Benefits Consultant

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced Benefits Consultant to join our fully remote team. The Benefits Consultant owns the full lifecycle of benefits and 401(k) administration across a portfolio of small and mid-sized employers. This role blends hands-on plan administration with consultative guidance — helping clients design, implement, and run benefits programs that fit their workforce, budget, and compliance obligations. The ideal candidate comes from a brokerage or benefits consulting background and is comfortable shifting between strategic plan design conversations and the operational details of enrollment, billing, and carrier coordination.

Key Responsibilities

Health & Welfare Benefits Administration

• Manage day-to-day administration of medical, dental, vision, life, disability, voluntary, FSA/HSA, and COBRA programs across multiple client groups
• Lead annual open enrollment from start to finish — strategy, communications, system build, employee education sessions, and post-enrollment audits
• Process new hire enrollments, qualifying life events, and terminations; coordinate with carriers, payroll, and HRIS platforms
• Reconcile carrier invoices and resolve eligibility, billing, and claims escalations
• Maintain plan documents, SPDs, SBCs, and required compliance notices

401(k) and Retirement Plan Administration

• Administer 401(k) plans including enrollments, contribution changes, loans, distributions, and rollovers
• Coordinate payroll-to-recordkeeper data flows; reconcile contributions and resolve discrepancies across platforms like Guideline, Paycom, Gusto, and Paylocity
• Support plan audits, year-end compliance testing, Form 5500 filings, and required participant disclosures
• Partner with plan advisors and recordkeepers on plan design changes, fund reviews, and fiduciary best practices

Compliance and Risk Management

• Maintain working knowledge of ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, IRS Section 125, and state-specific benefits requirements
• Manage required reporting and notices including 1094/1095, Medicare Part D Creditable Coverage, and Summary Annual Reports
• Identify compliance risks and partner with internal SMEs and external counsel as needed

Client and Vendor Management

• Serve as the primary day-to-day benefits contact for assigned client accounts
• Manage relationships with carriers, brokers, TPAs, and recordkeepers
• Support renewals and RFPs in partnership with broker partners; analyze plan utilization, costs, and benchmarking data to inform recommendations

Employee Communications and Education

• Build and deliver benefits communications, enrollment guides, and education sessions tailored to each client's culture and audience
• Respond to employee questions with clarity and empathy, translating plan language into plain English

Qualifications

Required

• 5+ years of progressive benefits administration experience, with at least 2 years in a brokerage, benefits consulting firm, or PEO/HR outsourcing environment
• Hands-on experience administering both health & welfare and 401(k) plans for small and mid-sized employers
• Demonstrated success in a client-facing, consulting, or multi-client HR support environment
• Working knowledge of major HRIS and payroll platforms (Paycom, Gusto, Paylocity, BambooHR, or similar)
• Familiarity with 401(k) recordkeeping platforms (Guideline, Vestwell, Empower, Fidelity, or similar)
• Strong understanding of federal and multi-state benefits compliance
• Excellent written and verbal communication, with comfort presenting to both employees and leadership
• Prior experience working in a fully remote role

Preferred

• CEBS, GBA, RPA, PHR/SPHR, or SHRM-CP/SCP certification
• Experience supporting multiple client accounts simultaneously

Compensation and Benefits

• Salary Range: $70,000 - $85,000 annually
• Benefits Package: Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance, STD, LTD, PTO, paid holidays, professional development assistance, and 401(k) matching