Employee Benefits Director/Manager

- EMPLOYEE BENEFIT ADMINISTRATION - HUMAN RESOURCES POLICIES, PROCESSES, AND PROCEDURES

- STRATEGIC PLANNING AND EMPLOYMENT LAW - EMPLOYEE RELATIONS

- CONTINUOUS PROCESS / PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT - TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT

- QUALITY ASSURANCE AND REGULATORY COMPLIANCE - STAFF MENTORING AND MOTIVATION

QUALIFICATIONS SUMMARY

Remarkably astute, talented, and dedicated professional powered with more than 12 years of Human Resources and Benefits Management experience. Show competency to oversee United States and International benefit administration, health plan implementation, employee relations, and corporate employee benefits operations. Possess stellar reputation in planning and directing organizational processes and programs to improve efficiency and productivity as well as increase employee satisfaction. Offer high-caliber qualifications in developing and implementing effective policies and procedures to achieve corporate goals while reducing cost. Exemplify outstanding leadership, interpersonal, problem resolution, and relationship-building skills. Motivated, results-oriented, diplomatic, and extremely effective to multitask in fiercely competitive, team-oriented, and fast-paced environment.

CAREER BACKGROUND

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BDO SEIDMAN, LLP - CHICAGO, IL FEB 1999–MAR 2009

A national professional services firm providing assurance, tax, financial advisory, and consulting services to a wide range of publicly traded and privately held companies

National Benefit Manager Oct 2004–Mar 2009

Senior Benefits Analyst Oct 2001–Sep 2004

National Benefits Coordinator Feb 1999–Sep 2001

Directed and coordinated daily administration of Employee Benefits Plans to develop current, competitive benefits policies that are in compliance with legal requirements. Managed National Benefits Coordinator and mediated between the company and benefits vendors. Conceptualized methods to improve employment processes and recommended changes to management. Assumed responsibilities in filing 5500s and EEO-1 reports and coordinated the annual Open Enrollments. Served as a link between management and employees by addressing benefits questions and resolving benefits-related problems. Reviewed and updated PeopleSoft information including changes to the benefits administration section. Determined and resolved problems in PeopleSoft regarding data entry issues that impacted the processing of the payroll, errors on eligibility files, and issues with vendor systems. Worked collaboratively with IT developers on required modifications or updates to PeopleSoft. Authored the data entry manual for benefits entry in PeopleSoft. Innovated and created the content for the New Hire and New Partner Information Kits and maintained benefits information on the career section of corporate web site and intranet. Functioned as the HIPAA Privacy Office responsible for training and compliance as well as monitoring the Workers’ and Unemployment Compensation claims. Primarily held responsible for local and state mandated benefits reporting in Massachusetts and San Francisco. Administered the FMLA Program and Retiree Medical Plan to present medical options for retirees. Worked closely with the Retirement Plan Manager on 401(k) plan administration, communication, and employee questions. Coordinated international benefits for expatriates and offices outside of United States.

Major Achievements:

- Presided over nine benefits renewals to consistently maintain plan cost increases below the national average

- Instrumental in estimating plan cost to ensure it will not exceed to anticipate annual budget

- Flawlessly managed major benefits projects ensuring adherence to governmental compliance

- Contributed in the successful implementation of new health and life insurance plans

- Played a vital role in the significant company improvements that resulted to the following:

> Improved employee satisfaction through implementation of numerous new benefits

> Improved on-boarding procedures through a standardized New Hire Benefits orientation process

> Improved internal communication process for the benefits by moving to an online system

> Improved the HRIS data integrity by implementing a system of auditing the benefits information; reduced overpayments to vendors due to such errors

- Drastically reduced the cost of the open enrollment process by developing an online system of communication

- Singlehandedly oversaw all data entry (manual enrollments) and benefits administration for 2500 employees

EARLIER CAREER

NATIONAL HUMAN RESOURCES COORDINATOR 1996–1999

GRANT THORNTON, LLP - CHICAGO, IL

HUMAN RESOURCES INTERN 1996

BALL-FOSTER GLASS CORPORATION - MUNCIE, IN

EDUCATION AND CREDENTIALS

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MASTER OF ARTS IN APPLIED SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY

Ball State University, Muncie, IN: 1995–1996

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN PSYCHOLOGY

Northern Michigan University, Marquette, MI: 1991–1995

CERTIFIED EMPLOYEE BENEFITS SPECIALIST (CEBS) DESIGNATION (completed 3 out of 10 courses)

2000–Present

Received Recognition of Academic Achievement in Group Benefits

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

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Member, Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)

Member, International Foundation of Employee Benefits Plans (IFEBP)

ACTIVITIES

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Volunteer Docent / Member, Chicago Architecture Foundation

Member, Phi Sigma Sigma Sorority at Northern Michigan University

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