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