Pension and Benefits Advisor (Shared Services)

Division
Human Resources
Important Notices & Amendments

This position currently falls within our hybrid model, allowing the employee to typically work a minimum of 50% of your time at your regular work location and the other 50% of time at home.


As an employer of choice, Niagara Region offers competitive salaries and benefits, a defined benefit pension plan, a corporate wellness centre, access to the Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP), mentorship and training programs, employee recognition programs, and more. In addition, the Region recognizes the value of having flexible work arrangements to support better work-life balance for our employees. Hybrid work arrangements may vary from one employee to another and may also differ in the number of remote workdays. These opportunities remain subject to the alignment of operational needs, business requirements, and customer service expectations.

About Us

Serving a diverse urban and rural population of more than 475,000, Niagara Region is focused on building a strong and prosperous Niagara. Working collaboratively with 12 local area municipalities and numerous community partners, the Region delivers a range of high-quality programs and services to support and advance the well-being of individuals, families and communities within its boundaries. Nestled between the great lakes of Erie and Ontario, the Niagara peninsula features some of Canada’s most fertile agricultural land, the majesty of Niagara Falls and communities that are rich in both history and recreational and cultural opportunities. Niagara boasts dynamic modern cities, Canada’s most developed wine industry, a temperate climate, extraordinary theatre, and some of Ontario’s most breathtaking countryside. An international destination with easy access to its binational U.S. neighbour New York State, Niagara attracts over 14 million visitors annually, as well as a steady stream of new residents and businesses.

At Niagara Region, we value diversity - in background and experience. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We aspire to hire and grow a workforce reflective of the diverse community we serve. By doing so, we can deliver better programs and services across Niagara.

We welcome all applicants! For more information about diversity, equity, and inclusion at Niagara Region, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion - Niagara Region, Ontario or email related questions to diversity@niagararegion.ca. To send input on reducing barriers in the current hiring process, please email myhr@niagararegion.ca

For the Region's full employee equity statement, Working at Niagara Region - Niagara Region, Ontario.


Don’t have every qualification?

You may be hesitant to apply if you do not have every qualification listed in the posting. While specific qualifications are important for certain roles, we invite individuals from diverse backgrounds and varying levels of experience and education to apply. Our recruiters will evaluate your suitability for the role.

Please note that for unionized roles, we must follow collective agreement requirements. However, we encourage all interested candidates to submit their applications. We believe success in a role can extend beyond meeting every single requirement.

Job Description
Job Summary
Reporting to the Supervisor, Payroll Shared Services, the Pension and Benefits Advisor (Shared Services) is responsible for administering group benefits and OMERS pension for the assigned shared services client. This includes administration, conducting audits, data management, investigation of pension and benefit issues, conducting research, reporting and analysis. This role develops business requirements and processes and identifies system and process opportunities and serves as the main point of contact for clients on group benefits and pension administration, all related escalated service matters and liaises with benefits consultant and providers on benefit projects and in support of collective bargaining.

