Compensation & Benefits Analyst

LWCC People Operations•Baton Rouge, LA

About The Position

The Compensation & Benefits Analyst administers day-to-day compensation, health and welfare, retirement, leave, employee onboarding, and related employee programs at LWCC. The role serves as a knowledgeable resource for employees and leaders, maintains accurate plan and HRIS data, coordinates compliance and vendor activities, and performs compensation and benefits analysis. The analyst uses independent judgment to evaluate information, resolve routine and moderately complex issues, and recommend actions related to compensation and benefits administration. The position administers benefit and retirement plans, coordinates employee leave and disability processes, supports compensation analysis and pay programs, maintains HRIS, payroll, and vendor data, and prepares employee communications and reports. It coordinates with Payroll, Finance, Legal, vendors, consultants, and People Operations colleagues; supports audits and special projects; and recommends practical process improvements. The role develops recommendations for leadership review and escalates significant legal, fiduciary, financial, employee-relations, or policy risks to the appropriate decision-maker. LWCC is a private mutual workers’ compensation company focused on supporting Louisiana businesses and workers. The company offers health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, a 401(k) savings plan, educational assistance, and an on-site fitness center.

Requirements

Minimum three years of related human resources experience, including experience supporting compensation and benefits administration.
Working knowledge of employee benefit, retirement, leave, payroll, and compensation administration.
Working knowledge of applicable employment and benefit requirements, with the ability to research issues, interpret established guidance, evaluate alternatives, and recognize when escalation is required.
Strong numerical, analytical, reconciliation, and problem-solving skills.
Effective written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain technical information clearly.
Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook and ability to learn HRIS, payroll, and vendor systems.
Demonstrated integrity, sound judgment, discretion, and alignment with company values.
High accuracy, organization, follow-through, and confidentiality.
Ability to balance recurring deadlines and changing priorities, exercise sound judgment, and provide dependable service with limited day-to-day direction.
Collaborative approach, accountability, curiosity, and willingness to learn; ability to evaluate available information, recommend a course of action, and distinguish issues that can be resolved independently from those requiring escalation.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree in human resources, business, accounting, finance, or a related field; equivalent relevant education and experience may be considered.
Experience working with HRIS, payroll, benefits, or retirement plan systems.
Professional certification or progress toward a human resources, compensation, or benefits certification.

Responsibilities

Conduct benefits orientation and assist employees with enrollment in eligible benefit and retirement programs.
Process and verify benefit enrollments, status changes, terminations, beneficiary changes, and payroll deductions across HRIS, payroll, and vendor systems.
Interpret established benefit plan provisions and policies, research and resolve administration issues, and identify matters requiring escalation.
Coordinate open enrollment, including system preparation, communications, enrollment support, data analysis, issue resolution, and follow-up.
Administer COBRA notices, elections, payment tracking, and vendor coordination.
Coordinate employee leave and disability processes, including FMLA, short- and long-term disability, workers compensation, and other approved leaves.
Reconcile benefit carrier invoices and employee deductions, investigate discrepancies, and determine or recommend corrections.
Coordinate benefit communications, notices, recordkeeping, and reporting, including support for ACA reporting and Form 5500 preparation.
Monitor benefit administration for compliance with ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, ACA, and plan requirements; identify concerns and recommend corrective action or escalation.
Administer operational activities for the 401(k) savings plan and executive deferred compensation plan, including enrollments, contributions, distributions, loans, beneficiary data, and reporting.
Reconcile retirement plan contributions and participant data and coordinate resolution of discrepancies with Payroll, recordkeepers, and vendors.
Coordinate retirement participant communications, required notices, audit requests, nondiscrimination testing data, annual filing support, and Retirement Committee materials.
Act as an operational liaison with retirement plan vendors, research administration questions, recommend action under established plan provisions, and refer fiduciary, legal, or material interpretation issues to appropriate resources.
Process approved salary, incentive, and job changes and partner with Payroll to support accurate and timely payment.
Participate in compensation surveys, analyze results, and maintain market pricing, job documentation, salary structure, and related compensation data.
Conduct compensation research and analysis, evaluate jobs using established methodology, review pay actions against guidelines, and develop salary and grade recommendations for leadership review and approval.
Prepare reports, spreadsheets, and communications related to pay programs; analyze internal and external pay data; and advise employees and leaders on established compensation practices.
Monitor wage-and-hour and compensation developments, evaluate potential operational impact, and recommend follow-up actions to People Operations leadership.
Maintain accurate compensation, benefit, retirement, and leave data in HRIS and related systems and monitor data flow to payroll and vendor platforms.
Perform audits and reconciliations, investigate data or deduction issues, and determine or recommend corrections within established guidelines.
Create recurring and ad hoc reports and analyze information for invoice payment, compliance, workforce analysis, audits, and program administration.
Evaluate, test, and support HRIS, payroll, and vendor system updates affecting compensation and benefits; document results and recommend corrective action when needed.
Prepare clear written and verbal communications about benefits, retirement, compensation, payroll procedures, open enrollment, plan changes, and employee programs.
Provide responsive, confidential, employee-focused service and explain established policies and processes clearly.
Maintain benefit and compensation content on internal employee resources and assist with education sessions, webinars, and related events.
Maintain organized records and documentation according to retention and confidentiality requirements.
Coordinate with Payroll, Finance, Legal, vendors, consultants, and People Operations colleagues to complete work and resolve issues.
Coordinate employee onboarding to ensure new employees are set up and receive necessary benefits and employment information.
Support audits, special projects, employee recognition activities, and other People Operations responsibilities as assigned.
Evaluate compensation and benefits processes and recommend practical changes to improve compliance, accuracy, employee service, or efficiency.
Independently evaluate information, apply established policies and plan provisions, recommend solutions within assigned authority, and escalate significant risks to appropriate decision-makers.