HR Benefits Analyst - Hybrid

Position Entity	Centralus Health	Position Title	Benefits Analyst
Position Code		Department	People & Culture- Total Rewards
Pay Range/Grade	$75,000 to $85,000	FLSA Status	Exempt
Position Type	Full Time	Remote Work Tier	Tier 2
Exposure Category	Category III	Reports To	Director, Total Rewards

Centralus Health Mission

Our mission is to deliver high-quality care, empower our teams to success and improve the wellbeing of the communities we serve.

Job Summary

The Benefit Analyst supports the strategic administration, financial oversight, and system optimization of Centralus Health's Health & Welfare benefit programs. This role is responsible for data integrity, reporting analytics, compliance validation, and system configuration support across medical, dental, vision, FSA/HSA, life and AD&D, voluntary benefits, COBRA, and related wellness programs.

The position requires strong analytical capability, technical proficiency in HRIS and payroll integrations, and the ability to translate complex benefit data into actionable insights that support financial stewardship and regulatory compliance.

Job Functions

• System Configuration & Data Integrity: Partner with HRIS and Payroll to validate benefit plan configurations, file feeds, eligibility rules, and deduction mappings. Audit system changes to ensure accuracy and alignment across platforms. (*)

• Financial Reconciliation & Cost Analysis: Perform monthly premium reconciliations, validate carrier invoices, monitor benefit spend trends, and support forecasting and budget modeling. Identify discrepancies and implement corrective actions as needed. (*)

• Compliance & Audit Support: Assist with ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, IRS, and state compliance activities, including reporting requirements, documentation tracking, audit preparation, and vendor oversight. (*)

• Open Enrollment & Implementation Support: Support annual enrollment planning, system testing, file validations, and post-enrollment reconciliation to ensure a seamless employee experience. (*)

• Health & Welfare Administration: Oversee daily administration of medical, dental, vision, FSA/HSA, life/AD&D, voluntary benefits, and COBRA programs, ensuring timely, accurate processing of enrollments, changes, and terminations across all plans. (*)

• Compliance & Regulatory Management: Ensure full adherence to ERISA, ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, IRS, and state regulations through consistent auditing, documentation control, mandated notices, and coordination with third-party administrators. (*)

• Reporting & Documentation: Maintain comprehensive documentation, dashboards, and performance metrics that demonstrate compliance readiness and organizational accountability.

Important Note: (*) indicates an essential function of the job as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Essential functions are the core duties that are fundamental to the position and must be performed, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Success Factors

• Benefits Expertise & Precision: You demonstrate deep technical knowledge of Health & Welfare plans and apply it with accuracy and consistency, ensuring flawless administration and reliable employee support.

• Regulatory Discipline: You navigate ERISA, HIPAA, ACA, COBRA, and state compliance requirements with confidence, translating regulatory obligations into clear actions that safeguard organizational compliance.

• Employee-Centered Service: You provide responsive, empathetic, and solutions-focused support, ensuring employees feel informed, valued, and well-guided throughout their benefits experience.

• Operational Excellence: You manage high-volume, detail-sensitive processes with discipline and efficiency, identifying errors early, resolving issues quickly, and maintaining strong data integrity across systems.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: You build strong relationships with vendors, HR partners, finance teams, and operational leaders, ensuring seamless coordination and consistent communication across all benefit programs.

• Values-Driven Leadership: You model ethical judgment, consistency, and care-fostering a culture where compliance, quality, and compassion work hand in hand.

Education / Experience Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in business, human resources, healthcare administration, or a related field with 2+ years of experience; or

• Equivalent Experience: 6+ years of benefit administration experience.

Preferred:

• SHRM-CP certification or equivalent.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to remain in a stationary position for extended periods and operate standard office equipment, including computers and telephones.

• Ability to move about the workspace and attend meetings across multiple facilities, both on-site and virtually, as needed to perform essential duties.

• Ability to occasionally move or lift materials weighing up to 25 pounds.

• Must be able to work in typical office conditions, with occasional exposure to varied temperatures when traveling between sites or departments.

• Must be able to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.

Cayuga Health and its affiliates are the region's leading healthcare system and most trusted providers of integrated health services, empowering our people in our mission to equitably improve the well-being of the communities we serve. Our commitment to providing extraordinary healthcare begins with our team of extraordinary professionals who are continuously discovering clinical innovations and enhancing access to the most up-to-date facilities, equipment, technologies, and research protocols. Cayuga Health's commitment to our employees includes competitive compensation, comprehensive employee benefits programs, and the opportunity to explore and build a career in healthcare through our many professional development programs. 

