SERS Retirement Counselor Trainee (Bensalem)

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania • Bucks County, PA

12d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Pennsylvania State Employees' Retirement System (SERS) is seeking a responsible, detail-oriented individual to join its Bensalem Regional Counseling Center as a SERS Retirement Counselor Trainee. This position provides retirement counseling services for SERS members residing in the area of the assigned regional office. An employee in this job participates in a twelve-month, on-the-job training program designed to develop understanding and competence in preparing estimates and calculations and applying Retirement System laws. SERS is one of the nation's oldest retirement plans for public employees and manages the pension benefits of more than 246,000 employees and retirees for 96 public sector employers. Our mission is to prepare our members and participants to achieve financial security in retirement. We achieve this through focusing on our mission, acting ethically and with integrity, empowering our members, embracing innovation, fostering life work balance, modeling an inclusive and respectful workplace, valuing and developing team members, collaborating, and finding joy in our work. SERS is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all qualified individuals to our team. We are committed to an inclusive and respectful work environment that fosters personal and professional growth, embraces the contributions of all team members, and leverages diversity in people, ideas, and experiences to achieve our highest potential.

Requirements

• Four years of experience in a staff support position assisting with personnel administration, financial management or public relations work in a pension or retirement system or related occupational area; or A Bachelor's Degree in Communications, Human Resources, Business Administration, Business Management, Psychology, Labor Relations or a related area; or Any equivalent combination of experience and training which includes at least three years of experience in a staff support position assisting with personnel administration, financial management or public relations work in a pension or retirement system or related occupational area, supplemented by 18 credit hours in communications, human resources, business administration, psychology, labor relations or related course work.
• Certification as a Certified Employee Benefit Specialist such as issued by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans is acceptable for one year of the required experience.
• Certification as a Certified Financial Planner such as issued by the Central PA Society, Institute of Certified Financial Planners is acceptable for two years of the required experience.
• Applicants will be considered to have met the educational requirements once they are within 3 months of graduating with a qualifying degree.
• Meet the PA residency requirement.
• Be able to perform essential job functions.
• Pass a background investigation.

Responsibilities

• Provide guidance to members by explaining retirement benefits, options, and related forms
• Calculate retirement benefit estimates for members of the State Employees Retirement System
• Plan and conduct visits with members or agencies within the service region to deliver counseling services
• Help members complete disability, vesting, and other retirement forms and review them for accuracy
• Coordinate and deliver counseling programs including seminars, briefings, as well as question and answer sessions

Benefits

• Full-time employment
• Opportunity to work from home (telework) part-time (hybrid telework schedule), depending on operational needs and progress in learning assigned tasks.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level