Senior Retirement Plan Specialist
About the role
Thompson Coburn, a leading full-service law firm with offices in eight U.S. cities, seeks a full-time Senior Retirement Plan Specialist to join its St. Louis office. This role is senior-level, partnering closely with Finance leadership and key stakeholders across the firm.
Responsibilities
Administers the Firm’s 401(k), Profit Sharing, and Cash Balance retirement plans in accordance with plan documents, ERISA, IRS regulations, and Department of Labor requirements.
Serves as the Firm’s internal subject matter expert on retirement plan administration, compliance, and operations.
Ensures accurate and timely processing of employee and partner contributions, profit sharing allocations, and Cash Balance credits.
Collaborates with Payroll and other stakeholders to ensure accurate integration of retirement plan data with employee wages and partner compensation.
Reconciles payroll deductions, employer contributions, plan funding requirements, and participant data across systems and vendors.
Ensures compliance with regulatory requirements, including contribution limits, nondiscrimination testing (ADP/ACP), top heavy determinations, and eligibility rules.
Supports and coordinates preparation of Form 5500 filings, schedules, disclosures, and required notices for all retirement plans.
Identifies operational, compliance, or data errors and coordinates timely correction and appropriate escalation.
Maintains accurate plan records, documentation, and controls to support audits, regulatory reviews, and fiduciary oversight.
Serves as the primary liaison with plan recordkeepers, trustees, TPAs, investment advisors, actuaries, and external auditors.
Participates in vendor meetings, service reviews, fee benchmarking, and plan evaluations.
Supports retirement plan audits and compliance testing by providing required documentation and responding to auditor inquiries.
Responds to employee and partner inquiries regarding retirement plan participation, eligibility, contributions, loans, and distributions.
Assists with employee and partner retirement education initiatives and enrollment communications.
Develops, maintains, and improves written procedures, workflows, and internal controls related to retirement plan administration.
Identifies opportunities for automation, process improvement, and risk mitigation across payroll and retirement plan functions.
Supports plan amendments, vendor transitions, or system implementations as needed.
Provides reporting and analysis to Finance and Firm leadership related to retirement plan activity, funding, and compliance.
Calculates profit-sharing entry dates and maintains within database and HRIS.
Informs applicable stakeholders of regulatory changes affecting the plan.
Requirements
Must possess a high level of professionalism, poise, and interpersonal skills to work well with attorneys and employees at all levels within the organization and maintain all information in the strictest of confidence.
Required to use tact and diplomacy when dealing with others.
Must possess strong collaboration skills to successfully work with other individuals and departments to enhance the entire organization.
Must have ability to read, write, and communicate fluently in English; ability to compose documents in the appropriate business style using correct grammar and spelling; ability to communicate clearly using proper grammar and diction over the telephone.
Must possess attention to detail, ability to balance multiple projects, and strong time management skills.
Ability to exercise sound judgment and discretion by handling sensitive or confidential information with professionalism and integrity.
Must have ability to reason and apply common-sense understanding to situations encountered.
Ability to process routine daily functions while being able to resolve sensitive issues and complex assignments utilizing above average critical thinking skills.
Must have ability to collect information through communication, questioning, and interviewing techniques.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or related field required.
7+ years of progressively responsible experience in retirement plan administration, payroll, benefits administration, or a related financial operations role required.
Direct experience administering defined contribution plans, including 401(k) and profit-sharing plans required.
Prior experience supporting or coordinating with cash balance or defined benefit plans strongly preferred.
Benefits
Medical Insurance
Vision Insurance
Dental Insurance
Life Insurance & ADD policies
Short & Long Term Disability Insurance
Paid Parental Leave
401(k) Profit Sharing plans
Parking/Transportation Stipend