Benefits Analyst

Ascend Partner Services

About The Position

Jackson Thornton, a partner firm within the Ascend ecosystem, is seeking a Benefits Analyst to own the day-to-day administration and strategic oversight of the firm's self-funded health and wellness plans, all employee leave programs, and COBRA administration. This individual will serve as the primary point of contact between Jackson Thornton, its third-party administrator (TPA), stop-loss carrier, and benefits vendors — ensuring seamless plan operations, regulatory compliance, and a positive member experience across the firm's growing employee base. A critical part of this role is leading benefits integration efforts as new Partner Firms join the Ascend platform. This person will manage the full transition of incoming employees onto Jackson Thornton's plans, partnering closely with the broker, carriers, and People Operations team to ensure every new employee lands with no gaps in coverage and a clear, welcoming benefits experience. This is a high-ownership, high-visibility role for a detail-oriented benefits professional who thrives in a fast-paced, multi-entity environment and takes genuine pride in serving employees well. The Benefits Analyst will report to the Head of People and be positioned as Jackson Thornton's internal Benefits Administration function.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field
5+ years of progressive benefits administration experience, including hands-on management of self-funded health plans
Demonstrated experience with COBRA, FMLA, ADA accommodations, and multi-state leave compliance
Familiarity with benefits administration platforms and HRIS systems
Deep familiarity with Blue Cross Blue Shield plans, including plan structures, network configurations, and carrier-specific processes for enrollment, claims, and escalations.
Deep technical knowledge of self-funded health plan administration, stop-loss arrangements, and the regulatory landscape (ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, PCORI)
Exceptional attention to detail and organizational skills — able to manage multiple workstreams, deadlines, and vendors simultaneously without letting things fall through the cracks
Strong employee-facing communication skills: warm, clear, and confidence-inspiring when helping employees navigate benefits questions, especially during enrollment or life events
Analytical mindset — comfortable working with cost reports, utilization data, and plan financials to identify trends and inform decision-making
Proactive compliance orientation: stays current on regulatory changes and proactively updates processes and documentation before issues arise
Collaborative and adaptable in a fast-growing, multi-entity environment where the playbook continues to evolve
Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite (particularly Excel); experience with benefits administration software and HRIS platforms required

Nice To Haves

Prior experience managing benefits integrations in an M&A or multi-entity environment strongly preferred
Experience with government filings (Form 5500, ACA reporting) a strong plus

Responsibilities

Manage open enrollment, new hire enrollments, qualifying life events, and dependent verification; maintain accurate eligibility records
Monitor claims processing with the TPA; review claims reports, escalate issues, and ensure timely resolution of member inquiries
Serve as primary liaison with the TPA, stop-loss carrier, pharmacy benefit manager, and wellness vendors; manage contracts and SLAs
Develop and distribute benefits communications including plan summaries, open enrollment materials, and policy updates; serve as the go-to resource for all employee benefits questions
Partner with the broker to conduct annual plan design reviews, benchmarking, and cost modeling for self-funded arrangements
Administer COBRA qualifying events, generate and distribute election notices, track election periods and premium payments, coordinate with the TPA for continuation coverage, and ensure timely compliance with all COBRA notification requirements
Manage the performance of benefits administration software, ensuring a smooth and accurate enrollment experience for employees and administrators
Generate and maintain enrollment and cost reports for Jackson Thornton functional teams and the broker
Process FMLA requests, track entitlements, manage certifications, and coordinate with payroll for unpaid leave periods
Coordinate the interactive process for ADA accommodation requests; document outcomes and ensure compliance
Monitor and ensure compliance with applicable state and local leave mandates, including paid family leave and sick leave laws
Maintain accurate leave balances, generate utilization reports, and flag potential concerns for leadership review
Track plan expenditures against the annual budget; flag variances and recommend corrective actions
Coordinate with the stop-loss carrier on specific and aggregate claims; manage the reimbursement process
Review and approve TPA, pharmacy, and vendor invoices; resolve billing discrepancies
Prepare cost trend analyses, per-member-per-month reports, and renewal projections for leadership review
Ensure plan compliance with ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, PCORI, and other applicable federal and state regulations
Prepare and submit required government filings including Form 5500, SAR, ACA reporting (1094-C / 1095-C), and RXDC reporting; coordinate all required participant distributions
Review updated plan documents and SPDs from carriers; ensure all materials are current and accessible to plan participants; update internal SOPs to reflect regulatory and plan changes
Maintain organized records and documentation to support internal and external audits
Lead the benefits integration process when new Partner Firms join Ascend; partner with the broker to assess existing plans, map transition timelines, and coordinate enrollment into Jackson Thornton's benefits programs
Work with incoming firms' prior carriers and TPAs to obtain census data, verify eligibility, and ensure seamless enrollment of all new members with no gaps in coverage
Evaluate incoming firms' plan designs against Jackson Thornton's offerings; identify differences, develop transition communications, and manage employee expectations during changeover
Coordinate with the TPA, stop-loss carrier, and all carriers to add new groups, update contracts, and ensure system readiness for incoming populations
Develop and deliver tailored onboarding materials, host benefits orientation sessions for incoming employees, and serve as the primary point of contact throughout the transition period