Manager, Total Rewards

Alvarez & Marsal; Chicago (IL); Remote; USD 110,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Discretionary 401(k) contribution

Paid time off and holidays

Job summary

Alvarez & Marsal in the U.S. and Canada seeks a Manager, Total Rewards to lead retirement and financial benefit programs, including 401(k), cash balance, RRSP, and financial wellness initiatives.

You will guide a team responsible for day‑to‑day administration, employee support, and compliance, while partnering with Payroll, Finance, Legal, and HRIS. This role requires retirement plan expertise, strong communication with senior leaders, and hands‑on experience with Workday and vendor management.

Qualifications

• 6+ years in Total Rewards/Benefits with retirement plan focus
• Experience with 401(k), cash balance plans, RRSP administration
• Knowledge of ERISA, plan documentation, audits, nondiscrimination testing
• Ability to explain complex retirement provisions clearly
• Strong analytical skills with data analysis and cost projections

Responsibilities

• Lead retirement and financial benefit programs across the U.S. and Canada, including 401(k), cash balance, RRSP, and financial wellness programs
• Lead, coach, and support a team responsible for program administration, employee questions, issue resolution, and operational execution
• Act as a trusted resource on retirement plan administration, including provisions, questions, guidance, and communications
• Help manage cash balance plan operations, including annual interest credits, pay credits, data reviews, benefit calculations, and eligibility questions
• Support cash balance plan governance and compliance with plan documents, notices, funding, census, audits, and nondiscrimination testing
• Partner with Payroll, Finance, Legal, Compliance, HRIS, People Business Partners, and external vendors
• Build strong vendor partnerships, manage escalations, support reporting needs, identify process improvements
• Create clear employee communications, FAQs, presentations, and educational materials
• Support Benefits strategy by analyzing data to support decisions and program recommendations
• Lead or support projects such as RFPs, enrollment, plan changes, vendor transitions, policy updates, education campaigns
• Stay current on U.S. and Canadian retirement, financial benefit, and compliance requirements

Skills

Total Rewards strategy

Retirement plan administration

Stakeholder communication

Project management

HRIS (Workday)

Education

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources or related field

Tools

Workday

Job description

Description

About Alvarez & Marsal

Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) is a leading independent global professional services firm, specializing in providing turnaround management, performance improvement and corporate advisory services. With over 10,000 professionals based in 70+ locations across North America, Europe, Asia, and Latin America, our firm excels in problem solving and value creation. Drawing on a strong operational heritage and hands-on‑approach, our professionals work closely with organizations and stakeholders to help tackle complex business issues and maximize value.

The Team

As Manager, Total Rewards, you will lead retirement and financial benefit programs that support employees across the U.S. and Canada, including 401(k), cash balance, registered retirement savings, and financial wellness programs. In this role, you will guide a team responsible for day‑to‑day administration, employee support, compliance coordination, vendor relationships, issue resolution, and stakeholder partnership, while helping improve processes and create a more seamless employee experience. This role is a strong fit for someone with retirement plan expertise, including hands‑on experience with cash balance plans and registered retirement savings plan (RRSP) administration, who enjoys solving complex problems, building trusted relationships, and making technical benefits topics clear and practical.

How you will contribute

• Lead the administration of retirement and financial benefit programs across the U.S. and Canada, including 401(k), cash balance, registered retirement saving plan (RRSP), and financial wellness programs.
• Lead, coach, and support a team responsible for program administration, employee questions, issue resolution, and operational execution.
• Act as a trusted resource on retirement plan administration, including cash balance plan and registered retirement savings plan provisions, participant questions, stakeholder guidance, and employee communications.
• Help manage cash balance plan operations, including the review of annual interest credits and pay credits, participant data reviews, benefit calculations, and eligibility questions.
• Support cash balance plan governance and compliance by assisting with plan document reviews, required notices, annual funding and census requests, audit support, nondiscrimination testing coordination, and clear participant-facing explanations of plan features and account balance changes.
• Partner with Payroll, Finance, Legal, Compliance, HRIS, People Business Partners, and external vendors to deliver programs accurately, compliantly, and on time.
• Build strong vendor partnerships, manage escalations, support reporting needs, and identify process improvements that make the employee experience smoother and more consistent.
• Create clear employee communications, FAQs, presentations, and educational materials that make retirement and financial benefit programs easy to understand.
• Support Benefits strategy by analyzing benefits data (including but not limited to program effectiveness, market competitiveness, employee experience and cost trends) to support decision‑making, reporting and program recommendations.
• Lead or support projects such as RFPs, annual enrollment, plan changes, vendor transitions, service model enhancements, policy updates, and employee education campaigns.
• Stay current on U.S. and Canadian retirement, financial benefit, and compliance requirements, and share relevant updates and recommendations with key stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field
• 6+ years of progressive Total Rewards/Benefits experience, ideally with a strong focus on retirement plan administration, including 401(k), cash balance plans and registered retirement savings plans.
• Experience working with recordkeepers, actuaries, auditors, legal counsel, payroll, finance, and HR partners to support accurate and compliant retirement plan administration.
• Working knowledge of retirement plan compliance, including ERISA, plan documentation, audits, nondiscrimination testing, participant notices, and related governance activities.
• Ability to explain complex retirement plan provisions, cash balance plan concepts, and compliance requirements in a clear, practical, and approachable way.
• Advanced analytical skills with expertise in data analysis, financial modeling, and benefits cost projections
• Proven experience with HRIS (Workday) and benefits administration platforms
• Strong strategic thinking and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to handle complex, multi‑faceted benefits issues
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and interact effectively with senior executives and employees at all levels
• Demonstrated project management skills and ability to lead cross‑functional teams
• Ability to manage confidential information with the highest level of discretion

Your journey at A&M

We recognize that our people are the driving force behind our success, which is why we prioritize an employee experience that fosters each person’s unique professional and personal development. Our robust performance development process promotes continuous learning, rewards your contributions, and fosters a culture of meritocracy. With top‑notch training and on‑the‑job learning opportunities, you can acquire new skills and advance your career.

We prioritize your well‑being, providing benefits and resources to support you on your personal journey. Our people consistently highlight the growth opportunities, our unique, entrepreneurial culture, and the fun we have together as their favorite aspects of working at A&M. The possibilities are endless for high‑performing and passionate professionals.

Regular employees working 30 or more hours per week are also entitled to participate in Alvarez & Marsal Holdings’ fringe benefits consisting of healthcare plans, flexible spending and savings accounts, life, AD&D, and disability coverages at rates determined periodically as well as a 401(k) retirement savings plan. Provided the eligibility requirements are met, employees will also receive an annual discretionary contribution to their 401(k) retirement savings plan from Alvarez & Marsal. Additionally, employees are eligible for paid time off including vacation, personal days, seventy‑two (72) hours of sick time (prorated for part time employees), ten federal holidays, one floating holiday, and parental leave. The amount of vacation and personal days available varies based on tenure and role type. Click here for more information regarding A&M’s benefits programs.

The salary range is $110,000 - $135,000 annually, dependent on several variables including but not limited to education, experience, skills, and geography. In addition, A&M offers a discretionary bonus program which is based on a number of factors, including individual and firm performance. Please ask your recruiter for details.