Benefits Analyst (Retirement)

This Benefits Analyst position is primarily responsible for managing and administering the company's qualified retirement plans, employee stock purchase plans (ESPP) and overseeing the budget and invoicing. This position requires extensive knowledge of all benefit plans and administration. Key responsibilities include ensuring compliance with federal and state regulations, conducting plan audits, and providing guidance to employees on benefit plans and options. The analyst will also collaborate with vendors and internal stakeholders to enhance plan offerings and improve employee engagement. This position acts as liaison between benefits, finance, accounting, payroll and HRIS functions. Under general supervision, seeks guidance on matters and situations outside of guidelines or policy. Uses creativity, sound judgment and experience to plan and accomplish short and long-term goals and responsibilities. Support initiatives for CCL brand and Corporate consisting of approximately 4,000 employees. This person will be overseeing a budget of approx.—$ 50 million (i.e. Budget reconciliation, invoice coding with Markview/approvals, vendor setup within appropriate system, reporting of significant variances, and research).

Job Functions:

• Plan Administration of health and welfare programs. Programs include, but not limited to, Medical, Dental, Vision, Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Accounts, COBRA, Life Insurance, Retirement, Short-term and Long-term disability, and voluntary benefits.  Processes benefits transactions, including, but not limited to: new hires/rehire enrollments, terminations and life event changes for enrollment, payroll adjustments, dependent approvals and collection of required documentations. Research and respond to internal and external inquiries by partnering with team members, vendors, brokers and other resources to resolve issues timely and accurately. Answer and respond to inquiries received by myHR Experience benefit inquires and email inboxes in a timely manner. Ensure excellent customer service and timely intake of employee escalations, problem-solve the issues and remedy what you can resolve before referring to management. 
• Oversees the administration of qualified retirement plans and the Employee Stock Purchasing Program (ESPP), including processing loans, validating integrations, and communicating ESPP open enrollment and processing enrollments. This role ensures compliance with relevant regulations, assists with discrimination testing, 401k true-up matching, and yearly audits of the plans. The Benefits Analyst works with providers to resolve discrepancies, communicates educational sessions and compliance notices, analyzes benefits to ensure enrollment accuracy, proper deductions, process, and reporting, updates deductions and loan payments in the payroll system, and assists HRIS/IT teams with system enhancements.
• Code benefit provider invoices, segregate expense by business line, and upload into MarkView. Prepare wire request and secure necessary approvals depending on the amount. Log wire amounts for easy reference to determine trends. Monthly review of budget to actual and budget to forecast by organizational group and benefits line (i.e., Corp and CCL, self-insured medical, dental, life and disability, and retirement funding). Report significant variances and research as necessary. Monthly reporting by business line to finance and accounting for month-end close, identify any variances to budget, forecast, and research and provide an explanation to the Director and financial accounting team.
• Represent interests of benefit team, plans, and processes when implementing new plans,
• processes, and annual open enrollment configuration activities. Work with HR to ensure benefit processes align with other functional processes. Map and document all benefit processes. Provide necessary on-the-job training as required for new processes and new benefit team members. Coordinate requests for pertinent systems access when new benefit team members or contractors are onboarded.
• Assist with benefits orientation for new employees, annual enrollment and individual
• explanation of health & welfare administration benefits. Assist in other dedicated communications as needed.
• Create ad hoc reports from Oracle and Ceridian Dayforce to support benefit initiatives such as communications and planning.
• Review monthly Affordable Care Act (ACA) reporting and discrimination testing bi-annually and take remedial action where necessary.
• Perform other job-related functions as assigned.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Complies with all policies and standards.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources or Business Administration.  Master’s degree in Human Resources Management preferred.
• 3+ years required experience in benefits and/or total rewards to include experience in retirement & benefits administration. HR Systems Administration, reporting, and testing (preferably Oracle HCM, bswift, and Ceridian Payroll) and/or other Benefit-related systems experience. Plan administration ensuring compliance in accordance with ACA, ERISA, HIPPA, COBRA, and other governmental regulations and ensuring plan compliance.
• HR and/or Benefits Certifications Preferred

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Excellent customer service skills using effective communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to demonstrate critical thinking and sound judgment
• Ability to lead, manage, and collaborate on projects
• Practical problem-solving skills and the ability to build and maintain effective work relationships
• Advanced Excel and analytical skills. Ability to use essential Excel functions like v-lookup and pivot tables
• Strong skills in Microsoft 365, including Teams, Outlook, Word, Forms, and PowerPoint
• Ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously in a dynamic, ever-changing environment
• Must be able to work in a fast-paced environment and have a solid aptitude for performing multiple priorities simultaneously, demonstrate flexibility, and respond promptly to changing priorities.
• Must demonstrate a sense of urgency and ability to work under pressure
• Must be highly self-motivated, have outstanding organizational skills and flexibility, and be detailed oriented
• Skilled at time management and prioritizing
• Must be able to handle sensitive/confidential information and situations with high ethics and confidentiality

Physical Demands:  Must be able to remain in a stationary position at a desk and/or computer for extended periods of time. Requires regular movement throughout CCL facilities.

Travel: No travel

Work Conditions:  Work primarily in a climate-controlled environment with minimal safety/health hazard potential. 

This position is classified as “in-office.”  Because of the nature of the role, employees are required to work from a designated Carnival office in South Florida five days each week.  Candidates must be located in (or willing to relocate to) the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale area. 

Offers to selected candidates will be made on a fair and equitable basis, taking into account specific job-related skills and experience.   

At Carnival, your total rewards package is much more than your base salary. All non-sales roles participate in an annual cash bonus program, while sales roles have an incentive plan. Director and above roles may also be eligible to participate in Carnival’s discretionary equity incentive plan. Plus, Carnival provides comprehensive and innovative benefits to meet your needs, including: 

• Health Benefits: 
  • Cost-effective medical, dental and vision plans 
  • Employee Assistance Program and other mental health resources 
  • Additional programs include company paid term life insurance and disability coverage  
• Financial Benefits: 
  • 401(k) plan that includes a company match 
  • Employee Stock Purchase plan 
• Paid Time Off 
  • Holidays – All full-time and part-time with benefits employees receive days off for 8 company-wide holidays, plus 2 additional floating holidays to be taken at the employee’s discretion.  
  • Vacation Time – All full-time employees at the manager and below level start with 14 days/year; director and above level start with 19 days/year.  Part-time with benefits employees receive time off based on the number of hours they work, with a minimum of 84 hours/year.  All employees gain additional vacation time with further tenure. 
  • Sick Time – All full-time employees receive 80 hours of sick time each year.  Part-time with benefits employees receive time off based on the number of hours they work, with a minimum of 60 hours each year.   
• Other Benefits 
  • Complementary stand-by cruises, employee discounts on confirmed cruises, plus special rates for family and friends 
  • Personal and professional learning and development resources including tuition reimbursement  
  • On-site preschool program and wellness center at our Miami campus 

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