Benefits Specialist
Baker Botts

Baker Botts L.L.P. is currently seeking an experienced Benefits Specialist to support our Benefits department. With minimal supervision, this position provides daily administration of the Firm’s domestic and international welfare plans. This is a firmwide, full time, non-exempt position with excellent benefits resident in our Houston office.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Coordinates enrollment changes for all partners and staff participating in the Firm’s health, dental, life, vision and long-term disability insurance.
• Maintains all enrollment records, including applications, change forms, beneficiary designation, etc.
• Oversees the maintenance and processing of employee benefit records through the online benefits enrollment system to include auditing of weekly reports, verifying keyed data, testing configuration changes, and auditing enrollment data of third-party vendor.
• Coordinates and reconciles monthly premium billings for domestic and international medical, life, dental and long-term disability and voluntary benefits. Reviews, updates and tracks employee changes to ensure employee records reflect the most current set up. Prepares accounting breakdowns and ensures benefit charges are current and accurate. Processes and submits check requests in payment of vendor invoices.
• Conducts weekly benefits audits.
• Reconciles VEBA account, transferring funds when appropriate.
• Reconciles and processes broker payments.
• Responsible for reconciling all employee benefit payroll deductions with monthly invoices and reporting discrepancies and corrections to the Payroll Department in a timely fashion.
• Responds to inquiries from partners and employees regarding benefits. Acts as liaison between benefit vendors, broker and employees to facilitate resolution of claims and enrollment issues.
• Assists with annual benefits renewal and open enrollment.
• Responsible for working on 401(k) benefits related issues, including employee inquiries and support.
• Coordinates with employees and management to facilitate leaves of absence, including medical leave, family leave, accommodations and other types of leave.

Miscellaneous

• Calculates premiums for international employees/partners.
• Monitors Evidence of Insurability updates and approvals.
• Prepares life insurance claims.
• Researches and approves payment for partner physicals.
• Monitors life events.
• Journal entries for retired partner accounts.
• Medical Child Support Orders.

Core Competencies

• Strong communication skills, both oral and written;
• Strong work ethic and ability to maintain strict confidentiality;
• Ability to work well with internal and external clients;
• Strong organizational skills, problem solving skills and attention to detail.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree and 3 – 5 years of prior work experience in welfare benefits administration or, if non-degreed, 6-plus years or related work experience as an equivalent.
• Strong accounting knowledge required, and some accounting experience strongly preferred.
• Experience reconciling complex insurance billing is strongly preferred.
• Experience in professional services firm preferred, but not required.
• Strong analytical skills and a thorough knowledge of plan designs.
• Record that demonstrates proficiency in using benefits administration/participant database systems. Experience with Ultipro preferred but not required.
• Experienced at communicating technical benefits-related topics with plan participants.
• Well organized and detailed oriented; focus on accuracy is critical.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; proven ability to diagnose and resolve issues. Must be able to interact effectively with employees and vendors. Must have above-average customer service orientation, including telephone etiquette.
• Must be a self-starter who is able to work in a fast-paced environment, remain flexible, set priorities, work independently and complete multiple projects within established deadlines, while adhering to various standards relative to confidentiality of information.
• Highly energetic and results oriented, committed to high standards of performance.
• Must be a solid team player with excellent communication and interpersonal competencies, who can work collaboratively, and effectively influence and negotiate with all levels of staff and management in the HR, Legal and Financial Services departments.
• Advanced Microsoft Office skills with proficiency in Excel.

Extent of Contact (Within and outside the Firm)

• Heavy contact with vendors (brokers and insurance company representatives)
• Heavy contact with partners, employees within the Firm.

Physical Demands:

• Must be able to work at a computer for extensive periods of time.
• Must be able to lift loaded boxes of files weighing approximately 15 pounds.
• Must be able to routinely lift and carry file folders weighing up to 5 pounds.
• Must be able to work for 1 hour without a break.
• Must be able to lift, squat, kneel and bend.
• Must be able to climb on stepladder to file or access files.

Working Condition and Environment:

• Work is normally performed in a typical office environment. Standard business hours are 7.5 hours per day, Monday through Friday.
• Extensive overtime is required between the months of November through January.
• Moderate overtime is required between the months of February and October.
• Vacation time between the months of November through January may be restricted based on demands.
• Minor travel may be required.
• This role may be hybrid and will require a minimum of three days per week (or at least 60%) present in the office, and up to two days per week (40%) may be performed remotely.

Baker Botts is committed to cultivating a culture where our attorneys and staff thrive professionally and personally. We are proud to offer a comprehensive benefits program designed to support and enhance the overall wellbeing of our employees and their families.

Baker Botts L.L.P. is an equal opportunity employer and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, gender, sex, age, religion, creed, national origin, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, medical condition, military and veteran status, gender identity or expression, genetic information or any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law.

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