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all qualified individuals to our team. We are committed to an inclusive and respectful work environment that fosters personal and professional growth, embraces the contributions of all team members, and leverages diversity in people, ideas, and experiences to achieve our highest potential.

Work Schedule and Additional Information:

• Full-time employment, 37.5-hour work week, Monday through Friday.
• Work hours are 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, with a 60-minute meal period.
• Telework: You may have the opportunity to work from home part-time (hybrid telework schedule) after a six-month training period, up to 3 days per week, depending on operational needs and progress in learning tasks. In order to telework, you must have a securely configured high-speed internet connection and work from an approved location inside Pennsylvania. If you are unable to telework, you must work on-site at the work location specified on this job posting. The ability to telework is subject to change at any time. Additional details may be provided during the interview.
• Salary: In some cases, the starting salary may be non-negotiable.
• You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

Required Experience, Training & Eligibility

Qualifications

Minimum Experience and Training Requirements:

• One year as a Clerical Assistant 2 (Commonwealth job title or equivalent Federal Government job title, as determined by the Office of Administration); or
• One year of moderately complex clerical experience; or
• An equivalent combination of experience and training.

Other Requirements:

• You must meet the PA residency requirement. For more information on ways to meet PA residency requirements, follow the link and click on Residency Guidelines.
• You must be able to perform essential job functions.

Legal Requirements:

• You must pass a background investigation.

How to Apply:

• Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents will not be reviewed, and the information contained therein will not be considered for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position. Information to support your eligibility for the position must be provided on the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education).
• If you are claiming education in your answers to the supplemental application questions, you must attach a copy of your college transcripts for your claim to be accepted toward meeting the minimum requirements. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.
• Your application must be submitted by the posting closing date. Late applications and other required materials will not be accepted.
• Failure to comply with the above application requirements may eliminate you from consideration for this position.
• All application materials and interview responses must reflect the applicant's own experience, qualifications, and work. Applicants may use generative AI tools for preparation purposes only. Use of AI to misrepresent or falsify information, or to assist during interviews, is not permitted. Review the Guidance for Generative AI Tools & Job Seekers for additional information.

Veterans:

• Pennsylvania law (51 Pa. C.S. §7103) provides employment preference for qualified veterans for appointment to many state and local government jobs. To learn more about employment preferences for veterans, go to and click on Veterans.

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS): 711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals).

If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodations due to a disability, please discuss your request for accommodations with the interviewer in advance of your interview date.

The Commonwealth is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. The Commonwealth values inclusion as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified people to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, disability, or any other categories protected by applicable federal or state law. All diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.

Examination Information

• Completing the application, including all supplemental questions, serves as your exam for this position. No additional exam is required at a test center (also referred to as a written exam).
• Your score is based on the detailed information you provide on your application and in response to the supplemental questions.
• Your score is valid for this specific posting only.
• You must provide complete and accurate information or: your score may be lower than deserved. you may be disqualified.
• You may only apply/test once for this posting.
• Your results will be provided via email.