Project Manager Quality Assurance
Resume:
Gregory Gounaris
Terrace
New Windsor, NY 12553
**********@*****.***
PROFILE
Management professional with ERISA Compliance / Operations / Administration experience, offering a diverse
background in Retirement Services distinguished by increasing responsibility.
Extensive background in Retirement Services management. Experience in all facets of business including
Third Party Administration, Daily Recordkeeping, Pension Consulting, Plan Sponsor (corporate in house
pension management) and Actuarial Analysis.
Responsible for the design, maintenance and compliance of defined contribution, deferred compensation/
nonqualified plans. Plan Sponsor and Actuarial Analyst experience maintaining defined benefit plans.
Experience managing and administering retirement programs for Fortune 500 employers. Managed
retirement programs in Human Resources department for a multi-national Fortune 1000 employer.
Advise Plan Sponsors on ancillary matters such as mergers and acquisitions, plan terminations, plan
correction resolutions, plan design opportunities and the minimization of fiduciary liability.
Dedicated to adding value by determining the most efficient plan, service or product for a Plan Sponsor’s
needs, goals, entity structure and cost concerns.
Comprehensive experience in process reengineering, long and short term planning, staffing and
departmental logistics. Formulate methods for achieving short and long term goals.
Experience creating, developing and implementing strategies to reduce costs within the organization while
maintaining or exceeding service level standards.
In-depth knowledge of ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code. Including IRC 409A, Section 404(c) of
ERISA and related Fiduciary responsibilities and duties.
EXPERIENCE
DR Pension Services, Albany New York
Dec. 2001-Present
Director of Retirement Services
Manage the administration, planning, and direction of all retirement services operations. Oversee three Pension Administrators
and a Distribution Administrator. Responsible for servicing of clients needs including plan design, compliance, Form 5500 filing
and reporting, plan sponsor inquiries and disclosure, valuation processing and consulting. Serve as ERISA compliance officer
responsible for all benefits compliance including plan document / SPD preparation and maintenance.
• Dedicated to managing and minimizing fiduciary liability through proper plan design, proactive compliance
monitoring and continued innovation. Keep fiduciaries up to date and aware of current legislation / regulations.
• Identify ways for plan sponsors to improve participation rates and operate their plans more efficiently. Provide
ideas for plan sponsors to minimize nondiscrimination / compliance issues.
• Design, draft and amend plan documents for 401(k), profit sharing, money purchase pension, 403(b), 457 and
nonqualified / deferred compensation plans including 401(k) wraparound top hat plans.
• Manage relationships and answer inquiries for HR representatives, participants, auditors and CPAs.
• Knowledgeable in retirement plan portfolio management, adherence to Investment Policy Statements / 404(c)
• Expertise in coverage and nondiscrimination solutions, corrections and design optimization.
• As Total Project Manager analyzed unstructured administrative processes and introduced new protocol,
procedures and quality assurance. Instrumental in designing procedures and processes for SAS70.
• Implemented programs, which have reduced processing error rates drastically.
• Decreased processing times for valuations, distributions, enrollments and filing from weeks to days.
• Transitioned department from manual, highly interactive processes and procedures to automated, self-operating
functions.
• Responsible for maintaining the quality assurance of the department and using management control reporting.
Gregory Gounaris
EXPERIENCE page 2
The Wackenhut Corporation, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
Jan. 1998 - Dec. 2001
Manager, Retirement Services
Managed and coordinated the daily administration of ten 401(k) plans, two defined benefit, a Money Purchase Pension
Plan, a Multi-employer defined benefit plan and two nonqualified deferred compensation plans for the company’s
subsidiaries and sites throughout the United States for a multi-national employer with 50,000 employees and over $300
million in retirement plan assets. Company contracted a large part of business from governmental agencies.
Responsibilities included the following:
• Managed one administrator and oversaw approximately 100 Field Human Resource personnel regarding
Retirement Plan administration. Set standards and procedures for personnel and operations. Managed and
maintained relationships with business units throughout country.
• Acted as liaison between actuaries, record keeper, consultants, auditors,
payroll, treasury, legal counsel, Information Technologies and Labor Relations.
• Accommodated significant increase in processing and responsibility without the need for additional support
staff.
• Played an active role in consolidating retirement plans and streamlining administration.
