Benefits Manager

Cousins Properties•Atlanta, GA

21h•Onsite

About The Position

About Cousins Properties: Headquartered in Atlanta, Cousins is a fully integrated, self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust (REIT). Cousins has a simple, compelling strategy: Premier urban Sun Belt office portfolio, Disciplined about capital allocation, Best-in-class balance sheet, with Strong local operating platforms. Acting through its operating partnership, Cousins Properties LP, primarily invests in Class A office buildings located in high-growth Sun Belt markets. Cousins Properties (NYSE: CUZ) develops, owns, and manages a 20+ million square foot trophy office portfolio in the high-growth Sun Belt markets of Atlanta, Austin, Charlotte, Dallas, Nashville, Tampa, and Phoenix. Founded in 1958, Cousins creates shareholder value through its extensive expertise in the development, acquisition, leasing, and management of high-quality real estate assets. The Company has a comprehensive strategy in place based on a simple platform, trophy assets, and opportunistic investments. For more information, please visit www.cousins.com . Job Summary : The Benefits Manger is an individual contributor role with significant program and process administration responsibilities. This role also works closely with Payroll, which falls under Accounting, to manage the HR system and ensure ongoing data integrity. Other HR related tasks assigned by the VP of HR. This individual must have prior experience with Human Resource Information Systems (“HRIS”), benefits reporting and compliance. While functions and processes are “owned” by individuals, we operate as a symbiotic HR team with an “all hands-on deck” mentality and a strong customer service approach. This position is on-site in our Corporate office in Atlanta (Buckhead area). This is not a remote or hybrid position.

Requirements

BS/BA degree in Business Administration or related discipline or equivalent combination of education and experience to successfully perform the functions of the job.
Minimum of 5 years of recent experience in benefits administration and leave management required.
Prior EDI administration or benefits-related EDI roles required.
Prior extensive experience with HRIS/reporting/compliance required.
Data confidentiality (PII & HIPAA data) / discretion (medical issues).
Ability to manage several complex projects simultaneously while working under pressure to meet deadlines.
Strong working knowledge of MS Office (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint in particular) required.
Must have strong attention to detail, organization and project coordination skills and the ability to multi-task priorities.
Must be able to handle confidential and sensitive information in a discreet manner.
Must possess strong interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively in a team environment and communicate effectively with all levels of employees, customers and vendors of Cousins.
Strong customer service orientation.
Responsiveness – Need to perform responsibilities with an acute sense of urgency to meet the needs of others or deadlines; respond to solve problems; willing to accept a variety of tasks associated with this position.
Integrity - Demonstrate sound business ethics; consistently comply with organizational values; protect confidential information.
Communication - Able to clearly express ideas; present verbal information in a straightforward manner; ask questions in order to open channels of communication; listen to understand perspective of others.
Ability to sit at a desk and work on a computer for prolonged periods.
Ability to travel to other Cousins’ markets occasionally.

Nice To Haves

Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS), SHRM-CP/SCP, S/PHR or other benefits-related certifications preferred.

Responsibilities

Manage benefits administration providers (e.g., carriers/vendors and brokers) to ensure employee health and welfare benefit programs are administered in accordance with the plan documents and applicable regulations.
Work with/manage relationship with benefits broker (USI)
Responsible for integrating new hires into our benefit plans, as required.
Research participant inquires/data issues and provide timely responses and resolutions to business units, employees, third-party vendors and record keeper.
Analyze data and various plan rules to determine appropriate resolution to non-routine situations.
Provide oversight for various audit requests to ensure appropriate follow-up and resolution by deadlines. Audits include employee benefit plan audits, DOL or other governmental audits.
Track Non-Tobacco & Spousal Surcharge Affidavits.
Year-end processing with all vendors
Lead open enrollment efforts and employee meetings
Configuration between Paycom and benefit vendors
Work closely with Accounting on reconciling and processing monthly vendor invoices.
Participate in benefit renewal processes.
Work closely with other HR members on leave management (FMLA, STD, and Bonding Leave).
Respond to employee benefit inquiries
Manage day-to-day operations of EDI feeds to carriers and brokers.
Act as escalation point for mapping/transmission errors and complex data feed issues.
Manage EDI-related initiatives: new carriers/client onboarding, open enrollments, or benefits system changes.
Coordinate feed configurations and testing for integration and plan-year transitions.
5500s
ACA 1095C Reporting
HSA program management/tracking
Comp Benefit Survey (NAREIT/NAIOP)
FSA/HSA Non-Discrimination Testing
Monthly reconciliation & auditing of all carrier invoices
Monthly reporting of census, benefit census, aging out dependents via Paycom
Summary Plan Descriptions (SPDs)
Manage GoPivot (Cousins’ wellness platform): Monthly meetings & reporting with GoPivot
Employee inquiries/issues
Wellness calendar/quarterly challenges/communications/email campaigns.
HSA program management/tracking incentives (partner with Payroll).
Coordinate EAP webinars.
Tracking UHC Wellness Fund reimbursements.
Responsible for conducting the new hire orientation (rotating with another HR team member).
New hire benefit enrollment.
Work with IT on employee security provisioning.
New hire welcome kits – tracking stock and reorder.
Insurance portability during offboarding.
Ensure COBRA document is distributed by Flores.
Develop and maintain SOPs, carrier file spec documentation, and audit controls.
Respond to internal and external HR related inquiries or requests as assigned.
Participate on company-wide committees, employee relations events, and/or initiatives as directed by the VP of HR.
Identify opportunities to improve workflow and/or enhance HR service delivery.
Maintain awareness of federal, state, and local laws and regulations in order to ensure the compliance with reporting requirements and changes in employment regulations.
Provide a high level of customer service and analytical skills to assess effectiveness and feasibility.
Perform other related duties as assigned.