Benefits Analyst

Location: Cedar Rapids, IA | Madison, WI Job Description The best time to shape employee experience is when a company is growing and investing in its people. At Alliant Energy, we are expanding our impact across the communities we serve and advancing a strong, people‑first culture that supports that growth. As a Benefits Analyst II, you will play a key role in coordinating, administering, and monitoring benefit programs including health and welfare plans, retirement plans, time off plans, and wellness programs. This role focuses on operational execution, vendor oversight, data analysis, and compliance support to drive accuracy, regulatory alignment, and a positive employee experience. You will partner closely with vendors and internal stakeholders to strengthen programs that promote a culture of health, well‑being, and long‑term engagement. If you value stability with forward momentum, this is a role where your work directly supports both employee experience and organizational growth. What you will do Coordinate and support the administration of employee benefits programs (medical, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, FSA/HSA accounts, employee assistance programs, leave of absences, COBRA, retiree programs, and 401(k) Plan). Collect, analyze, and interpret data on employee benefits utilization, cost trends, and market comparisons to identify areas for improvement. Perform detailed data validation and reconciliation across vendors and systems to identify discrepancies, root causes, and operational risks. Support leadership and compliance needs through ad hoc and recurring reporting related to benefits operations. Assist with plan compliance, including audits, disclosure reporting, discrimination testing, etc. Keep abreast of legislative, legal, and regulatory developments pertinent to your focal area and the benefits area in general. Actively support internal and external audits by preparing data, validating results, responding to findings, and coordinating with vendors and internal stakeholders. Assist in development, preparation and delivery of employee education and communication of benefit plan options and resources. Facilitate the implementation of benefits programs, plans, and initiatives to ensure accuracy, compliance and a positive employee experience. Ensure benefit administration system configuration is accurate and lead annual enrollment or benefit changes configuration and testing. Partner with vendors in handling the day‑to‑day relationship, questions, and issues. Assist in conducting assessments of current and future vendor relationships to ensure they fit with the organizational strategy. Provide Tier‑3 support for complex benefits issues, including research, vendor coordination, and escalation management. Maintain working knowledge of benefits regulations, vendor processes, and industry practices to support accurate administration and compliance. Engage in other duties as needed that support our values and help deliver on our purpose to serve customers and build strong communities. Supervision Performs work under the supervision of a Team Lead or Manager. Education Requirements Bachelor’s Degree emphasizing human resources, business administration, or a related area preferred. Required Experience 4 years experience in human resources with exposure to one or more of the following areas: retirement programs, health and welfare programs, or a similar analytical role. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Demonstrate effective analytical skills and ability to successfully perform accurate in‑depth analysis. Demonstrate effective interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills. Obtain and effectively use information, including the ability to identify the information needed, seek the information from a variety of sources, and skillfully extract and report the information for business benefit. Use computer software programs (e.g., e‑mail, word processing, spreadsheet, and project management). Previous HRMS experience preferred. Work effectively in a collaborative and inclusive work environment. #J-18808-Ljbffr