Retirement Counselor

Trsga; Macon (GA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Teachers Retirement System of Georgia seeks a dedicated Retirement Counselor to provide individualized counseling to TRS members. The role involves conducting in-person sessions, preparing benefit estimates, and calculating costs for service purchases while ensuring compliance with applicable laws and policies.

Responsibilities include reviewing account activity, answering member inquiries via phone, email, and mail, and coordinating documentation with members and employers.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from a four‑year accredited college/university.
• Minimum of five (5) years retirement‑related experience, eligibility determination, or reviewing requests for retirement benefit determinations.
• Intermediate proficiency with Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Ability to work overtime as required.

Responsibilities

• Provide individualized retirement counseling to TRS members in person, by phone, email, or written correspondence.
• Prepare benefit estimates and calculate the cost of service purchases.
• Review account activity and respond to member inquiries while ensuring compliance with TRS laws and regulations.
• Notify members to obtain missing documentation and maintain timely communications.

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Under general supervision of the operations manager, the Retirement Counselor performs a full range of responsibilities related to providing individualized retirement counseling to TRS members. Duties include conducting in person counseling sessions, preparing benefit estimates, calculating the cost of service purchases, reviewing account activity, and responding to member inquiries by phone, email, and written correspondence. The Retirement Counselor ensures all account reviews and benefit calculations are compliant with TRS laws, policies, and state/federal regulations. When required information is missing from a member’s file, the counselor notifies the member promptly to obtain documentation.

• Bachelor’s degree from a four‑year accredited college/university
• Minimum of five (5) years of retirement‑related experience, eligibility determination, or reviewing/analyzing requests for retirement benefit determinations or similar benefit programs
• Intermediate proficiency with Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Office Suite
• Ability to work overtime as required

Preferred Additional Qualifications

• Strong math aptitude
• Knowledge of clerical accounting methods, procedures, and terminology
• Determine eligibility for retirement benefits and service purchases based on TRS law and policies
• Provide individual counseling to a minimum of five (5) members per day, answering account‑specific questions and assisting with online retirement applications and forms
• Prepare and process estimates of monthly retirement benefits
• Calculate the cost for members to purchase additional service credit
• Assess and monitor prior account activity for accuracy; make corrections when needed
• Correspond with members and employers regarding contribution discrepancies and creditable service; request supporting documentation
• Analyze data to perform accurate benefit and cost calculations
• Provide prompt, accurate, friendly, and professional customer service to members, beneficiaries, and employers
• Represent TRS at benefit fairs; conduct presentations; provide individual counseling onsite
• Manage high‑volume workflow queues to meet agency accuracy and timeliness standards
• Perform additional duties as assigned

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge of retirement system laws and regulations
• Knowledge of TRS operations
• Knowledge of basic office computer operations
• Knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)
• Proficient in personal computers and office equipment
• Strong problem‑solving and decision‑making skills
• Strong customer‑service skills and attention to detail
• Strong organizational and planning abilities
• Effective oral and written communication skills
• Ability to analyze data and determine accurate benefit information
• Ability to build rapport with members, understand their needs, and guide them through retirement decisions
• Ability to take initiative, resolve complex issues, and make independent decisions within laws, rules, and policies

Core Competencies

• Teamwork
• Customer Service
• Accountability
• Communication
• Judgment & Decision Making

Work is typically performed in an office environment.

Physical Demands

This role is classified as sedentary work, involving sitting for extended periods, with occasional walking or standing. It requires frequent use of hands, wrists, and fingers for computer and phone work, as well as the ability to lift up to 10 pounds occasionally. Close vision is required due to the computer‑based nature of the tasks.

Note: The specific statements shown in each section of this job description are not intended to be all-inclusive. They represent typical elements and criteria necessary to perform the job successfully. The Teachers Retirement System of Georgia reserves the right to modify and expand job responsibilities and duties over time.

Teachers Retirement System of Georgia Is An Equal Opportunity Employer