The posting
The Senior HR & Benefits Specialist supports the day-to-day administration of Family Office Management (FOM) human resources and employee benefit programs. The position is responsible for accurate and timely processing of employee lifecycle events, benefit plan administration, billing, and reconciliation, HRA and COBRA support, retirement plan activities, and client service. Responsibilities are performed in accordance with applicable Department of Labor (DOL), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and other regulatory requirements, while considering each client's specific needs and directives.
Primary Responsibilities:
Employee Lifecycle Administration
- Process client new-hire requests; prepare and distribute required onboarding information; follow up on outstanding items; and maintain accurate employee personnel files.
- Process client termination requests; prepare and distribute required termination information; complete follow-up activities; and maintain accurate employee files.
- Respond to and follow up on unemployment verification requests involving client employees.
- Review payroll activity to confirm that new hires, terminations, employee changes, leaves of absence, disability events, and related benefit changes are reflected accurately.
Client and Employee Support
- Respond to day-to-day benefit plan questions from Client Advisors (CAs), clients, and client employees.
- Research client, client employee, and CA inquiries and prepare clear summaries of findings and recommended next steps, as appropriate.
HRA Administration
- Administer client Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) plans and maintain accurate eligibility and plan information.
- Remind eligible employees to submit HRA claims and assist with claim-submission issues.
- Perform quarterly HRA account reviews and analyze claims paid and account activity.
- Update HRA records for annual enrollment, plan design changes, new hires, and terminations.
COBRA Administration
- Administer stand-alone COBRA plans for assigned clients.
- Monitor COBRA participation and ensure records reflect plan design changes, new enrollments, terminations, coverage start dates, and coverage end dates.
- Coordinate and track required COBRA communications and follow-up items with vendors and affected participants.
Benefit Plan Billing and Reconciliation
- Process monthly invoices for client health plans, individual benefit plans, and FOM payroll vendors.
- Maintain billing tracking logs to confirm that invoices are current and paid on a timely basis.
- Reconcile medical and benefit invoices to payroll and employee headcount records; investigate and resolve discrepancies with carriers, providers, and vendors.
Retirement and Savings Plan Support
- Assist with year-end 401(k) census preparation and related plan testing and Form 5500 support for client review.
- Serve as backup for 401(k) plan funding from payroll to plan administrators.
- Serve as backup for monitoring outstanding 401(k) plan loans, reconciling loan repayments to payroll, and confirming that deductions end when required.
- Support administration of supplemental IRAs and state-mandated retirement programs, as assigned.
Operational and Administrative Support
- Review and update new-hire and termination checklists as needed.
- Provide documentation and support for internal audits.
- Assist with client setup on new vendor platforms, including COBRA and HRA administration systems.
- Maintain complete, current, and accurate client and employee files daily.
- Review departmental processes and recommend improvements to enhance accuracy, efficiency, and service.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
- Minimum of five years of progressive human resources and/or employee benefits experience.
- Working knowledge of employee benefit administration and applicable compliance requirements.
- Demonstrate “generalist” understanding of HR with strong ability to source solutions to unique HR issues.
- Experience with leave administration and legal requirements around leaves at a federal and state level.
- Demonstrates an understanding of medical plan administration, HRA administration, and COBRA is a plus.
- HR certifications are a plus – SHRM or HRCI.
Core Competencies
- Strong analytical, reconciliation, and critical thinking skills.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and client requests in a demanding environment.
- Strong people skills and the ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues, clients, employees, vendors, and carriers.
- Elevated level of accuracy, organization, discretion, and attention to detail.
- Strong interest in continuous learning of HR services for small group employer.
- Client-driven.
The base salary range for this position is $90,000 - $110,000 per year. This range reflects the minimum and maximum base salary we reasonably expect to pay for this role. In addition, this position may be eligible to participate in the relevant business unit’s incentive compensation plan, and other compensation programs as applicable. Eligible employees may participate in a 401(k) program with a generous profit-sharing contribution, medical, prescription dental, and vision coverage; life insurance; disability coverage; paid holidays; vacation; and sick time, subject to plan terms and Company policies.
About Bessemer Trust:
- Bessemer Trust is a family office, overseeing $250 billion in assets for over 3,000 individuals and families of substantial wealth. Its more than 1,300 employees are singularly focused on private wealth management — disciplined investment management, sophisticated wealth planning, comprehensive family office services, and highly personalized client service.
- Established in 1907 as the family office for Annie and Henry Phipps, Bessemer Trust is in its seventh generation of ownership by the Phipps family. As a self-made entrepreneur, Henry Phipps was a founding partner and chief financial officer of Carnegie Steel.
- Bessemer Trust retains its original focus as a privately owned and independent wealth manager deeply committed to its mission of providing peace of mind to its clients. Bessemer’s adherence to putting clients’ interests first, fiduciary mindset, and highly collaborative culture are at the heart of everything the firm does.
Key Facts:
- For more than 119 years, Bessemer Trust has operated continuously in a single line of business, independently owned by one family.
- Headquartered in New York’s Rockefeller Center, Bessemer Trust has 22 offices in total. Woodbridge, NJ, is one of the firm’s largest offices, which hosts a wide range of technology and operations professionals. In addition to its sizable presence in New York and Woodbridge, the firm provides client service through offices in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Delaware, Denver, Garden City, Grand Cayman, Greenwich, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Naples, Nevada, Palm Beach, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Stuart, and Washington, D.C.
- To watch a video about Bessemer Trust’s history, click here.
- To learn more about Bessemer Trust, click here.
About Our Employee Rewards and Benefits:
- We provide exceptional rewards and benefits that are among the best in the industry, giving our people access to a wide range of options, including:
- Competitive base salary plus discretionary annual bonus for select positions
- A 401(k) plan with a generous annual profit-sharing contribution
- Personalized development and career opportunities, including tuition reimbursement support
- Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans with zero contributions for employee coverage
- Employee assistance (EAP) and wellness programs
- Hybrid work environment: 60% in office, 40% remote for most positions
- Paid time off and paid parental leave
- Employer-paid life insurance and short- and long-term disability coverage
- Legal services and financial wellness plans at no cost to employees
Bessemer Trust is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We encourage candidates of diverse backgrounds to apply.
