Benefits & Pension Advisor

**Job Posting**

Reporting to the Manager, Benefits & Employee Services, the Benefits & Pension Advisor is responsible for delivering accurate and timely information and support regarding employee benefit plans, pensions and general employee inquiries. This role involves the administration of employee benefit programs, long-term disability claims, and leave processes, ensuring compliance with policies and legislative requirements. The Benefits & Pension Advisor acts as a key point of contact for employees at all organizational levels, maintaining confidentiality and delivering exceptional service.

This role also involves collaboration with HR colleagues, external service providers, and business units to ensure seamless and efficient HR service delivery. The Benefits & Pension Advisor may also be asked to play a role in corporate projects and initiatives where their knowledge and abilities are needed.

**DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES**:
Employee Benefits Administration:

- Serves as the primary point of contact for employee inquiries about benefits and pension plans. Conducts benefit orientation sessions for new employees and facilitates the annual benefits re-enrollment process.
- Manages updates to HRIS systems for benefit changes, leave benefit / pension payments, and employee contributions.
- Processes long term disability claim forms, submitting all required documentation to a 3rd party benefit provider, corresponding with Health Specialist(s) and the insurance carrier.
- Calculates and communicates pension and benefit payments for employees on leave of absences.
- Prepares, reconciles, and validates employee data and payment allocations for distribution to 3rd party benefit and pension plan administrators.

Pension Administration:

- Submission and reconciliation of year-end data resulting in production of Pension Adjustments (PA) on T4s and Annual Pension Data Report for annual pension statement within legislative deadlines.
- Performs data reconciliation for annual T4 preparation regarding benefit and pension information.
- Coordinates communications to employees regarding bi-annual part-time pension enrollment and annual Defined Contribution Pension Contribution election option, processes information forms and updates corresponding records as required.
- Administers Senior Executive Retirement Plan (SERP) administration, reconciliation and remittances.
- Investigates and responds to requests from the HRM Pension Plan Office regarding employee records.

Leave and Retirement Management:

- Communicates with employees regarding any outstanding benefit or pension plan contribution amounts, options for repayment, and consequence of non-payment.
- Assesses employee pre-retirement leave eligibility and other retirement related benefits and provides calculation to employee and Payroll Operations
- Administers, tracks and audits payments for benefits and pension for leave of absences.
- Informs employees about the process and impacts of their group benefits, pension and other entitlements while on leave of absence.

Policy Guidance and Compliance:

- Provides interpretation of HR policies and contract language related to benefits, pension and leaves to other HR colleagues, managers and employees.
- Conduct audits of benefit and pension data to ensure accuracy and compliance with internal and external standards.
- Identifies process deficiencies or improvement opportunities and makes recommendations for process change.

Communication and Reporting:

- Identifies gaps in HR knowledge base tool and communication material and makes recommendations for updates.
- Records and tracks all pertinent service request information through the appropriate tracking system or other database tool as required.
- Prepares various departmental documents including: letters, correspondence, forms and other documents; maintains copies of documents; generates system reports; maintains and retrieves archived records as required.
- Participate in design and delivery of communications regarding employee benefit plans.
- Provides expertise to support the HR Service Representative in responding to more complex inquiries related to HR services.
- May perform other related duties as assigned.

**QUALIFICATIONS**
**Education and Experience**:

- Two-year Diploma in Business Administration or Human Resources Administration.
- Minimum three (3) years' recent related Human Resources experience, preferably with a focus on benefits and pension administration.
- Minimum two (2) years’ experience in customer service in a fast paced and demanding environment.
- Previous experience with an HR information system, preferably SAP HR.
- CPHR designation is an asset.
- CEBS designation is an asset.
- Three to five years pension administration experience considered an asset.
- Familiarity with pension plan annual filing requirements/procedures and applicable forms considered an asset.

**Technical/Job Specific Knowledge and Abilities**:

- Ability to mana