Employee Benefits Account Executive

The Jonus Group; Northbrook (IL); On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company is seeking an experienced Account Executive to manage a portfolio of employee benefits clients. This critical role involves mentoring a team, driving client strategy, and ensuring compliance with regulations. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in employee benefits, exceptional leadership skills, and a strong ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of employee benefits experience in account management or client executive roles.
• Prior experience supervising and developing high-performing teams.

Responsibilities

• Overseeing a portfolio of employee benefits clients, ensuring exceptional service delivery.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of account managers and support staff.

Skills

Leadership

Negotiation

Analytical

Problem Solving

Communication

Education

College degree

CEBS

GBA

PHR

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Benefits administration technology

Job description

Summary

Job Description

Seeking an experienced and strategic Account Executive to lead and manage a portfolio of employee benefits clients while supervising a team of account managers and support staff. The ideal candidate brings deep technical expertise in employee benefits, exceptional leadership ability, and advanced compliance knowledge across ACA, ERISA, HIPAA, and related regulations.

This is a critical, high-impact role, offering the opportunity to drive client strategy, mentor a growing team, and contribute directly to the firm’s ongoing success in delivering best-in-class service and solutions.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Overseeing a portfolio of large and small group employee benefits clients, ensuring exceptional service delivery, retention, and organic growth.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of account managers and support staff, setting performance expectations and providing ongoing coaching and support.
• Serve as a senior-level advisor to clients on plan design strategy, funding alternatives, cost containment, and regulatory compliance.
• Manage complex client issues, including escalated claims, renewal negotiations, and vendor relationships, with a solutions-oriented approach.
• Maintain deep and current knowledge of employee benefits trends, regulations (ACA, COBRA, ERISA, HIPAA, FMLA), and emerging market developments.
• Partner with internal leadership to drive client strategy, new initiatives, and client satisfaction programs.
• Prepare and lead client meetings, including the creation of strategic agendas, plan performance reviews, and compliance updates.
• Coordinate workflows and resource allocation across your book of business to ensure operational efficiency and client service excellence.
• Identify opportunities for additional product lines, services, and coverage expansions across the client base.
• Support agency leadership on special projects, compliance initiatives, and strategic planning efforts as needed.
  
  

Reporting Structure

• Reports directly to the President
• Directly supervises a team of Account Managers.
  
  

Qualifications

Required Skills and Experience:

• 7+ years of employee benefits experience in account management or client executive roles.
• Prior experience supervising and developing high-performing teams.
• Deep working knowledge of ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, ERISA, FMLA, and other benefits-related compliance matters.
• Exceptional leadership, interpersonal, and client relationship skills.
• Strong negotiation, analytical, and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities with urgency and attention to detail in a fast-paced environment.
• Professional verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to present to senior leadership (internally and externally).
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint) and benefits administration technology platforms.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• College degree or equivalent combinations of education, along with advanced degrees or professional certifications (CEBS, GBA, PHR, etc.), strongly preferred.
• Experience with Zywave and other client management systems.
• Experience in a boutique or high-touch employee benefits consulting environment is a plus.
  
  

Disclaimer: Please note that this job description may not cover all duties, responsibilities, or aspects of the role, and it is subject to modification at the employer's discretion.