Human Resources Benefits Specialist

Amy Amodeo

Greater Tampa Bay Area

*************@*****.***: 727-***-****

Summary

Dedicated and enthusiastic Human Resources Professional who brings a well-rounded HR experience to any organization.

Years of recruiting, talent acquisition, interviewing, onboarding, payroll, benefits administration, training, employee relations experience and strong customer service skills.

Cultivating and nurturing relationships with people is my passion.

Possess active and empathetic listening skills which builds strong, trusting, working relationships and is critical in identifying the needs of people.

Exercise strong critical-thinking and problem-solving skills to meet those needs. Recognized for outstanding contributions by leadership for establishing and continuously improving the client and employee experience.

I welcome challenge and I thrive in a face-paced environment that is results driven- where employer and employee success, achievement, collaboration, and professional development are highly valued.

I project a positive company image; I work with integrity and I take pride and ownership of my work.

Seeking a role in Human Resources with an organization whose HR team works diligently to foster and support their employees’ growth, development, and success.

Able to embrace change, learn quickly and thrive in a dynamic corporate environment.

Work Experience

Benefits Specialist II

HR Delivered February 2024-present

Problem-solve clients’ and employees’ questions regarding their benefits, payroll deductions and insurance plan questions. Practice excellent customer-service and interpersonal skills.

Work proficiently with Microsoft applications such as Word, Teams, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

Competent working with HR data software such as Prism, to store employee demographic information, payroll data, benefits elections and flexible spending and health savings account data. Run reports in Prism such as employee census and insurance census data information.

Practice precise and detail-oriented data collection, maintain highly confidential, sensitive, and private personal and health information with discretion.

Collaborate with brokers and insurance carrier contacts on specific employee claims issues and benefit-related questions and concerns.

Comfortable and confident working remotely and on-site. Possess strong independent work skills and excellent collaboration skills working as a team.

Solid background in HR Benefits Administration and demonstrated professional success communicating and working with all levels of management and team members.

Competent and comfortable enrolling members in multiple carrier websites, pulling insurance cards for employees, gathering status information to document qualifying life events, terminating coverages, making status changes such as adding newborns and new spouses or removing dependents who have aged off from parent’s coverage.

Assist employees with Flexible Spending Accounts such as Dependent Care, Medical Flexible Spending Accounts, Parking, Transit or Commuter FSAs and Health Savings Accounts and work with the vendor to assist employees with specific questions about their accounts, how to file claims, and balance information.

Track employee and client inquiries and the steps that have been accomplished to resolve the inquiry using a software called Zendesk.

Payroll and Benefits Specialist

DecisionHR May 2023 - Nov 2023 (7 months)

Maintained highly confidential and sensitive personal information with discretion.

Supported both employers and employees with benefits questions, payroll questions, insurance questions.

Ensured New Hires received initial benefit enrollment links as well as assisted existing employees with Open Enrollment. I possess an excellent ability to multitask, work under pressure and meet deadlines.

Experienced working with software that provided information on benefit payroll deductions (HREase and Worklio). Proficient in Microsoft applications such as Word, Teams, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

Ensured paycheck accuracy and made corrections to employee overpayments (refunds) and employee underpayments (arrears) of benefit insurance premiums. Detail-oriented and precise.

Set up client contracts detailing what the employer/client was offering their employees for benefits and any employer contributions to their employee benefits. Set up benefit plans and current premium rates into WorkLio System.

Partnered with brokers with high-profile and high-revenue accounts. Developed strong, working relationships with insurance carrier contacts. Demonstrated excellent interpersonal and customer service skills.

Worked closely with reconciliation team to maintain accuracy of benefit elections and correct premium deductions for both the employer and employee. I have strong attention to detail and I exercise good judgment and sound reasoning skills.

Comfortable and confident working remotely and on-site. Worked both independently and enjoyed collaborating as a team.

Benefited tremendously from the Bankers University of Training Classes. I completed nearly two dozen courses including PowerPoint, Excel, Word, Teams, Outlook, and One Note. Grew my professional writing skills, digital communication skills and "soft skills" such as verbal communication skills and presentation skills.

