BENEFITS SPECIALIST SKILLS, EXPERIENCE, AND JOB REQUIREMENTS
Updated: Sep 21, 2024 - The Benefits Specialist excels in simplifying and communicating complex information with exceptional project management and communication skills. Moreover, being solutions-focused enables identifying issues and potential solutions while effectively partnering with stakeholders. Additionally, excellent negotiation skills, along with comprehensive knowledge of pension and group benefits administration, ensure a strong understanding of applicable provincial and federal legislation.
Essential Hard and Soft Skills for a Standout Benefits Specialist Resume
- Data analysis
- Benefits software proficiency
- Legal knowledge
- Financial analysis
- Excel proficiency
- HRIS understanding
- Benefit plan interpretation
- Compensation knowledge
- Budget management
- Compliance reporting
- Communication
- Interpersonal skills
- Attention to detail
- Problem-solving
- Empathy
- Adaptability
- Time management
- Collaboration
- Customer service
- Analytical thinking
Summary of Benefits Specialist Knowledge and Qualifications on Resume
1. BS in Human Resources Management with 5 years of Experience
- Enthusiastic attitude, cooperative team player
- Adaptable to new or changing circumstances
- Professional demeanor, sensitive to client needs
- Self-motivated, creative and innovative.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills.
- Strong attention to detail and ability to self-check work.
- Excellent time management skills, keeps manager informed of problems.
- Remains informed regarding industry information and new product information.
- High level of computer literacy including working knowledge of Windows 2003, Excel, Word and call tracking systems.
2. BS in Business Administration with 4 years of Experience
- Experience administering health and benefit plans and/or benefits specialization.
- Extensive knowledge of employee benefits and applicable laws.
- Proficient Microsoft suite software (Word, PowerPoint, Excel).
- Fluency in Excel navigating and comparing multiple spreadsheets, v-lookups etc.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Experience coordinating open enrollment, including communication, set-up, presentations, platform testing…
- Ability to quickly learn and navigate through various benefits platforms.
- Outstanding interpersonal skills and service orientation.
- Keen analytical skill and an ability to reconcile and assess financial and billing documents.
- Ability to be efficient and productive independently and while collaborating a team.
3. BS in Psychology with 2 years of Experience
- Excellent organizational and time management skills.
- Strong knowledge of payroll processes and relevant legal regulations
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Strong organizational and time management skills
- Strong and proven understanding of various health and benefits plans including voluntary benefits.
- Ability to demonstrate empathy, guiding employees on benefits as they experience life challenges.
- Ability to handle pressure and manage projects simultaneously while meeting aggressive deadlines.
- Ability and willingness to work a flexible and varied schedule as needed to support business demands.
- Demonstrated ability to conduct independent research into new benefits plans and changes to insurance and healthcare regulations
4. BS in Finance with 6 years of Experience
- Customer-centric, organized and detail-oriented with strong MS Office Excel Skills
- Flexibility and ability to reprioritize deliverables
- Ability to handle confidential colleague information with discretion and good judgment
- Strong HR technology skills and experience.
- Excellent communication skills, both written and oral
- Knowledge of FMLA, ADA, COBRA, ERISA, ACA, HIPAA
- Experience administering employee benefit plans in the health and welfare areas.
- Experience administering 401(k) retirement programs.
- Knowledge of all pertinent federal and state regulations
- Ability to work independently as well as collaborate and work cross-functionally to support team on projects
5. BS in Accounting with 8 years of Experience
- Knowledge of employee benefits, COBRA and other federal/regulatory requirements
- Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to interact with internal and external groups
- Ability to hold sensitive information with a high level of confidentiality and integrity
- Ability to work under strict guidelines, competing priorities and immediate requests
- Ability to communicate and present ideas in a clear, concise and professional manner both verbally and in writing
- Strong interpersonal communication skills and ability to interact with individuals across all organizational levels, geographies and cultures
- Ability to work as part of a team with excellent collaboration skills across other functions and with business partners
- Excellent analytical and project management skills
- Ability to proactively problem solve and apply innovative solutions
- Ability to work and collaborate in a team environment, and ability to work independently and prioritize work
- Quick thinking, initiative taking self-starter with a thirst for learning and unafraid to be out of comfort zone
6. BS in Economics with 7 years of Experience
- Experience in the use of HRIS systems
- Ability to effectively meet deadlines at expected quality
- Strong interpersonal & communication skills.
- Able to multi-task and stay organized.
- Strong computer skills (Microsoft Office, Excel, and Outlook).
- Previous experience in payroll processing.
- Previous experience with benefits management.
- Experience with health and welfare administration and retirement benefit administration and compliance
- Ability to work in a stand-alone role and confidence to engage business partners from across the global organization
- Ability to research and identify solutions/ways forward in countries outside of own specific knowledge
7. BS in Health Administration with 6 years of Experience
- Intermediate skill level utilizing Excel/Access to include analysis and report writing.
