Analyst II, Benefits (Finance)

POSITION TITLE: Analyst II, Benefits (Full-Time Regular) (Classified)
REQUISITION #: req7977
DEPARTMENT: Human Resources
LOCATION: 215 OFFICE BLDG
BENEFIT CATEGORY: Classified (Non-CBU) View Classifications & Benefits
EMPLOYMENT TYPE: Full-Time Regular
ANNUAL SALARY RANGE: $62,126.00 - 103,544.00 (Salaries are paid biweekly)
ANNUAL ANTICIPATED HIRING RANGE: $70,000.00 - 87,000.00 (Salaries are paid biweekly)
SELECTION PROCESS: Application deadline is 3:00 p.m. MT on 2/6/2025.

The City of Fort Collins is a bias-conscious employer. We ask that you please avoid the use of photos when submitting a resume and/or an application for employment. You will receive an email acknowledgment when you have successfully submitted an application. Your completed application will be forwarded to the hiring manager. You will be notified if you are selected for further testing or interviews. Please keep your contact information up-to-date. The status of your application will be updated in your applicant profile. Post-offer background check required.

Why Work For the City of Fort Collins?

• Medical, dental, vision (for self, spouse, children) - eligible on the 1st of the month following date of hire
• Paid vacation, paid holidays, sick leave, and additional one-time bank of 40 PTO hours for new, full-time, Classified and Unclassified Management hires
• Retirement + company contributions - after 6 month probation period and immediate vesting
• Flexible spending: Medical expenses FSA, dependent FSA or both
• Employee Assistance Program: counseling, legal, financial assistance
• Life insurance, short-term and long-term disability
• Wellness program, workout facilities
• Employee/family onsite health clinic
• Learning and development opportunities at all levels in the organization with opportunities for career mobility
• Collaborative work environment

To learn more about The City of Fort Collins and Our Community, please read Our Community and Our Organization Brochure

Job Summary

The Benefits Analyst II is responsible for the administration, analysis, and maintenance of benefit plans for both Collective Bargaining Unit (CBU) and Inter-Governmental Agency (IGA) employees, ensuring compliance with relevant legislation and organizational policies. This position requires a strong focus on the differences in benefit offerings and administration for CBU and IGA employees and includes a heavy emphasis on accurate detailed data entry and resolving issues and configuration.

The Benefits Analyst II serves as a technical leader for the Benefits team, resolving complex issues and overseeing key projects related to the retirement plans for CBU employees. They administer the IGA retirement plans, including the 401a and 457 plans, and are responsible for data processing for the Fire & Police Pension Association of Colorado (FPPA) for applicable employees. They also partner with Poudre Fire Authority (PFA) on their retirement board for administration purposes. The Benefits Analyst II assists with the development and delivery of benefits orientations, employee communications, and training on benefits-related topics for both CBU and IGA employees.

The Benefits Analyst II is dedicated to supporting the Benefits team, with the flexibility to work extra hours when needed to manage important benefit changes or system adjustments. This role requires a proactive approach to ensuring smooth transitions during benefits updates, especially when adjustments are needed for CBU and IGA employee benefits, which may involve system modifications or data processing updates. The Analyst II will collaborate closely with the team to ensure that all benefit changes are implemented accurately and communicated effectively, particularly during open enrollment or when managing complex issues.
This position requires a solid understanding of employee benefits, state and federal employment laws, vendor management, and strong analytical skills. The Analyst II will assist the Benefits Manager by researching and addressing any discrepancies or inefficiencies in benefits administration, offering recommendations for improvements when necessary. The ideal candidate will have at least five years of experience in benefits administration or a combination of education and experience, along with excellent communication skills, a focus on customer service, and the ability to manage multiple tasks efficiently.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The following duties and responsibilities are illustrative of the primary functions of this position and are not intended to be all inclusive.

• Manages a major benefits policy such as the City's leave management processes including the Family and Medical Leave Act, providing strategic direction to ensure City is competitive.
• Manages key benefit programs such as the Short Term and Long-Term Disability programs and Voluntary benefits, providing strategic direction including managing our external partners and holding them to the service level agreements.
• Acts as a technical lead for the Benefits team regarding all employee benefit programs helping colleagues work through issues and resolve problems.
• Leads key projects such as the Open Enrollment process to ensure a seamless administration.
• Manages the City's retirement 401a and 457 plans and grandfathered plans (GERP).
• Manages Fire & Police Pension Association of Colorado (FPPA) data processing.
• Analyzes workforce demographics and benefits data and develop recommendations in partnership with the Benefits Manager and external partners.
• Participates in discussions to link benefits to total compensation and total rewards strategies; scans for competitive trends that the City should consider for attracting and retaining talent.
• Able to take on complex benefits issues and ensure resolution.
• Assists with reviewing and analyzing Affordable Care Act data.
• Assist with collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data from vendors/carriers for reporting, including cost projections and evaluation of vendor renewals.
• Identifies opportunities to improve policies and processes as needed to improve efficiencies, ensure compliance, and provide a high level of customer service.
• Assures compliance with regulatory provisions. Interfaces with subject matter experts in legal, accounting, payroll, budget, and other functions to identify and resolve compliance issues.
• Interprets and analyzes state and federal laws related to benefits.
• Interprets and reviews plan documents, plan descriptions and summaries.
• Responsible for developing training and education materials for managers, employee training and benefits orientations.
• Maintains employee confidence by keeping benefit information confidential.
• Updates job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities; reading professional publications; maintaining personal networks; participating in professional organizations.

Management Responsibilities

No

City Competencies

• Demonstrated cultural competence to effectively interact, work, and develop meaningful relationships with people of diverse identities, perspectives, and cultural backgrounds.
• Strong learning orientation. Leverages all resources and is creative in ways of learning for self to continue adapting to changing issues and trends.
• A desire and ability to understand the diverse needs of internal and external customers, and to create experiences and deliver services that exceed their expectations.
• A desire and ability to utilize digital tools for organizational information, individual, and teamwork.

Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• Advanced knowledge of employee benefits
• Knowledge of applicable State and Federal employment laws
• Strong project and vendor management skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Strong reasoning skills and ability to provide insights from data
• Knowledge of HR functions and processes
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Ability to manage multiple assignments and meet deadlines
• Strong commitment to customer service
• Ability to communicate effectively with employees at all levels, both orally and in writing
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees and other city departments
• Knowledge and experience with specialized ERP system such as JD Edwards

Required Qualifications

MinimumPreferredCollege degree or equivalent work experience. Some positions may require functionally related certification or advanced degrees Bachelor's degree or equivalent in Business Administration, Human Resource Management or related field from an accredited college or university

Experience Requirements

• 5 years' benefits experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they can perform every job description task. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may come from a less traditional background. The City may consider an equivalent combination of knowledge, skills, education, and experience to meet minimum qualifications. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about your background and skill set for the role.

The content in this posting was created for recruitment purposes. To view the full job description click the link below.

Analyst II, Benefits

The City of Fort Collins will make reasonable accommodations for access to City services, programs and activities and will make special communication arrangements for persons with disabilities. Please call (970) 221-6535 for assistance.

Notice Regarding Medical and/or Recreational Marijuana Use:
Because the possession and use of marijuana, whether for medical use or otherwise, constitutes a federal offense and because the City is a drug free workplace, the City will not accommodate the medical use of marijuana and enforces written policy prohibiting working for the City while marijuana is in the body. The fact that state law recognizes medical marijuana as a prescribed, or otherwise permitted, medication does not alter or otherwise change this policy.

The City of Fort Collins is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applicants are considered for positions for which they have applied without regard to race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, sex, sexual orientation (including perceived sexual orientation), gender identity and expression, disability, age 40 years or older, pregnancy or related condition, genetic information, and, in certain specific circumstances, marriage to a coworker or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.

BACKGROUND CHECK REQUIRED.

Note: Some information in your application may be public information under the Colorado Open Records Act.Job Summary

The Benefits Analyst II is responsible for the administration, analysis, and maintenance of benefit plans for both Collective Bargaining Unit (CBU) and Inter-Governmental Agency (IGA) employees, ensuring compliance with relevant legislation and organizational policies. This position requires a strong focus on the differences in benefit offerings and administration for CBU and IGA employees and includes a heavy emphasis on accurate detailed data entry and resolving issues and configuration.

The Benefits Analyst II serves as a technical leader for the Benefits team, resolving complex issues and overseeing key projects related to the retirement plans for CBU employees. They administer the IGA retirement plans, including the 401a and 457 plans, and are responsible for data processing for the Fire & Police Pension Association of Colorado (FPPA) for applicable employees. They also partner with Poudre Fire Authority (PFA) on their retirement board for administration purposes. The Benefits Analyst II assists with the development and delivery of benefits orientations, employee communications, and training on benefits-related topics for both CBU and IGA employees.

The Benefits Analyst II is dedicated to supporting the Benefits team, with the flexibility to work extra hours when needed to manage important benefit changes or system adjustments. This role requires a proactive approach to ensuring smooth transitions during benefits updates, especially when adjustments are needed for CBU and IGA employee benefits, which may involve system modifications or data processing updates. The Analyst II will collaborate closely with the team to ensure that all benefit changes are implemented accurately and communicated effectively, particularly during open enrollment or when managing complex issues.
This position requires a solid understanding of employee benefits, state and federal employment laws, vendor management, and strong analytical skills. The Analyst II will assist the Benefits Manager by researching and addressing any discrepancies or inefficiencies in benefits administration, offering recommendations for improvements when necessary. The ideal candidate will have at least five years of experience in benefits administration or a combination of education and experience, along with excellent communication skills, a focus on customer service, and the ability to manage multiple tasks efficiently.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The following duties and responsibilities are illustrative of the primary functions of this position and are not intended to be all inclusive.
Manages a major benefits policy such as the City's leave management processes including the Family and Medical Leave Act, providing strategic direction to ensure City is competitive.Manages key benefit programs such as the Short Term and Long-Term Disability programs and Voluntary benefits, providing strategic direction including managing our external partners and holding them to the service level agreements.Acts as a technical lead for the Benefits team regarding all employee benefit programs helping colleagues work through issues and resolve problems.Leads key projects such as the Open Enrollment process to ensure a seamless administration.Manages the City's retirement 401a and 457 plans and grandfathered plans (GERP).Manages Fire & Police Pension Association of Colorado (FPPA) data processing.Analyzes workforce demographics and benefits data and develop recommendations in partnership with the Benefits Manager and external partners.Participates in discussions to link benefits to total compensation and total rewards strategies; scans for competitive trends that the City should consider for attracting and retaining talent.Able to take on complex benefits issues and ensure resolution.Assists with reviewing and analyzing Affordable Care Act data.Assist with collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data from vendors/carriers for reporting, including cost projections and evaluation of vendor renewals.Identifies opportunities to improve policies and processes as needed to improve efficiencies, ensure compliance, and provide a high level of customer service.Assures compliance with regulatory provisions. Interfaces with subject matter experts in legal, accounting, payroll, budget, and other functions to identify and resolve compliance issues.Interprets and analyzes state and federal laws related to benefits.Interprets and reviews plan documents, plan descriptions and summaries.Responsible for developing training and education materials for managers, employee training and benefits orientations.Maintains employee confidence by keeping benefit information confidential.Updates job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities; reading professional publications; maintaining personal networks; participating in professional organizations.
Management Responsibilities

No