**REDUCTION OF FORCE" was the only reason I left. I loved my job, my supervisor, and my co-workers at DecisionHR. A lot of talented people lost their job due to no fault of their own. I left simply as a result of corporate downsizing.

Guest Teacher

Pinellas County Schools Jan 2007 - Present (17 years)

Delivered competent educational instruction to students in the absence of their regular teacher, implementing their lesson plans.

Proctored and administered tests, assessments, and standardized testing.

Supported students, one-on-one, with assignments or in small groups or whole class instruction as well.

Prepared for emergencies such as fire drills, active assailant drills, tornado drills, etc.

Championed classroom behavior management. I made learning engaging, challenging and fun! I acted as mentor and I provided inspiration and support for students to achieve their goals and aspirations.

Modeled appropriate behavior such as raising hand to speak, taking turns, being patient, being compassionate and empathetic, following directions, using time wisely, sharing, compromising, being a good listener, asking questions for clarity, respecting and being kind to others.

Offered continuous encouragement, bolstered confidence, fostered a love-of-learning and a sense of personal growth and development.

Enriched the lives of youth.

Human Resources Administrator

Refresco Dec 2022 - May 2023 (6 months)

Recruited and hired employees from forklift drivers and machine operators all the way up to Department Directors.

Supported hiring managers to fill critical roles. Screened candidates and set up interviews with department managers. Engaged professionally with all levels of people and I embraced diversity.

Launched background checks, drug screening and I handled confidential information with discretion.

Experienced using UKG (UltiPro) HRIS to track hiring process and Kronos Time & Attendance system.

Initiated E-Verify to get authorization to work. Experienced using Docusign. Crafted and sent offer letters.

Assisted employees with onboarding and benefits enrollment. Assisted new hires with their training tutorial requirements and safety training.

Conducted New Hire Orientations. Possess excellent oral and written communication skills as well as presentation skills.

Organized Employee Appreciation events, Employee Recognition Program and Employee Service Awards.

Assisted employees with medical, dental, vision, life, short-term-disability, and long-term disability questions as well as 401K and employee referral program inquiries.

Tracked and ensured timely completion of 30-60-90 day performance reviews and annual performance reviews. Worked with employees to take the necessary steps to train or gain skills to advance their careers and enhance and build their competencies so that they could achieve their career goals.

Human Resources Generalist

St.Petersburg General Hospital Oct 2005 - May 2006 (8 months)

Responsible for talent acquisition and retention. Involved in hiring process start to finish. Conducted interviews and arranged interviews with hiring managers. Conducted background checks, verified licenses, and crafted offer letters.

Conducted New Hire Orientations.

Assisted employees with benefits enrollment at New Hire enrollment and Open Enrollment. Answered employees' questions regarding benefits.

Updated status changes and gathered qualifying life event documentation. Managed HRIS system (PeopleSoft).

Resolved payroll questions and issues. Used critical thinking and problem-solving skills to resolve issues.

Managed Tuition Reimbursement Program and Employee Referral Incentive Program.

Tracked employees out on LOA and FMLA.

Employee Benefits Specialist

Mutual of Omaha Jun 1997 - Aug 1999 (2 years 3 months)

Conducted New Hire Orientations.

Assisted employees with benefits elections both at New Hire time and Open Enrollment.

Managed 401K hardship withdrawal requests.

Managed Tuition Reimbursement Program.

Processed Qualifying Life event changes.

Processed life insurance death claims.

Made referrals to EAP program.

Worked in Training and Education and Corporate Learning Department tracking Mutual of Omaha University transcripts for employees. Tracked classes and certifications. Encouraged career growth.

Skills: Recruiting, Onboarding, Interviewing, Teams, Word, Excel, Outlook, SharePoint, PowerPoint, Benefits, Customer Service, Attention to Detail, E Verify, UKG UltiPro, Worklio, HREase, Prism, DocuSign, Typing, Understanding of standard human resources operations, practices and procedures, Adaptable to change.

Education: Creighton University, Omaha, NE Bachelor’s degree: Psychology Summa Cum Laude grad

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