Health & Welfare Benefits Specialist — Hybrid, Data-Driven

New York Life Insurance Co.; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 81,000 - 104,000; Full time

Job summary

New York Life Insurance Co. is seeking a Sr. Associate, Benefits – Health & Welfare to manage eligibility, deductions, and complex benefit cases. The role partners with vendors to ensure accurate data and high-quality employee experiences.

Hybrid role with 3 days onsite. Requires 2–4+ years in benefits or HR operations, strong Excel skills, and excellent communication. Responsible for audits, data validation, and process improvements within a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred; 2–4+ years in benefits administration, HR ops, payroll, or related field in a large organization.
• Working knowledge of Health & Welfare benefit plans and administration.
• Strong Excel skills with large data sets, formulas, reconciliations.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with ability to research complex issues.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, adaptable; manage high volume of work and shifting priorities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; professional with employees, agents, and vendors.

Responsibilities

• Administer employee and agent benefit eligibility, contributions, enrollments, terminations, refunds, and related transactions.
• Manage weekly Health & Welfare deduction files; analyze and reconcile data; investigate variances.
• Prepare and coordinate benefit statements and communications related to status changes.
• Manage appeals, COBRA subsidies, and Executive Life Insurance payments; ensure documentation and processing.
• Research and resolve complex benefits cases; coordinate with internal partners and external vendors.
• Coordinate biannual benefit earnings update and data validation.
• Perform Annual Enrollment website testing and issue resolution.
• Complete year-end and new-year validation for accurate payroll deductions.
• Perform MAR/SOX audits to ensure compliance with controls.
• Data analysis, reconciliations, testing, and quality-control of benefit data.
• Manage multiple responsibilities, deadlines, and changing priorities.

Skills

Excel proficiency

Analytical thinking

Communication

Independent work

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor’s degree preferred

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Job description

New York Life Insurance Co. is seeking a Sr. Associate, Benefits – Health & Welfare to manage eligibility, deductions, and complex benefit cases. The role partners with vendors to ensure accurate data and high-quality employee experiences.

Hybrid role with 3 days onsite. Requires 2–4+ years in benefits or HR operations, strong Excel skills, and excellent communication. Responsible for audits, data validation, and process improvements within a fast-paced environment.