- Ability to organize multiple sources of data with attention to details.
- Ability to communicate clearly and effectively.
- Ability to conduct complex data audits.
- Ability to inspire confidence, trust, and influence at all levels
- Experience in managing or maintaining benefit programs
- Strong ability to track and stay up to date with rules and regulations related to benefit laws
- Ability to translate legal, medical and insurance related jargon into layman’s terms for clarification purposes
- Ability to communicate complex ideas succinctly and accurately, to a broad range of people with varying degrees of pensions knowledge, in a professional and timely manner
8. BS in Public Administration with 4 years of Experience
- Experience administering benefits programs including various insurances, retirement programs and Leaves of Absence, ideally in a global setting.
- Intermediate to advanced Mac OS and Google suite skills (Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Slides)
- Creativity and focus on process: you’re constantly looking for ways to make things work more efficiently
- An eye for global parity and regional expansion
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with an appropriate blend of professionalism and friendliness
- Incredible organizational skills, superb attention to detail
- Strong analytical skills, a proven ability to execute processes, and a flexible approach to problem-solving, even in the face of ambiguity
- Discretion and judgment handling confidential and sensitive data
- Ability to be a team player, adept at working with multiple people at any given time
- Experience with global or multi-region benefits programs
9. BS in Labor Relations with 7 years of Experience
- Proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) with practical experience
- Detailed and Meticulous, and comfortable working with multiple datasets
- Able to work independently, pro-active, and resourceful
- Ability to build and document programs and processes with an analytical eye
- Excellent written and verbal communications skills
- Ability to work in a collaborative team setting.
- Ability to prioritize multiple tasks and adhere to strict deadlines.
- Ability to exercise strong problem solving and resolution skills.
- Ability to provide a positive customer service experience.
- Ability to maintain a professional and customer centric composure in difficult or challenging situations.
- Ability to shift priorities based on the current business needs and to make progress in a timely manner on multiple, concurrent projects
10. BS in Social Work with 3 years of Experience
- Ability to utilize a computer to enter, retrieve and manipulate data
- Excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills.
- Excellent organizational and time management skills.
- General office environment., little or no exposure to adverse working conditions.
- Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook).
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with proven ability to organize and analyze data.
- Demonstrated organization skills, attention to detail and accuracy.
- Ability to anticipate customer needs with a high level of responsiveness
- Strong written and verbal communication skills with fluency in local language and English
- Self-motivated and able to work independently or as part of a team environment
11. BA in Business Administration with 5 years of Experience
- Experience with benefit plans, benefit open enrollment and processing
- Previous working experience as a compensation and benefits specialist
- Prior experience in HR operations and knowledge of best practices
- Good understanding of full cycle hiring process
- Familiarity with current employment rules and regulations
- Hands on experience with quantitative and qualitative research
- Strong proficiency in MS Office programs (with a focus on strong Excel skills)
- Hands on experience with HR software (HRIS) and required.
- Detail oriented with a critical degree of accuracy regarding data entry
- Ability to manage highly confidential material
12. BS in Finance with 4 years of Experience
- Working Knowledge of applicable employment and labor laws
- Demonstrated ability to meet goals while working under limited supervision
- Ability to make recommendations to effectively resolve problems
- Ability to implement Human Resources benefits initiatives and drive projects to completion
- Ability to discreetly handle sensitive information
- Superior organization, project management skills and attention to detail
- High level of commitment to quality work product, integrity and compliance
- Strong ability to multi-task and meet deadlines with minimal supervision
- Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to effectively communicate, both written and verbally
- Strong attention to detail and hands-on approach
13. BS in Accounting with 2 years of Experience
- Ability to simplify and communicate complex information.
- Excellent project management and communications skills.
- Solutions focused on an ability to determine not only the issue but the potential solution
- Excellent negotiation skills and the ability to partner with stakeholders
- Willing to manage all aspects of a project or task
- Be a team player who can work closely as part of a team
- Be self-motivated and resilient as well as flexible and agile to respond to a fast-paced working environment.
- Ability to understand and interpret stakeholder requirements
- Experience and excellent knowledge of pension and group benefits administration
- A strong understanding of applicable provincial and federal legislation
14. BS in Economics with 7 years of Experience
- Excellent communication and client service skills
- Experience in directly servicing plan sponsors and plan members
- Strong mathematical and analytical skills
- Advanced knowledge of Microsoft tools, including, Excel, Word
- Ability to multi-task, plan, and prioritize work
- Ability to work independently, as well as part of a team
- Ability to prepare reports and present findings
- Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality
- Effective communication skills (both written and verbal) with individuals at all levels of the organization