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Experienced Human Resources and Benefits Professional
Position Desired:
Experienced Human Resources and Benefits Professional
Location:
Greater Chicago Area, IL
Northwest, IN
Resumé:
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
An accomplished Human Resources professional capable of serving as a strategic business partner and subject matter expert. Diversified experience in retirement and health and welfare benefit plan development and administration, compliance, safety, employee relations, and workforce management. Strong communication, analytical, and project management skills.
EXPERIENCE
Independent Contracting, Aurora, Illinois Present
Benefits Consultant – Individual
• Review benefit program details (including the basics of Social Security and Medicare Parts A, B, and D) for individuals who find the language of certificate books, plan descriptions and insurance policies challenging. Provide clear, concise information on available options that aid in making decisions that best fit coverage needs.
The Bradford Group and Hammacher Schlemmer, Niles, Illinois 1998 - 2009
Direct and retail marketer of jewelry, art, collectibles and eclectic products and merchandise; with approximately 800 employees at six locations within the U.S. and Canada –
Senior Benefits Analyst – Human Resources
Benefits Analyst – Human Resources
Health and Welfare Benefits and Retirement Plan Administration (Executives and Employees)
• Responsible for the strategic management, daily direction and delivery of corporate benefit plans and programs with approximately $5M in annual premiums and costs; provided technical benefits expertise, advice and guidance; effectively negotiated plan renewals and implemented strategies to meet organizational goals.
• Oversaw and managed a variety of employee voluntary benefits and disability related programs, which included FMLA and ADA administration; worked to minimize lost time costs by facilitating return to work provisions.
• Monitored healthcare and insurance industry trends to identify and act on key opportunities with a clear understanding of cost drivers, industry nuances and applicable benefits legislation.
• Built effective and trustworthy relationships with vendors and all employees; served as a primary liaison between employees and vendors; ensured equity in insurance policy administration and adherence to contract provisions.
• Coordinated and facilitated on-boarding processes which included new hire and management orientations and enrollment meetings; directed and managed the development and delivery of all benefits and HR related communications.
• Administrator for the Profit Sharing and 401(k) Retirement Plan with approximately $45M in managed assets for over 1000 participants; responsible for fund evaluations, compliance, record maintenance, employee support, education and training; provided data for plan audits, mandatory testing, and 5500 preparation.
Policies and Procedures, Compliance, Employee Relations, Workforce Management
• Participated in the development of new and updating of existing policies and procedures; tracked and analyzed proposed legislative actions and determined potential impact on the organization.
• Made recommendations to improve productivity and the efficient delivery of services through standardization and streamlining of various functions that reduced administrative errors and service times by approximately 50%.
• Responsible for organizational compliance with state and federal agencies (IRS, DOL, HHS, IDES, etc.) and regulations (ERISA, HIPAA, FLSA, ADEA, WARN Act, COBRA, etc.); acted as liaison between government agencies and company.
• Named HIPAA Privacy Officer; worked with legal to develop goals, program policies and procedures, and training for HR staff; responsible for research, document security and maintenance of confidentiality.
• Safety administrator responsible for compliance, notices, internal investigations and OSHA reporting; coordinated with the workers compensation carrier on claims management, litigation and settlements.
• Provided leadership to and supervision of support staff; relied on extensive experience and judgment to plan and accomplish department and organizational goals; made or contributed to workflow decisions, performance reviews, professional development, and discipline of staff.
• Provided counsel on employee and labor relations matters for union members and non-union employees; included interpretation of union collective bargaining agreements and participation in grievance procedures; conflict resolution, referrals, and exit procedures; coached managers on appropriate use of progressive disciplinary practices.
• Developed standard operating procedures for all separations; partnered with the unemployment cost control carrier to ensure timely reporting of separations, appropriate posting of charges, and coordination of agency hearing attendance; participated in reduction in force planning and action, and severance agreement processing.
Budget Preparation, Compensation Planning and Information/Project Management
• Assisted in the preparation of the annual benefits budget; made recommendations for allocations that ensured conformance to budget limits; managed program performance and expenses against budget.
• Responsible for enrollments into and billing for all benefits plans and programs; ensured timely and accurate vendor payments; formulated and maintained a comprehensive repository of current and historical financial data.
• Provided oversight and guidance to staff on various simple and complex audit projects; garnered over $200k annually in benefit plan savings through by identifying, reducing or eliminating waste, recognizing discount opportunities and negotiating with vendors.
• Evaluated salary data for updating pay grades; participated in corporate-wide compensation review project to adjust salaries, job codes and descriptions, grades, FLSA status, and EEO categories to ensure market comparability and industry competitiveness; assisted in performance review process; ensured updating of payroll data.
• Managed and oversaw the Human Resources Information System (HRIS); evaluated, analyzed and maintained system integrity and data accessibility; implemented changes and modified system requirements; maintained database files and tables, developed custom reports, setup system codes and queries; partnered with corporate and vendor information technology teams to recognize and resolve data integrity issues that impacted transactions related to monthly invoicing.
• Partnered with Payroll Team on project to research, evaluate and recommend new system to integrate HRIS and Payroll technologies; acted as a lead contributor on implementation team to install, test and transfer data to new system (HRB/PayExpert through ADP); completed ADP training on benefits and payroll modules (certificates of completion).
Flex Execs Management Solutions, Willowbrook, IL 1998
Provider of innovative, customer-focused solutions in contract management, executive search and consulting –
Benefits Consultant – The Bradford Group and Hammacher Schlemmer, Niles, IL
• Interim health and welfare benefits and retirement plan administrator; maintained plan records, ensured compliance, communicated with employees.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
International Foundation of Employee Benefits Plans (IFEBP)
Human Resource Management Association of Chicago (HRMAC)
Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM)
Workforce Management
EDUCATION
A.A. Liberal Arts, Malcolm X College (honors)
B.A. Liberal Arts, Chicago State University (honors)
References upon request.
Please respond via e-mail referencing Resume #1327 to jobposting@ifebp.org
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