Senior Agent Contracting and Commissions Specialist

Illinois Mutual; Peoria (IL); Hybrid; USD 50,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Half-Day Fridays

No monthly premium for employee health

PTO with annual rollover

401(k) with immediate vesting

On-site cafe

On-site fitness facility

Tuition reimbursement

Voluntary dental and vision

Job summary

Illinois Mutual is seeking a Senior Agent Contracting and Commissions Specialist to expertly manage complex agent contracting and commission processes, ensuring accuracy and a high level of customer service for distribution partners. The role includes leading training, handling escalations, and partnering with IT on system changes, while maintaining regulatory compliance and audit readiness.

The successful candidate will leverage subject matter expertise to guide colleagues, contribute to

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree required (or Illinois Mutual approved equivalency for internal applicants)
• Previous insurance industry experience required
• Strong track record of reliable performance within agent contracting and/or commissions strongly preferred
• Insurance and/or compliance industry designations strongly preferred
• Leadership qualities including initiative and supporting team members
• Ability to prioritize and monitor work to achieve timely results
• Maintain confidentiality and privacy standards
• Learn systems processes quickly
• Flexible and adaptable to changes
• Must be highly motivated, organized and detail-oriented
• Comfortable in a fast-paced environment
• Able to work in a team and independently
• Ability to work under pressure and remain focused
• Strong problem-solving and communication skills
• Excellent organization and time management skills
• Ability to motivate and support team members
• Proficient MS Office and internet skills

Responsibilities

• Operate with strong knowledge of regulatory requirements to ensure onboarding
• Train less experienced team members on procedures
• Provide enhanced level of personalized service for key distribution partners
• Lead root-cause analysis and remediation for commission accuracy issues; design preventative controls
• Handle commission inquiries and adjustments
• Manage debit balance and ACAP processes
• Assist in EFT returns processing
• Review and code department invoices for approvals
• Manage returned checks and process voids
• Update internal systems for agent appointments, renewals, etc.
• Provide backup coverage for onboarding tasks
• Oversee complex commission scenarios and approve adjustments above Specialist II
• Recommend and test automation with IT; validate release readiness
• Process IRS Levy payments and wage garnishments
• Lead SOP development and UAT for system changes
• Assist management with policy interpretation and audits
• Serve on committees and task forces
• Conduct other duties as assigned

Skills

Strong communication

Organization

Time management

Teamwork

Confidentiality

Education

Bachelor's degree or internal equivalency

Tools

MS Word

MS Excel

MS Outlook

PowerPoint

Internet

Job description

Job Title: Senior Agent Contracting and Commissions Specialist

Department: Agent Contracting & Commissions

Reports To: Manager, Agent Contracting & Commissions

Location: Home Office

Job Type: Full Time

Commitment to Core Values

At Illinois Mutual, our culture is built around our four core values. These values shape how we operate and define our expectations of each team member’s contributions:

• Be honest, reliable and respectful
• Think of other first
• Work together to create results
• Stand out with personal, caring service

Job Summary

The Senior Agent Contracting and Commissions Specialist proficiently facilitates complex elements of the agent contracting relationship and commission payment process to ensure compliance, accuracy and a strong customer service experience for our distribution partners. The Senior ACC Specialist exercises a high level of independence and assists ACC management with training and assisting less experienced members of the team. This role serves as the subject matter expert and escalation point for complex regulatory and commission issues, leads audit readiness activities, and provides functional leadership without direct people management.

Primary Responsibilities

• Operate with strong knowledge of regulatory requirements to ensure appropriate onboarding
• Assist ACC management in training less experienced team members on department procedures and responsibilities
• Provide enhanced level of personalized customer service for key distribution partners in coordination with assistance from ACC Specialists
• Lead root-cause analysis and remediation for commission accuracy issues; design preventative controls and job aids.
• Handle commission related inquiries and/or adjustments, including those escalated by team members
• Manage debit balance and ACAP processes per department procedures
• Aid Financial Services Department in processing EFT returns
• Review and code department invoices as necessary to help facilitate approval
• Manage returned checks and process voids, as needed to assist team members
• Update internal systems as necessary including, but not limited to, agent appointments, renewals, replacements or terminations as assigned
• Provide backup coverage for routine onboarding/contracting tasks during peak demand or staff absence, ensuring quality and timeliness
• Oversee complex commission scenarios (e.g., multi-level hierarchies, chargebacks/recoveries, retroactive rate changes); approve adjustments above Specialist II authority.
• Recommend, prioritize, and test automation/system enhancements with IT; validate release readiness and change impacts.
• Process IRS Levy payments and other similar wage garnishments
• Lead continuous improvement, develop and maintain standard operating procedures (SOP) and updates, and complete UAT for system or rule changes impacting contracting and commissions
• Assist ACC management on policy interpretation and audit remediation
• Assist ACC management with agent and department audits
• Serve as department representative on Company committees and task forces as assigned
• Conduct other duties as assigned

Anticipated Salary

$50,000 - $55,000

Benefits Overview

We strive for our employees to feel appreciated and supported, both professionally and personally. Our comprehensive benefit and discount package that meets a variety of needs is one way we demonstrate this. Some of our most admired benefits include:

• Compressed 4 1/2-day work week (Half-Day Fridays)
• No monthly premium cost for employee medical, life and disability insurance coverage
• Paid time-off accrual, including annual rollover; and paid holidays
• Competitive 401(k) plan with immediate vesting on Company contributions
• Discounted on-site employee cafeteria
• On-site exercise facility and company-provided exercise time
• Tuition reimbursement and training incentives
• Access to voluntary dental and vision insurance coverage

Qualifications

• Bachelors Degree required (or Illinois Mutual approved equivalency for internal applicants)
• Previous insurance industry experience required
• Strong track record of reliable performance within agent contracting and/or commissions strongly preferred
• Insurance and/or compliance industry designations strongly preferred
• Leadership qualities including, but not limited to, demonstrated initiative in completing one's own tasks, providing proactive, critical thinking and assisting team members with such
• Ability to effectively prioritize and monitor work to achieve timely results
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and adhere to privacy standards
• Ability to learn systems processes and procedures quickly
• Flexible and adaptable to changes
• Highly motivated, organized and attentive to details
• Comfortable in fast-paced environment
• Ability to work successfully in a team environment, both individually and collectively
• Ability to work under pressure and remain focused
• Above average problem-solving skills
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written
• Excellent organization and time management skills
• Ability to motivate and support team members
• Proficient computer skills including MS Word, MS Excel, MS Outlook PowerPoint and the Internet

Required Competencies (Proficiency Level)

• Accountability (2)
• Continuous Learning (1)
• Customer Focus (2)
• Integrity (2)
• Organizational Awareness (1)
• Teamwork (2)

This job description is intended to provide a general overview of the position and does not include every detail of the role. Responsibilities and expectations may be subject to change based on Company needs.

Illinois Mutual is an equal opportunity employer.