• Participated and provided data for Retirement Committee meetings. Including the review of our adherence to
the Investment Policy Statement, 404(c) compliance and keeping the Committee aware of fiduciary issues.
• Monitored investment performance, plan design efficiency and plan utilization for Retirement Investment
Committee. Suggested and implemented changes as necessity arose.
• Reviewed and approved hardship withdrawals, distributions, QDROs, loans and enrollments.
• Insured plans maintained compliance with ERISA, DOL and Internal
Revenue Service Regulations.
• Organized, designed and presented 401(k) Plan seminars to educate and
inform employees.
• Troubleshot problems, addressed and researched questions for plan
participants, Human Resource personnel and Executive management. Participated in Union negotiations with
regards to benefits.
• Evaluated and directed auditors, consultants, record keepers and trustees to
optimize the company’s Pension Plan costs and services. Approved and negotiated billing for each service
providing entity.
• Assisted in the Request for Proposal process, preparation and provided
decision input.
• Maintained plan documents, participant disclosures and worked with /
assisted auditors.
• Devised and recommended cost saving / efficiency measures to Executive
management.
• Worked on health & welfare projects as the need occurred.
• Took on all responsibilities and acted as representative of Director during
absences.
Dreyfus Retirement Services (Mellon HR Solutions), Uniondale, New York March
1993 - Jan.1998
Senior Plan Manager
Supervised three Pension Administrators and five Contribution Administrators. Responsibilities included:
• Oversaw the administration and recordkeeping for large Daily valuation
401(k) Plans.
• Coordinated the daily workflow and responsibilities for team members.
• Interviewed, developed and trained Pension Administrators on Omniplan
system.
• Prepared annual performance reviews, set goals and standards for
Administrators.
• Developed procedural manual with committee to streamline administrative
processing.
• Maintained client relationships through consultation and presentations.
• Worked closely with Implementation department to facilitate the conversion
of plans.
• Consulted with clients to streamline 401(k) processing through technological
improvements.
• Reviewed Compliance testing and acted as mediator for crisis situations.
Gregory Gounaris
EXPERIENCE page 3
The Wyatt Company (Wyatt Watson Worldwide), New York, New York March 1990 - March
1993
Pension Administrator
Administered the 401(k) plans for two Fortune 500 companies. Responsibilities included:
• Prepared monthly valuations for plans with up to 10,000 participants.
Valuations included recordkeeping for plans with ten investment elections, five money types and multiple loans.
• Reconciled and accounted for all investments and fund assets ($270 million).
• Showed proficiency in stock accounting including re-capitalization, tender offers dividend allocation and
debenture processing.
• Computed all facets of ADP/ACP testing for clients.
Hallman & Lorber Associates (Harcourt, Brace & Jovanovich), Valley Stream, New York
1987-1990
Account Executive
Consultant for 190 professional pension plans. Responsibilities included:
• Consultation and administration of defined benefit, profit sharing, money purchase and 401(k) plans.
• Installation and submission of plan documents, preparation of 5500 series tax forms, completion of actuarial
valuations and reports, calculation of benefits, analysis of plan terminations and general consulting.
• Designed and recommended various defined contribution / hybrid plans.
• Performed calculations of actuarial funding methods for Actuary’s review.
• Accountable for controlling and maintaining Florida based pension department from New York.
• Acted as intermediary for field agents, clients and insurance companies in the involvement of the establishment,
organization and maintenance of pension plans.
Improved Funding Techniques, Inc., Lynbrook, New York
1982-1987
Assistant Actuarial Analyst (Work-Study)
Actuarial intern during work-study program.
EDUCATION
Masters of Business Administration, Florida Atlantic University, 2000
Bachelor of Business Administration, The College of Insurance, Life and Health Insurance, 1987
Certified Employee Benefits Specialist / Qualified 401(k)
Administrator (QKA)
Certificate in Employee Benefits Law, Institute for Applied Management
& Law, Inc.
Continuing Education
Studying for Enrolled Retirement Plan Agent designation.
Volunteer
ASPPA Membership Committee
Software and Operating Systems
Proficient all aspects of Microsoft Office.
Knowledge and use of Infinium and ABRA software (HRIS),Relius Administration, Relius Documents,
Relius Government Forms, SunGard Omniplan Daily Recordkeeping and have learned / used proprietary
recordkeeping software.
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