Compensation & Benefits Analyst

Louisiana Workers Compensation•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. It uses independent judgment to evaluate information, resolve routine and moderately complex issues, and recommend actions related to compensation and benefits administration. The analyst supports benefits and retirement plan administration, compensation processes, HRIS and payroll data integrity, employee communications, onboarding, audits, and special projects. The position applies established policies and plan provisions within assigned authority and develops analyses and recommendations for leadership review. It does not hold final authority for plan design, salary structure or policy approval, fiduciary decisions, or material exceptions. Significant legal, fiduciary, financial, employee-relations, or policy risks are escalated to the appropriate decision-maker.

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, including 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, organization, accuracy, follow-through, and confidentiality.
Ability to balance recurring deadlines and changing priorities, provide dependable service with limited day-to-day direction, 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 for new employees and assist employees with enrollment in eligible benefit and retirement programs.
Process and verify benefit enrollments, status changes, terminations, beneficiary changes, and payroll deductions in HRIS, payroll, and vendor systems.
Interpret established plan provisions and policies to answer questions about eligibility, coverage, and claims; research and resolve administrative issues and escalate matters as appropriate.
Coordinate open enrollment, including system preparation, employee communications, enrollment support, data analysis, issue resolution, and follow-up; recommend process improvements.
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; review documentation and track dates and pay status.
Reconcile benefit carrier invoices and employee deductions, investigate discrepancies, evaluate impact, and determine or recommend corrections.
Coordinate benefit communications, notices, recordkeeping, and reporting, including data collection and review supporting ACA reporting and Form 5500 preparation.
Monitor recurring 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 information, data management, and reporting.
Reconcile retirement contributions and participant data and coordinate discrepancy resolution with Payroll, recordkeepers, and other vendors.
Coordinate retirement participant communications, required notices, audit requests, nondiscrimination testing data, annual filing support, and Retirement Committee materials.
Liaise operationally with retirement plan vendors, research administration questions, recommend actions under established plan provisions, and refer fiduciary, legal, or material interpretation matters appropriately.
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 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 pay-program reports, spreadsheets, and communications; 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 implementation of HRIS, payroll, and vendor system updates affecting compensation and benefits; document results and recommend corrective action.
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 in accordance with retention and confidentiality requirements.
Coordinate with Payroll, Finance, Legal, vendors, consultants, and People Operations colleagues to complete work and resolve issues.
Coordinate onboarding so new employees are appropriately set up and provided with 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 that improve compliance, accuracy, employee service, or efficiency.