Benefits Professional

Cotality•Irvine, CA

17h•Hybrid

About The Position

Cotality is seeking a collaborative, analytical, and people-centric Benefits Professional to support the day-to-day administration and strategic evolution of employee benefits. The role helps ensure benefits offerings—including health coverage, retirement plans, wellness initiatives, and work-life balance programs—remain competitive, compliant, and valued by employees. This is a hybrid role requiring two days per week in the Irvine office. The Benefits Professional administers core benefit plans, supports employees and managers with benefits questions and enrollment or claims issues, and leads operational preparation for annual Open Enrollment. The role analyzes benefits utilization, claims, and demographic data; works with People Analytics and Finance on reports and recommendations; and participates in market benchmarking. It also partners with benefits vendors and internal teams, supports benefits compliance and audits, maintains employee-facing documentation, and contributes to communication and education programs.

Requirements

At least 2 years of hands-on experience in benefits administration, HR operations, or total rewards.
Foundational understanding of group health plans, retirement vehicles such as 401(k) plans, leave policies, and regulations including ERISA, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, and FMLA.
Experience using HRIS systems, benefits administration platforms, and Excel, including VLOOKUPs and pivot tables, to interpret plan utilization and census data.
Exceptional interpersonal and written communication skills, including the ability to explain complex benefits information clearly and empathetically.
Confidentiality, organizational agility, and meticulous attention to detail when handling sensitive employee health and financial information.
Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

Nice To Haves

CEBS, PHR, or SHRM-CP certification.

Responsibilities

Administer and maintain medical, dental, vision, life insurance, 401(k)/retirement, disability, and paid time off plans.
Respond to employee and manager benefits inquiries, troubleshoot claims or enrollment issues, and escalate complex cases as appropriate.
Prepare, configure, test, and audit annual Open Enrollment activities.
Analyze benefits utilization, claims, and demographic data to identify trends, cost drivers, and participation patterns.
Partner with People Analytics and Finance to produce reports and recommendations for plan designs and wellness initiatives.
Participate in market benchmarking and competitive surveys.
Maintain relationships with third-party administrators, insurance carriers, brokers, and consultants, and help resolve operational issues.
Coordinate with Payroll, HR Operations, Finance, and Legal on deductions, premium reconciliations, and reporting accuracy.
Monitor compliance with federal, state, and local benefits regulations, including ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, FMLA, and Section 125.
Support required filings and audits, including Form 5500 preparation, non-discrimination testing, and participant disclosures.
Develop and maintain benefits documentation, including Summary Plan Descriptions, enrollment guides, policy documents, and intranet resources.
Support employee communication campaigns and organize webinars, wellness fairs, and educational sessions.

Benefits

Generous paid time off and 11 paid holidays.
Well-being and volunteer time off.
Up to 16 weeks of fully paid parental leave and a baby stipend.
Multiple medical plan options with mental health and wellness support offerings.
401(k) with company match and vesting after one year.
$400 annual well-being stipend.
Tuition assistance up to $5,250.
Recognition rewards, referral bonuses, and exclusive discounts.
Flexible working model.
Competitive time off and health coverage.