Employee Benefits Counsel
About the role
Responsible for monitoring and communicating ongoing and changing laws affecting health and welfare plans, including ACA, ERISA, the Code, HIPAA, and COBRA. The individual in this role will be responsible for the development and presentation of materials on various health and welfare compliance related issues to internal sales teams, as well as external clients.
Responsibilities
- Establish effective working relationships with internal partners, clients and carriers
- Function as part of a national team of Employee Benefit Attorneys to meet the overall objectives for the health and welfare compliance team
- Research, read, evaluate and edit articles, alerts and other materials for publication or distribution to internal and external clients
- Gather material, perform research, and assist client service team in the formulation of strategy to solve client problems related to ERISA, ACA, the Code, HIPAA and state issues affecting health and welfare plans
- Develop and maintain compliance education tools for health and welfare compliance
- Create and deliver presentations to internal staff and to external clients and prospects
- Monitor and identify legal developments such as relevant statutes, regulations, case law and legal articles affecting employee benefit plans
- Maintain and update compliance library resources, including cross checking and validating that information is up-to-date
Qualifications
- College degree and J.D. required
- 4–8 years experience working on compliance issues of employer-sponsored welfare benefits plans
- Prior experience in employee benefits law or compliance consulting on these issues required
- Proficient with computers and quickly competent with new technology tools; full competence with MS Office Suite and Adobe products
- Thorough understanding of laws impacting health and welfare plans including ACA, ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, FMLA, Internal Revenue Code, and insurance laws affecting these programs
- Strong leadership skills
- Comfortable in public speaking; ability to convey complex information simply and organized to diverse audiences
- Strong oral and written communication skills to explain complex issues and interpret complex information
- Strong research and writing skills with experience interpreting statutes and regulations
- Strong interpersonal and verbal skills
- Strong organizational and time management skills
- Ability to work with diverse individuals and personalities
- Self-starter; demonstrates cooperation and collaboration in team settings
- Keeps informed regarding industry information, new products, and technology to continuously improve knowledge and performance
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with minimal instruction and high accuracy
- Sets priorities and manages workflow for efficient, timely, accurate production of tools and materials
- Quickly assesses and learns organizational roles, responsibilities, and process flows
- Maintains cordial, effective relationships with internal clients, team members, and vendors
- Some travel required (10–20%)
Benefits
USI is one of the largest insurance brokerage and consulting firms in the world, with approximately $3 billion in revenue and over 10,500 associates across approximately 200 offices nationwide. The company offers a dynamic personal and professional development culture with heavy investment in associates, including the Summit Awards recognition program, award-winning wellness program, college scholarships for associates' children, and financial assistance in times of need.
USI is committed to community engagement and environmental sustainability, supporting local non-profits, animal shelters, and restoration projects. The award-winning I’m With U diversity and inclusion program provides curated education, training, employee support, and community outreach.
USI has been nationally recognized as a top insurance employer: Insurance Business America’s Top Insurance Employers eight consecutive years (2018–2025); Business Insurance’s Best Places to Work in Insurance six years in a row (2020–2025); Fortune’s Best Workplaces in Financial Services & Insurance (2024–2025); Great Place To Work certified (2024–2025).
USI provides a full suite of competitive benefits including medical, wellness, dental, vision, 401(k), flexible spending and health savings accounts, short- and long-term disability, life insurance, and other voluntary programs. Generous paid time off, paid family leave, and paid holidays are also offered.
Pay
$150,000 – $185,000