Sr Benefit Analyst

Principal Financial Group • Des Moines, IA

2d

About The Position

The Sr. Benefits Analyst joins Principal’s HR Payroll and Shared Services team and supports the administration, design, compliance, and continuous improvement of employee benefit programs. Programs include health, life, disability, retirement, wellness, paid time off, employee stock purchase programs, and other employee amenities.

The role supports annual enrollment, user acceptance testing, administrative changes, and complex employee, agent, and retiree benefit situations. It serves as a subject matter expert for HR and business partners, monitors benefit programs and procedures for legal and regulatory compliance, and identifies opportunities to improve processes, documentation, accuracy, and operational efficiency.

The analyst partners with benefit vendors to resolve operational issues, coordinate implementations and administrative changes, and ensure accurate plan administration. The role also processes billings and invoices, supports reconciliation projects, and analyzes benefit data and reports covering claims, contributions, company subsidies, demographics, and stock usage.

The position offers in-office, hybrid, or remote arrangements. Remote work is available only to employees residing more than 30 miles from Des Moines, Iowa; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Raleigh, North Carolina. The work arrangement is determined with the employee’s leader.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• At least 3 years of related human resources or employee benefits experience.
• Strong working knowledge of employee benefits, including health, life, disability, retirement, wellness, paid time off, employee stock purchase programs, annual enrollment, eligibility, contributions, subsidies, and/or benefit operations.
• Ability to interpret benefit plan provisions and policies and apply them to complex or unusual employee and retiree situations.
• Strong analytical and advanced spreadsheet skills.
• Ability to manage complex assignments, maintain a high degree of accuracy and confidentiality, and meet tight deadlines.
• Strong communication, relationship-building, and customer service skills.
• Ability to partner effectively across HR, Finance, business units, corporate functions, vendors, employees, retirees, and leaders.

Nice To Haves

• Degree in business management, finance, human resources, or a related field.
• Benefits technology, advanced Microsoft Excel, or benefit vendor management experience.
• Project management, implementation, or process improvement experience.

Responsibilities

• Support the administration, design, compliance, and continuous improvement of employee benefit programs.
• Support annual enrollment, user acceptance testing, administrative changes, and complex employee, agent, and retiree benefit situations.
• Serve as a subject matter expert for HR and business partners.
• Monitor benefit programs and administrative procedures for legal and regulatory compliance.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes, documentation, accuracy, and operational efficiency.
• Partner with benefit vendors to resolve operational issues, coordinate implementations and administrative changes, and ensure accurate plan administration.
• Process billings and invoices and support reconciliation projects.
• Analyze benefit data and reports related to claims, contributions, company subsidies, demographics, and stock usage.

Benefits

• Flexible Time Off (FTO) for salaried (exempt) employees; employees do not accrue a bank of time and no set number of days is provided.
• Opportunity to participate in a bonus program for non-sales positions.
• Pension eligibility.

What This Job Offers

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