Benefits Specialist (Hybrid in CA)

First American; Santa Ana (CA); On-site; USD 37,000 - 49,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

401k

PTO / paid sick leave

Employee stock purchase plan

Job summary

First American is seeking a Benefits Administrator in Santa Ana, CA to oversee benefits financial activities, enrollment and billing processes, and regulatory reporting. You will partner with HR and vendor teams to ensure compliant and accurate benefits programs, including health and welfare plans and time-off administration.

The role requires a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) and 2–3 years of benefits experience, with strong analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of 2-3 years of relevant experience.
• Strong knowledge of employee health and welfare benefits plans; experience with self-funded and fully insured arrangements preferred.
• Strong knowledge of benefits administration practices and applicable laws, regulations, and other governmental reporting requirements.

Responsibilities

• Perform regular benefits-related financial activities, including reconciliation of bank accounts, payment and reconciliation of insurance and vendor bills, coordination and completion of annual regulatory filings, and review of financial reports.
• Analyze and report on benefits financial activity, including funding and billing variances, costs and trends, budget preparation and analysis, and communication of financial results to management.
• Serve as benefits billing liaison to Accounting, Finance, Treasury, company divisions, and vendor partners.
• Assist in the administration of the company’s health and welfare benefits plans and wellbeing programs by supporting employees with benefits coverage and administration, including researching and resolving enrollment, eligibility, contribution, evidence of insurability, continuation of coverage and other benefit related issues while coordinating with vendor partners.
• Coordinates and administers activities involving company’s paid time‑off programs, including responding to employee inquiries, reviewing and processing program‑related activity and ensuring accurate administration in accordance with company policies.
• Assist with the development and distribution of employee benefits communications and educational materials.
• Act as liaison between the company and vendor partners to research and resolve administrative, eligibility, enrollment, coverage, contribution and employee issues.
• Perform quality reviews and reconciliations of benefits‑related data to identify and resolve discrepancies and support accurate eligibility, enrollment, billing, and plan administration.
• Remains current on applicable benefits laws, regulations, and requirements, including HIPAA, FMLA, COBRA, ACA, and ADA.
• Compiles periodic and special reports on benefits matters for senior HR management

Skills

Analytical skills

Mathematical skills

Customer service

Communication skills

Time management

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Who We Are

Join a team that puts its People First! Since 1889, First American (NYSE: FAF) has held an unwavering belief in its people. They are passionate about what they do, and we are equally passionate about fostering an environment where all feel welcome, supported, and empowered to be innovative and reach their full potential. Our inclusive, people-first culture has earned our company numerous accolades, including being named to the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For® list for eleven consecutive years. We have also earned awards as a best place to work for women, diversity and LGBTQ+ employees, and have been included on more than 50 regional best places to work lists. First American will always strive to be a great place to work, for all. For more information, please visit www.careers.firstam.com.

What We Do

This position contributes to the overall administration of the company’s employee benefit programs with responsibilities spanning benefits financial management and administration of paid time-off programs. This role partners with employees, internal stakeholders, and vendor partners to support effective and accurate benefits administration.

What You’ll Do:

• Perform regular benefits-related financial activities, including reconciliation of bank accounts, payment and reconciliation of insurance and vendor bills, coordination and completion of annual regulatory filings, and review of financial reports.
• Analyze and report on benefits financial activity, including funding and billing variances, costs and trends, budget preparation and analysis, and communication of financial results to management.
• Serve as benefits billing liaison to Accounting, Finance, Treasury, company divisions, and vendor partners.
• Assist in the administration of the company’s health and welfare benefits plans and wellbeing programs by supporting employees with benefits coverage and administration, including researching and resolving enrollment, eligibility, contribution, evidence of insurability, continuation of coverage and other benefit related issues while coordinating with vendor partners.
• Coordinates and administers activities involving company’s paid time‑off programs, including responding to employee inquiries, reviewing and processing program‑related activity and ensuring accurate administration in accordance with company policies.
• Assist with the development and distribution of employee benefits communications and educational materials.
• Act as liaison between the company and vendor partners to research and resolve administrative, eligibility, enrollment, coverage, contribution and employee issues.
• Perform quality reviews and reconciliations of benefits‑related data to identify and resolve discrepancies and support accurate eligibility, enrollment, billing, and plan administration.
• Remains current on applicable benefits laws, regulations, and requirements, including HIPAA, FMLA, COBRA, ACA, and ADA.
• Compiles periodic and special reports on benefits matters for senior HR management

What You’ll Bring:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of 2 -3 years of relevant experience.
• Strong knowledge of employee health and welfare benefits plans; experience with self‑funded and fully insured arrangements preferred.
• Strong knowledge of benefits administration practices and applicable laws, regulations, and other governmental reporting requirements.
• Strong analytical and mathematical skills with the ability to reconcile financial and benefits data.
• Excellent customer service and problem‑solving skills with the ability to effectively support employees at all levels of the organization.
• Strong written and verbal communication, time management, and decision making.
• PCs, word processing, spreadsheet and database software.

Pay Range: $26.88 - $35.83 Hourly

This hiring range is a reasonable estimate of the base pay range for this position at the time of posting. Pay is based on a number of factors which may include job‑related knowledge, skills, experience, business requirements and geographic location.

** Note that the following statements only apply to candidates who will be working from an unincorporated area within Los Angeles County. **

First American will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with arrest or conviction records, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws (e.g., the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act).

First American intends to conduct a review of an applicant’s criminal history in connection with a conditional offer. First American reasonably believes that a criminal history may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship with the following material job duties for this position potentially resulting in the withdrawal of the conditional offer of employment: handling of confidential, proprietary or trade secret information belonging to First American or its customers, administrating or facilitating financial transactions, and the ability to meet customer‑imposed criminal history requirements.

What We Offer

By choice, we don’t simply accept individuality – we embrace it, we support it, and we thrive on it! Our People First culture is inclusive for all employees - not just because it’s the right thing to do, but because it’s the key to our success. We are proud to foster an authentic and inclusive workplace For All. You are free and encouraged to bring your entire, unique self to work. First American is an equal opportunity employer in every sense of the term.

Based on eligibility, First American offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, 401k, PTO/paid sick leave and other great benefits like an employee stock purchase plan.