Education
Post-secondary diploma in Business or Human Resources.
Knowledge
3 years’ experience in human resources or payroll with direct experience in pension and/or benefits administration.
5 years’ experience in human resources with exposure to compensation, payroll, T4 reporting, pension and benefits administration in a union environment is preferred.
Advanced proficiency in MS office tools, particularly advanced in Excel, ADP application (HRIS/Payroll),
Working towards or obtained Certified Benefits Professional (CBP), Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS) or Certified Human Recourses Professional (CHRP) designation is preferred.
Responsibilities
Deliver exceptional service and administration of shared service employee benefits (40%)
Advise and provide customer service and support on interpretation and application of benefit plans, practices and policies.
Liaise with benefit vendors to resolve employee issues, assist in the interpretation of policy administration and implementation of benefit plan changes.
Investigate and resolves complex benefits issues and inquiries, working with client HR staff and benefit vendors to ensure alignment with the plan design, policies, and procedures.
Serve as the primary contact for benefit plan vendors.
Research and recommend plan design changes; provide costing and analysis of benefit related collective bargaining proposals and plan design changes; ensure proper implementation and administration of changes.
Process invoices to pay benefit providers, complete benefit audits/reporting, account reconciliations and implement benefit rate changes.
Manage ongoing relationships with benefits carriers and consultants, monitoring service levels, investigating and resolving complaints, appeals, and non-routine inquiries.
Collaborate with the Associate Director, HR Operations & Systems, and the Manager, Total Rewards to continuously evaluate vendor performance and implement improvements where beneficial or required.
Analyze benefit claim trends and costs, identify and investigate trends in employee groups and corporate accounts.
Provide input and support for annual benefit renewals and projects and implement of all changes.
Prepare, collect, and organize data for actuarial assessments.
Facilitate life insurance claims and supports beneficiaries and dependents through the claim and survivor continuation of benefits processes.
Provide service, reporting and administration and ensures compliance with OMERS pension plan rules and legislation (40%)
Audit and analyze pension transactions and contributions to ensure accurate calculations. Calculate amounts and advise on processing and methodologies for repayment of pension monies owing.
Maintain employee information and costs for service, earnings, and contributions, contained in the system for leaves purchased, disabilities, omissions, corrections and adjustments, in compliance with legislation.
Report member events as required to OMERS accurately and on a timely basis.
Deliver exceptional service to assigned client in the execution of shared services responsibilities in the pension portfolio.
Prepare communications about the OMERS pension plan to client and its employees.
Research and advise client senior leadership on interpretation and application of the OMERS pension plan and practices.

Leads year end processes for pension and benefits portfolios and manages year end pension reconciliation of client. Ensures OMERS and CRA compliance with pension year end and related T4 information. (10%)

Facilitate year end auditing and validation of pension earnings, contributions and service for each employee.
Ensure all benefits and pension tasks are actioned on time, coordinating relevant updates to the team.
Ensure accurate reporting of all pension information for each member reconciles total annual employee and employer contributions and works with finance to administer any credit/invoice adjustments.
Calculate manual pension adjustments and validates all pension adjustment and pension related T4 information ensuring accuracy and compliance with both OMERS and CRA
As the Pension and Benefits (Shared Service) subject matter expert in the shared services portfolio, identify and implement process improvements and system optimization opportunities in consultation with the payroll and HR Teams; and provide guidance to other HR staff related to benefits or pension program (10%).
Analyze and investigate process improvements in payroll system, develop processes and procedures, and create and maintain all references and resources (forms, plan documents, SOP’s etc.)
Recommend and develop communication strategies and resources to ensure benefits and pension information and changes are clear and well understood.
Recommend opportunities for system optimization in payroll system in collaboration with the payroll team, consider alternatives, test, implement and document operational procedures.
Identify opportunities for new and enhanced reporting and queries, work with payroll team to develop and test.
Provide guidance to the client HR staff in benefits and pension programs, compliance, processes and procedures.
Special Requirements
In accordance with the Corporate Criminal Record Check Policy, the position requires the incumbent to undergo a Criminal Records Check and submit a Canadian Police Clearance Certificate.
Regional staff strive to enable the strategic priorities of council and the organization through the completion of their work. Staff carry out their work by demonstrating the corporate values.
Closing Statement

Uncover the wonder of the Niagara Region and join a team dedicated to meeting tomorrow’s challenges TODAY!

Let us know why you would be an excellent team member by submitting your online application.

We thank all candidates for their interest however, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.


If you require an accommodation for the application process in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, the alternate formats for contacting us are as follows:

Email: myhr@niagararegion.ca
Phone: +05-+80-6000 or 1-800-263-7215
Bell Relay: 1-800-855-0511
In-person: Sir Isaac Brock Way, Thorold, ON L2V 4T7 – Human Resources Department

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