ES Benefit Associate

St. Francis Health Services of Morris; Morris (MN); Hybrid; USD 62,000 - 76,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible Time Off

Health Coverage

HSA contributions

Life insurance

Retirement match

Voluntary benefits

Job summary

St. Francis Health Services of Morris seeks an experienced Employment Systems Benefits Associate to join our corporate Human Resources team in Morris, Minnesota.

Hybrid or remote work arrangements may be considered for qualified candidates within commuting distance. You will train newly hired HR Directors in benefits, oversee ACA administration, and support payroll processes while serving as a key resource for facility HR Directors.

Qualifications

• Associate degree or equivalent experience in HR/related field.
• Three years of progressively responsible experience in employee benefits, payroll, HR systems, or a closely related area.
• Knowledge of benefits eligibility, qualifying life events, open enrollment, payroll deductions, COBRA, ACA, and retirement-plan processes.
• Experience training, coaching, or providing technical guidance to HR professionals, managers, or system users.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, especially Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Word.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a benefits resource for facility HR Directors and designated HR representatives.
• Advise HR Directors regarding benefits eligibility, enrollment procedures, qualifying life events, coverage changes, terminations, payroll deductions, required documentation, and deadlines.
• Interpret established benefit plans and procedures and provide practical guidance to HR Directors.
• Coordinate the organization’s ACA administration and compliance activities, including monitoring employee eligibility and measurement periods, reviewing data for accuracy, resolving discrepancies, and ensuring required reporting and employee forms are completed accurately and on time.
• Collaborate with internal departments, benefit vendors, and external partners to prepare, review, and submit ACA filings, including Forms 1094-C and 1095-C.
• Maintain ACA documentation and records and monitor regulatory changes that may affect the organization’s responsibilities.
• Research benefits, payroll, ACA, and system issues; evaluate possible courses of action; and recommend appropriate solutions.
• Assist with benefits administration, reconciliations, audits, open enrollment, vendor coordination, and plan changes.
• Assess training needs and develop and deliver comprehensive benefits training for newly hired HR Directors.
• Create onboarding plans, training presentations, process guides, job aids, checklists, and reference materials.
• Provide refresher training and ongoing education when benefit plans, regulations, vendors, systems, or procedures change.
• Serve as a resource for HR Directors using UKG Pro for benefits and related employee-data processes.
• Assist with payroll reconciliations, audits, system testing, and quarter-end and year-end activities.
• Serve as a backup for payroll processing.
• Independently manage assigned projects and monitor deadlines, outstanding issues, location follow-up, and vendor deliverables.

Skills

Benefits administration

Payroll knowledge

HR systems

Training & coaching

Microsoft Office

Education

Associate degree in HR / Business / Accounting / Information Systems

Tools

UKG Pro

Job description

Full-Time | Exempt | 40 Hours per Week | $61,500–$76,120 Annually

St. Francis Health Services is seeking an experienced and detail-oriented Employment Systems Benefits Associate to join our corporate Human Resources team.

Working closely with the Employment Systems Director, this position supports employee benefits administration, Affordable Care Act (ACA) compliance, HR technology, payroll processes, and training across the organization. The Employment Systems Benefits Associate serves as a key resource for facility HR Directors, providing the knowledge, tools, and guidance they need to administer employee benefits effectively at their locations.

The successful candidate will train newly hired HR Directors in benefits, provide ongoing education as plans and processes change, and serve as a backup for payroll processing.

Work Location and Schedule

This position is based at the St. Francis Health Services corporate office in Morris, Minnesota. Hybrid or remote work arrangements may be considered for qualified candidates who reside within reasonable commuting distance of Morris. Employees working remotely or on a hybrid schedule must be available to work at the corporate office periodically for meetings, training, projects, or other business needs.

What You’ll Do

• Serve as a benefits resource for facility HR Directors and designated HR representatives.
• Advise HR Directors regarding benefits eligibility, enrollment procedures, qualifying life events, coverage changes, terminations, payroll deductions, required documentation, and deadlines.
• Interpret established benefit plans and procedures and provide practical guidance to HR Directors.
• Coordinate the organization’s ACA administration and compliance activities, including monitoring employee eligibility and measurement periods, reviewing data for accuracy, resolving discrepancies, and ensuring required reporting and employee forms are completed accurately and on time.
• Collaborate with internal departments, benefit vendors, and external partners to prepare, review, and submit ACA filings, including Forms 1094-C and 1095-C.
• Maintain ACA documentation and records and monitor regulatory changes that may affect the organization’s responsibilities.
• Research benefits, payroll, ACA, and system issues; evaluate possible courses of action; and recommend appropriate solutions.
• Assist with benefits administration, reconciliations, audits, open enrollment, vendor coordination, and plan changes.
• Assess training needs and develop and deliver comprehensive benefits training for newly hired HR Directors.
• Create onboarding plans, training presentations, process guides, job aids, checklists, and reference materials.
• Provide refresher training and ongoing education when benefit plans, regulations, vendors, systems, or procedures change.
• Serve as a resource for HR Directors using UKG Pro for benefits and related employee-data processes.
• Assist with payroll reconciliations, audits, system testing, and quarter-end and year-end activities.
• Serve as a backup for payroll processing.
• Independently manage assigned projects and monitor deadlines, outstanding issues, location follow-up, and vendor deliverables.

What We’re Looking For

Minimum Qualifications

• Associate degree in human resources, business administration, accounting, finance, information systems, or a related field; equivalent relevant experience may be considered.
• Three years of progressively responsible experience in employee benefits, payroll, HR systems, or a closely related area.
• Knowledge of benefits eligibility, qualifying life events, open enrollment, payroll deductions, COBRA, ACA, and retirement-plan processes.
• Experience training, coaching, or providing technical guidance to HR professionals, managers, or system users.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Word.
• Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, manage competing priorities, and protect confidential information.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience using UKG Pro, particularly benefits and payroll functions.
• Experience processing payroll or serving as a payroll backup.
• Experience working in healthcare, long-term care, or a multi-location organization.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this position is $61,500–$76,120 annually, based on qualifications and experience. Benefits include:

• Flexible Time Off — Exempt-level team members receive flexible paid time away, designed to give you the time you need, when you need it most, without worrying about accruals or tracking.
• Comprehensive Health Coverage— Medical plan options are available for employees and their eligible dependents, with employer contributions toward the cost of coverage.
• Health Savings Account Contributions— Employer contributions to a Health Savings Account are available for employees enrolled in an eligible high-deductible health plan.
• Peace of Mind — $20,000 in employer-paid life insurance, with access to additional voluntary life coverage.
• Retirement Readiness — A retirement plan with up to a 5% employer match, plus financial education resources to support your long-term planning.
• Additional Voluntary Benefits — Dental, vision, hospital indemnity, critical illness, accident insurance, and voluntary short- and long-term disability coverage, providing options that fit your needs.

Why Join St. Francis Health Services?

Join a collaborative Employment Systems team where you will support HR leaders throughout the organization and help ensure consistent, effective benefits administration across St. Francis Health Services.

St. Francis Health Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.