HR Benefits Analyst - Hybrid

Cayuga Health System • City of Ithaca, NY

2d • $65,000 - $85,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Benefit Analyst supports the strategic administration, financial oversight, and system optimization of Centralus Health's Health & Welfare benefit programs. This role is responsible for data integrity, reporting analytics, compliance validation, and system configuration support across medical, dental, vision, FSA/HSA, life and AD&D, voluntary benefits, COBRA, and related wellness programs.
The position requires strong analytical capability, technical proficiency in HRIS and payroll integrations, and the ability to translate complex benefit data into actionable insights that support financial stewardship and regulatory compliance.

The Benefits Specialist at Cayuga Health System is responsible for managing and administering comprehensive employee benefits programs, ensuring compliance with legal requirements and organizational policies. This exempt role involves conducting employee consultations, overseeing invoice management, coordinating open enrollment, and managing FMLA-payroll related functions. The Benefits Specialist also handles daily administrative duties, such as managing email inquiries and leading special HR projects. This position plays a critical role in supporting employees with their benefits and ensuring the smooth operation of benefits and leave management programs.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in business, human resources, healthcare administration, or a related field with 2+ years of experience; or
• Equivalent Experience: 6+ years of benefit administration experience.
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Human Resources, Finance or a related field. 4 years equivalent combination of education, work experience, and relevant HR-related certifications may be substitutable.
• Strong knowledge and understanding of insurance regulations, plan designs.
• Familiarity with COBRA, HIPAA, ERISA, FMLA, ACA and related state and federal regulations.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality, to ensure trust and compliance with Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act (HIPAA).
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-volume environment, and to maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective positive working relationships with co-workers and CHS team members.
• Ability to apply proactive and innovative solutions to everyday challenges.
• Working knowledge of all applicable employment laws.
• Excellent oral and written communications skills.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.

Nice To Haves

• SHRM-CP certification or equivalent.
• Benefits or HR certifications (e.g. CEBS, PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP) or relevant certifications preferred.

Responsibilities

• System Configuration & Data Integrity: Partner with HRIS and Payroll to validate benefit plan configurations, file feeds, eligibility rules, and deduction mappings. Audit system changes to ensure accuracy and alignment across platforms.
• Financial Reconciliation & Cost Analysis: Perform monthly premium reconciliations, validate carrier invoices, monitor benefit spend trends, and support forecasting and budget modeling. Identify discrepancies and implement corrective actions as needed.
• Compliance & Audit Support: Assist with ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, IRS, and state compliance activities, including reporting requirements, documentation tracking, audit preparation, and vendor oversight.
• Open Enrollment & Implementation Support: Support annual enrollment planning, system testing, file validations, and post-enrollment reconciliation to ensure a seamless employee experience.
• Health & Welfare Administration: Oversee daily administration of medical, dental, vision, FSA/HSA, life/AD&D, voluntary benefits, and COBRA programs, ensuring timely, accurate processing of enrollments, changes, and terminations across all plans.
• Compliance & Regulatory Management: Ensure full adherence to ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, IRS, and state regulations through consistent auditing, documentation control, mandated notices, and coordination with third-party administrators.
• Reporting & Documentation: Maintain comprehensive documentation, dashboards, and performance metrics that demonstrate compliance readiness and organizational accountability.
• Employee Consultations: Conduct bi-monthly on-site meetings with employees to provide expert assistance and guidance on retirement benefit enrollment and processing.
• Invoice Management: Oversee the preparation, coding, and submission of weekly claim invoices and monthly administrative invoices for CMC and SCH, ensuring accuracy and compliance with financial procedures.
• Pension Mailings: Supervise and assist in the completion of term vested pension mailings, maintaining meticulous records and adherence to deadlines.
• Open Enrollment Coordination: Assist with the coordination of the Open Enrollment process, including planning, communication, and execution of enrollment activities.
• FMLA Package Preparation: Oversee the preparation of FMLA (Family and Medical Leave Act) packages, ensuring all documentation is accurate and compliant with legal requirements.
• FMLA-Related Payroll Support: Provide expert support for payroll changes and timekeeping related to FMLA, ensuring compliance with company policies and legal regulations.
• Email Management: Manage and respond to the Benefit and Retirement daily email inboxes, providing timely and accurate information to employees and resolving complex inquiries.
• HR Projects: Lead special HR projects, demonstrating initiative and expertise in handling various human resources-related tasks and ensuring successful project outcomes.
• Additional Duties: Perform all other duties as assigned, utilizing professional judgment and expertise to address emerging needs and challenges within the HR department.

Benefits

• competitive compensation
• comprehensive employee benefits programs
• the opportunity to explore and build a career in healthcare through our many professional development programs

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level