The Benefits Specialist at Cayuga Health System is responsible for managing and administering comprehensive employee benefits programs, ensuring compliance with legal requirements and organizational policies. This exempt role involves conducting employee consultations, overseeing invoice management, coordinating open enrollment, and managing FMLA-payroll related functions. The Benefits Specialist also handles daily administrative duties, such as managing email inquiries and leading special HR projects. This position plays a critical role in supporting employees with their benefits and ensuring the smooth operation of benefits and leave management programs.

Roles and Responsibilities:

• Employee Consultations: Conduct bi-monthly on-site meetings with employees to provide expert assistance and guidance on retirement benefit enrollment and processing.
• Invoice Management: Oversee the preparation, coding, and submission of weekly claim invoices and monthly administrative invoices for CMC and SCH, ensuring accuracy and compliance with financial procedures.
• Pension Mailings: Supervise and assist in the completion of term vested pension mailings, maintaining meticulous records and adherence to deadlines.
• Open Enrollment Coordination: Assist with the coordination of the Open Enrollment process, including planning, communication, and execution of enrollment activities.
• FMLA Package Preparation: Oversee the preparation of FMLA (Family and Medical Leave Act) packages, ensuring all documentation is accurate and compliant with legal requirements.
• FMLA-Related Payroll Support: Provide expert support for payroll changes and timekeeping related to FMLA, ensuring compliance with company policies and legal regulations.
• Email Management: Manage and respond to the Benefit and Retirement daily email inboxes, providing timely and accurate information to employees and resolving complex inquiries.
• HR Projects: Lead special HR projects, demonstrating initiative and expertise in handling various human resources-related tasks and ensuring successful project outcomes.
• Additional Duties: Perform all other duties as assigned, utilizing professional judgment and expertise to address emerging needs and challenges within the HR department.

Required Skills and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Human Resources, Finance or a related field. 4 years equivalent combination of education, work experience, and relevant HR-related certifications may be substitutable.
• Strong knowledge and understanding of insurance regulations, plan designs.
• Familiarity with COBRA, HIPAA, ERISA, FMLA, ACA and related state and federal regulations.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality, to ensure trust and compliance with Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act (HIPAA).
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-volume environment, and to maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective positive working relationships with co-workers and CHS team members.
• Ability to apply proactive and innovative solutions to everyday challenges.
• Working knowledge of all applicable employment laws.
• Excellent oral and written communications skills.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.

Preferred Skills and Experience:

• Benefits or HR certifications (e.g. CEBS, PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP) or relevant certifications preferred.

Location and Travel Requirements:

• Hybrid - Travel to Cayuga Health System (CHS) locations for various meetings, events, and collaborations will be required. This may include periodic visits to our facilities in Ithaca, New York, and surrounding areas. Travel frequency will depend on organizational needs, project requirements, and scheduled events. The incumbent should be flexible and able to accommodate occasional travel as necessary to effectively fulfill the duties and responsibilities of the role

Pay Range Disclosure:

• $65,000 - $80,000 per year

Cayuga Health System and its affiliates are committed to treating all patients, providers, staff and volunteers equitably and with dignity, ensuring the highest levels of safety, care and respect, and striving to recognize and overcome biases and policies that contribute to disparities in healthcare access, equitable care and positive health outcomes for all.

We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer, supporting the growth and health of our employees and community by embracing the rich diversity, needs and circumstances of all peoples and prioritizing opportunities to build a diverse and inclusive workplace. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable protected characteristics.

If you require reasonable accommodation to complete a job application, pre-employment testing, a job interview or to otherwise participate in the hiring process, please contact the Cayuga Health Talent Acquisition team at [email protected].

I certify that the information contained in this application is correct and complete to the best of my knowledge. I understand that any falsification or omission of information may disqualify me from further consideration for employment or, if hired, may result in termination. In consideration for my employment, I agree to abide by the rules and regulations of the company, which rules may be changed, withdrawn, added, or interpreted at any time, at the company's sole option and without prior notice to me.

I understand that any hiring decision is contingent upon my successful completion of all of the Company's lawful pre-employment/post-offer checks, which may include a background check, drug screen, employment references, and licensing review. If I am made a conditional offer of employment, I agree to execute any consent forms necessary for the Company to conduct its lawful pre-employment/post-offer checks. Such checks will not be conducted until allowed under applicable federal, state, and local law. I understand if I have a criminal background, it will not automatically disqualify me from employment unless otherwise required by law. I agree to execute any consent forms necessary for the Company to conduct its lawful pre-employment checks.

I also understand that the Company is a drug and alcohol-free workplace and has a drug and alcohol testing program consistent with applicable federal, state, and local law. I understand that after a conditional offer of employment, I must submit to and pass a pre-employment drug test as a condition of employment.