Department of Administrative Services

In the Office of the State Comptroller, Retirement Services Division and Healthcare Policy and Benefit Services Division this class is accountable for acting as a working lead and/or performing the most complex tasks in the administration of various retirement and benefit plans and programs.

This is the advanced working level/working lead level and is distinguished from the working level by principal responsibility for performing a combination of the following:

1. Incumbents in this class report to a supervisory class and normally are assigned full time working lead responsibility for a minimum of two other professional employees while performing unit work activities.
2. Incumbents in this class review, audit and have final sign-off authority for the work of Retirement and Benefits Officers.
3. Incumbents in this class independently perform the most complex duties and serve as a functional area expert in the administration of various retirement and benefit plans and programs requiring research, regulatory interpretation, compliance determination and/or detailed analysis of statewide retirement or benefit program areas.

Work clearly exceeds the norm and includes a concentration of highly advanced functions. Class use is on a limited or exceptional basis.

Works under the limited supervision of a Retirement and Benefit Systems Coordinator or other employee of higher grade.

Distributes, prioritizes, oversees and reviews work of staff; provides staff training and assistance; conducts or assists in conducting performance evaluations; recommends policies and standards; performs the most complex duties and reviews in examination of employee and employer records and calculation of benefits; assists in development of retirement and benefit procedures, and document references; assists in development, definition, analysis and documentation of requirements and procedures for automated solutions to administrative needs; researches and assesses impact of proposed or enacted legislation, collective bargaining agreements and court documents pertaining to various retirement and benefit plans and programs; acts as a liaison with other operating units, governmental entities and outside officials regarding unit policies and procedures; prepares and analyzes complex financial statements and oversees maintenance of accounting and data base records; prepares retirement and benefit bulletins, statistical reports and other publications; may testify or represent office at court, legislative or collective bargaining proceedings; performs related duties as required.

Considerable knowledge of retirement and/or pension fund principles and practices with special reference to retirement and benefits administration; knowledge of personnel and payroll practices and procedures; knowledge of examining and researching principles and practices; considerable oral and written communication skills; interpersonal skills; considerable ability to prepare, analyze and evaluate employee benefit statements, other employee records and reports, and benefit claims and cost data; considerable ability to interpret and apply statutes, contracts and regulations; ability to utilize computer software; some supervisory ability.

One (1) year of the General Experience must have been at professional working level in the fields of accounts examining, human resources, payroll or related administrative functions.

Note: For State Employees this is interpreted at the level of Retirement and Benefits Officer, Accounts Examiner, Accountant, Payroll Officer 2, Retirement Research Counselor, Retirement Counselor, Payroll System Supervisor or Fiscal/Administrative Officer.

1. College training may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one-half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor’s degree.
   
2. A Master’s degree in business administration, accounting or a closely related field may be substituted for one (1) year of the General Experience.

This replaces the existing specification for the class of Associate Retirement and Benefits Officer in Salary Group AR 25 approved effective February 15, 2012. (Revised to implement P-5 Stipulated Agreement)