Benefits Counselor I

Colorado Public Employees' Retirement Association•Westminster, CO

1d•$29 - $34•Hybrid

About The Position

PERA’s Member Services Division provides the administration and related member services of PERA’s defined benefit program. The Benefits Counselor prepares and presents information regarding the PERA defined benefit retirement plan, PERA’s healthcare plans, and other PERA information to members in virtual, phone, or in-person individual counseling sessions. This position is also responsible for verifying, calculating, and auditing member account information for processing benefits according to legal and regulatory compliance standards. This position will be stationed at our Westminster location with part of the onboarding training being at our Denver office.

Requirements

A combination of education and experience equivalent to 2 years of benefit administration; a bachelor's degree is preferred
Exceptional verbal and written communication skills
Ability to learn, interpret, and clearly communicate state statutes, rules, and procedures in a manner easily understood by persons not familiar with the subject
High level of professionalism and ability to handle sensitive information confidentially
Detail-oriented with an aptitude for math
Ability to prioritize, organize, and work with minimal supervision
Demonstrated ability to establish rapport and build trust quickly in initial interactions
Capable of working successfully both independently and within a team-focused environment
Knowledge of databases, personal computer applications, and related business software
Ability to travel as necessary within the Denver Metro area
Professional business demeanor

Nice To Haves

Ability to learn, navigate, and adhere to extensive, complex, and evolving procedures governing all benefit services processes, ensuring accuracy and compliance while meeting or exceeding established efficiency standards.
Highly detail-oriented, ensuring accuracy in all aspects of work while maintaining efficiency, and uses sound judgement in decision making.
Able to prepare comprehensive reports and present account information in a clear, organized, and meaningful manner to support informed decision making for PERA members.
Demonstrates a strong presence, quickly establishing rapport and trust while maintaining a consistently professional, positive, and engaged demeanor while representing the organization.

Responsibilities

Conveys member specific and general PERA information in a professional, clear, concise, and compelling manner to members of diverse social, economic, and educational backgrounds
Motivates members to actively plan for retirement while ensuring they understand and utilize the resources available via PERA’s public facing website and member portal to help establish and achieve their financial goals
Works individually and in partnership with others to develop, arrange, deliver, and promote general and specialized retirement education materials for members and benefit recipients.
Utilizes adult learning theories and behavioral finance principles, to deliver impactful and effective counseling sessions
Serve as a primary resource for complex inquiries and issues related to: PERA benefits, retirement plans, insurance programs, retirement readiness, and financial security.
Determines benefit program eligibility through member data-driven decision making and ensures compliance with state and federal regulatory frameworks governing PERA
Explains complex PERA specific calculations, such as the Highest Average Salary (HAS), service credit purchase break even/recovery cost, and service credit available in a clear and concise manner
Proactively investigates and resolves member account related issues while adhering to federal and/or state statute, PERA Rules, internal procedures, and escalating as needed
Responsible for accurate data entry, information retrieval, and outgoing correspondence
Consistently achieves or exceeds defined performance benchmarks, and division-level service metrics as set forth by management
Operates with a strong sense of ownership, urgency and accountability to meet assigned deadlines and member expectations
Demonstrates dependability by maintaining regular and prompt attendance in the workplace and at meeting locations
Embraces a growth mindset by taking on projects, cross-functional initiatives, and other duties as assigned to support organizational objectives
Engages in continuous training and educational opportunities for ongoing professional development and enhanced personal skills
Supports management decisions and change efforts among teammates, other divisions, members, employers, and other stakeholders
Performs other duties as assigned