Principal Employee Benefits Analyst

Cerence Inc.; St. John's; On-site; CAD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Principal Employee Benefits Analyst to join their global HR team. This role offers a unique opportunity to leverage your expertise in employee benefits administration across the U.S. and Canada. You'll oversee various benefits programs, ensure compliance with regulations, and collaborate with vendors to enhance benefits offerings. Your analytical and problem-solving skills will be key in managing vendor relationships and delivering effective communication to employees. If you're a self-starter with a passion for employee wellbeing, this position is perfect for you, allowing you to make a meaningful impact in a dynamic environment.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of benefits administration experience in a multinational company.
• Strong knowledge of compliance requirements and benefit plan design.

Responsibilities

• Oversee third-party administration of employee benefits programs.
• Administer leave of absence processes and coordinate disability payments.
• Lead the Annual Benefits Enrollment process for the United States.

Skills

Benefits plan design knowledge

Compliance requirements (ACA, FMLA, HIPAA, COBRA)

Vendor management

Analytic skills

Problem-solving skills

Project management

Communication skills

Presentation skills

Interpersonal skills

Self-starter attitude

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Microsoft Office

Workday

ADP

Job description

Join to apply for the Principal Employee Benefits Analyst role at Cerence AI.

A Moving Experience. Great opportunity to join the global HR team as an employee benefits subject matter expert! In this role, you will be responsible for the day-to-day administration and communication of employee benefits in the U.S. and Canada, including working with vendors to develop recommendations to maintain competitiveness, compliance, and manage costs.

Under the direction of the Director of Payroll & Benefits, this individual provides expertise on administration, compliance, vendor management, communication, and education on benefits, wellbeing, and leave management to new and existing employees.

Daily Functions / Responsibilities:

1. Oversee third-party administration of various employee benefits programs, including medical, dental, vision, life, accident, disability, flexible spending accounts, Employee Assistance Program, and retirement plans (401k and RRSP).
2. Stay informed of changes to laws and regulations to ensure benefit programs remain compliant, and recommend and implement necessary changes.
3. Administer leave of absence processes, including tracking leave time in Workday and coordinating disability payments with payroll.
4. Plan and deliver ongoing global wellbeing programs and challenges using third-party software.
5. Assist employees with benefit tasks such as enrollment in administrative systems (Workday or ADP), submitting applications for late enrollment, leaves of absence, and COBRA administration.
6. Oversee payment of monthly billing/premium statements for all group employee benefits programs, including reconciliation and problem resolution.
7. Liaise with vendors to resolve benefit concerns and issues.
8. Participate in annual vendor negotiations and plan design sessions with benefits brokers.
9. Coordinate quarterly 401k Committee meetings with vendors.
10. Coordinate annual 401k ERISA audits.
11. Prepare and deliver communications explaining benefits policies and procedures to various audiences.
12. Lead the Annual Benefits Enrollment process for the United States.
13. Collaborate effectively with HR partners, including HR Business Partners, Communications, HR Shared Services, and Payroll.
14. Partner with International Payroll & Benefits teams on global initiatives.
15. Coordinate with Finance and Legal departments to ensure compliance on various projects.

Requirements:

• Strong knowledge of benefit plan design and compliance requirements (e.g., ACA, FMLA, HIPAA, COBRA).
• Experience with US and Canada benefits administration, including vendor management, billing, enrollments, audits, and LOA administration.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and HRIS systems; Workday and ADP experience is a plus.
• Excellent analytic, problem-solving, organizational, project management, communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
• Self-starter with a flexible approach to business solutions.
• Experience with equity programs (ESPP, Long-Term Incentive Plans) and international benefits is a plus.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience, typically obtained in 5-7 years of related work.
• Minimum of 4 years’ benefits administration experience in a publicly traded multinational company.

Cerence Inc. (Nasdaq: CRNC) is a global leader in creating innovative experiences for the automotive industry, specializing in voice and AI technologies for automotive applications. Join us to be part of a passionate, innovative, and growing team shaping the future of voice and AI in cars.