Benefits Systems Specialist

HR-Tech-Solution; United States; On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

HR-Tech-Solution is seeking a Benefits Technology Consultant to own the benefits side of client work, configuring benefit systems from the ground up and coordinating ACA modules.

The role requires deep benefits expertise, strategic thinking, and learning agility. You will partner with client HR teams and brokers to translate plan designs into precise system configurations and tests.

This is an individual contributor role with no direct reports, focused on accuracy, compliance and client outcomes.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of HR experience including benefits administration
• 1+ years configuring benefit administration systems (e.g., Workday Benefits, PlanSource, Bswift, etc.)
• Strong knowledge of major employee benefit types and plan designs (self-funded, fully insured, HSAs/FSAs/HRA)
• Experience setting up eligibility rules, rate structures, enrollment events and qualifying life events
• Hands-on ACA experience including Form 1094-C/1095-C preparation and filing
• Working knowledge of benefits compliance: ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, Section 125 and ERISA basics
• Experience with carrier file feeds (EDI 834) and payroll deduction integration
• Direct experience working with benefit brokers and carriers
• Strong Excel skills (lookups, pivot tables, data cleanup) and reporting in HR systems

Responsibilities

• Configure end-to-end benefit administration systems from setup to go-live and ongoing maintenance
• Build all plan types (medical, dental, vision, life/AD&D, disability, FSA/HSA/HRA, EAP, voluntary benefits)
• Set up coverage levels, eligibility, waiting periods, rate structures, employer contributions and payroll deductions
• Configure enrollment events and qualifying life events, with evidence of insurability and beneficiary rules
• Set up and test carrier file feeds (EDI 834) and payroll deductions; troubleshoot with carriers and vendors
• Build test plans, run enrollment scenarios and validate rates and deductions before launches/renewals
• Configure ACA modules and provide Form 1094-C/1095-C auditing and filing support
• Collaborate with client HR departments and brokers; translate plan designs into system requirements and configurations
• Lead renewal readiness, gather changes, test and confirm with broker/client

Skills

Benefits administration

ACA knowledge

Excel skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HR or related field

Tools

Workday Benefits

PlanSource

bswift

Benefitfocus

Employee Navigator

UKG

ADP

Paylocity

Paycom

Job description

The Benefits Technology Consultant owns the benefits side of our client work. You will configure benefit administration systems from the ground up: every plan type, eligibility rule, rate structure, enrollment event and carrier connection. You will also configure ACA modules and coordinate each client’s Form 1094-C and 1095-C submission to the IRS. You will work directly with client HR departments and benefit brokers, translating plan designs and broker renewals into accurate, well-tested system setups.

This is an individual contributor role with no direct reports. We need someone who understands benefits deeply, thinks strategically, and is resourceful enough to learn a new platform or plan design whenever a client needs it.

Key responsibilities

• Configure benefit administration systems end to end, from plan setup through go-live and ongoing maintenance
• Build all plan types: medical, dental, vision, life and AD&D, short- and long-term disability, FSA, HSA, HRA, EAP, and voluntary benefits such as accident, critical illness and hospital indemnity
• Set up coverage levels, eligibility and waiting-period rules, rate structures (age-banded, salary-based, tobacco and wellness surcharges), employer contributions and payroll deductions
• Configure open enrollment, new hire enrollment and qualifying life events, including evidence of insurability, dependent verification and beneficiary rules
• Set up and test carrier file feeds (EDI 834) and payroll deduction feeds; troubleshoot and fix file errors with carriers and vendors
• Build test plans, run enrollment scenarios and validate rates and deductions before every launch and renewal

ACA configuration and IRS filing

• Configure ACA modules, including measurement methods (monthly or look-back), full-time status tracking, and offer and safe harbor code logic
• Prepare and validate Forms 1094-C and 1095-C, auditing HRIS, payroll and benefits data before filing
• Coordinate electronic submission to the IRS and employee form distribution against deadlines, whether filed through the client’s system or a filing vendor
• Handle corrections, IRS rejections and penalty notices (Letter 226-J), and state individual mandate reporting where it applies
• Advise clients on employer mandate exposure and affordability safe harbors

Client and broker partnership

• Work directly with client HR departments and benefit brokers as the primary systems contact for benefits
• Translate plan designs, renewals and carrier changes from brokers into system requirements and configuration
• Lead renewal and open enrollment readiness: gather changes, update the system, test and confirm with the broker and client
• Recommend process and system improvements that reduce errors and manual work for HR teams
• Train client HR and benefits administrators, and build user guides and job aids

Reporting and audits

• Build benefits enrollment, deduction and eligibility reports and audits
• Reconcile carrier invoices, enrollments and payroll deductions, and resolve discrepancies

The mindset we’re looking for

These soft skills matter as much as technical experience.

Strategic thinking

Connects a configuration choice to the client’s cost, compliance risk and employee experience; asks “why” before “how”

Figures things out without a playbook — vendor documentation, carrier contacts, user communities, testing in a sandbox

Problem solving

Separates symptoms from root causes, especially in file feed and deduction errors; validates with data before fixing

Learning agility

Picks up a new benefits platform, plan type or regulation quickly when a client need arises

Client and broker presence

Earns trust with HR leaders and brokers; delivers bad news early, with options

Ownership

Treats client outcomes as their own; follows through without being chased

Catches rate, eligibility and coding errors before they reach paychecks, coverage or IRS forms

Judgment and discretion

Handles confidential employee, dependent and health plan data with care

Clear communication

Explains system and compliance issues in plain language; writes clean documentation

Self-direction

Manages multiple clients and fixed deadlines like open enrollment and ACA filing with little supervision

Requirements

Required

• 3+ years of HR experience, including both benefits administration and general HR
• 1+ years configuring benefit administration systems, not only administering enrollments (for example Workday Benefits, PlanSource, Businessolver, bswift, Benefitfocus, Employee Navigator, UKG, ADP, Paylocity or Paycom)
• Strong knowledge of all major employee benefit types and plan designs, including self-funded and fully insured plans, HSAs, FSAs and HRAs, and voluntary benefits
• Experience setting up eligibility rules, rate structures, enrollment events and qualifying life events
• Hands-on ACA experience, including configuring an ACA module or tracking tool and at least two seasons of Form 1094-C/1095-C preparation and filing
• Working knowledge of benefits compliance: ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, Section 125 and ERISA basics
• Experience with carrier file feeds (EDI 834) and payroll deduction integration
• Direct experience working with benefit brokers and carriers
• Strong Excel skills (lookups, pivot tables, data cleanup) and experience building reports in an HR system

Preferred

• Prior consulting, implementation or client-facing professional services experience
• Experience on more than one benefits platform, showing ability to learn new systems quickly
• Workday Benefits configuration experience
• Experience with an ACA filing vendor or the IRS electronic filing (AIR) process
• Experience with dependent eligibility verification audits

Education and certifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business or related field, or equivalent experience