What does a Benefits Analyst do?

A Benefits Analyst is responsible for administering and communicating benefit programs for an organization. They attract and retain employees through researching, recommending, and explaining benefit programs.
Benefits analyst responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real benefits analyst resumes:
- Manage relationships with all FSA clients including supporting their employee inquiries, reporting, and explain policy and procedure.
- Manage regulatory compliance with federal and state leave laws such as FMLA, ADA, CFRA, PDL and FEHA.
- Create reports using SQL database and manage reports, perform from internet-base tools for research projects need for client insight.
- Develop data analysis procedures to comply with ACA regulations.
- Screen clients for Medicaid and other health insurance eligibility.
- Provide functional expertise and leadership of retiree benefits administration during the RFP selection process for outsourcing retirement administration.
- Process life event election forms benefit open enrollments, HIPAA certificates for current and former employees.
- Maintain all compliance regulations when programming plans in the system and handle medical data in accordance to HIPAA.
- Help develop a process and strategy to ensure benefit plans meet the current and future requirements of the ACA.
- Process FMLA leaves, benefit administration for 12,000 total and 1,500 assign employees including 401k, dental, health.
- Identify opportunities to improve processes, including preparing and analyzing audit reports and ensuring integrity of the HRIS and other systems.
- Assist in mass enrollment due to an acquisition as well as mass cobra enrollment due to a release of an entity.
- Complete FLSA review to determine overtime eligibility for each position.
- Fulfill reporting requirements of relevant government rules and regulations including ERISA.
- Generate various PBGC correspondence interpreting ERISA, and relevant pension legislation and terminology.
Benefits analyst skills and personality traits
We calculated that 10% of Benefits Analysts are proficient in Customer Service, HR, and HRIS. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Business skills, and Communication skills.
We break down the percentage of Benefits Analysts that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Customer Service, 10%
Implemented a robust communication and education strategy and enhanced the reporting and customer service capabilities of their third party administrator.
- HR, 8%
Supported HR Managers as benefit subject matter expert by resolving escalated employee inquiries/cases and maintaining excellent knowledge of benefit plans.
- HRIS, 6%
Coordinated and participated in producing and analyzing metrics reporting from HRIS and third party administrators.
- Payroll, 6%
Collaborated with payroll to monitor benefit deductions and adjust premiums and arrears when necessary, guaranteeing accuracy in reporting W2 information.
- PowerPoint, 5%
Wrote/designed PowerPoint presentation and classroom handouts, Benchmark Synopsis of Benefits and other employee service handouts.
- RFP, 4%
Participated as project leader for the RFP, implementation and integration of retirement plan provider and relocation administrator.
Most benefits analysts use their skills in "customer service," "hr," and "hris" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential benefits analyst responsibilities here:
Analytical skills. The most essential soft skill for a benefits analyst to carry out their responsibilities is analytical skills. This skill is important for the role because "compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists perform data and cost analyses to evaluate their organization’s policies." Additionally, a benefits analyst resume shows how their duties depend on analytical skills: "developed data analysis procedures to comply with aca regulations. "
Business skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling benefits analyst duties is business skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "specialists must understand basic finance and accounting." According to a benefits analyst resume, here's how benefits analysts can utilize business skills in their job responsibilities: "involved in the implementing aca included design, development, testing and business processes of affordable care act (aca). "
Communication skills. This is an important skill for benefits analysts to perform their duties. For an example of how benefits analyst responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "specialists need to provide information about compensation and benefits in a way that is understandable to employees at all levels throughout their organization." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a benefits analyst: "created and implanted communication schedule for the hr service center, managers, timekeepers and employees. ".
The three companies that hire the most benefits analysts are:
- Lehigh Hanson
61 benefits analysts jobs
- Prime Therapeutics42 benefits analysts jobs
- Danaher34 benefits analysts jobs
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Benefits analyst vs. Workers compensation coordinator
Workers compensation coordinators work with supervisors to identify incident causes and the best corrective actions. They train coordinators and supervisors on reporting and managing workers' compensation claims. Besides coordinating EHS committee meetings and managing EHS files, workers' compensation coordinators also manage workers' programs for hearing tests, safety glasses, and safety shoes. These professionals use the company credit card or purchasing system to order safety supplies. Also, they ensure workers get the needed care by partnering with medical providers and injured employees.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, benefits analyst responsibilities require skills like "customer service," "hris," "rfp," and "plan design." Meanwhile a typical workers compensation coordinator has skills in areas such as "osha," "patients," "excellent planning," and "rehabilitation." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Workerss compensation coordinator earn the highest salaries when working in the finance industry, with an average yearly salary of $67,433. On the other hand, benefits analysts are paid more in the professional industry with an average salary of $61,196.The education levels that workerss compensation coordinator earn slightly differ from benefits analysts. In particular, workerss compensation coordinator are 0.9% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a benefits analyst. Additionally, they're 0.5% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Benefits analyst vs. Provider enrollment specialist
A provider enrollment specialist is in charge of handling application procedures in a company or facility. Their responsibilities typically revolve around gathering information, reviewing and verifying requirements, processing applications, and liaising with clients. They may also maintain and update databases, assist during complicated procedures, and ensure that all requirements are complete and accurate. Furthermore, as a provider enrollment specialist, it is essential to discuss terms and conditions to clients, helping them understand the company's policies and regulations, including its vision and mission.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that benefits analyst responsibilities requires skills like "customer service," "hr," "hris," and "payroll." But a provider enrollment specialist might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "patients," "caqh," "medicare," and "provider enrollment applications."
On average, provider enrollment specialists earn a lower salary than benefits analysts. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, provider enrollment specialists earn the most pay in the technology industry with an average salary of $42,041. Whereas benefits analysts have higher pay in the professional industry, with an average salary of $61,196.provider enrollment specialists earn similar levels of education than benefits analysts in general. They're 3.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.5% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Benefits analyst vs. Plan administrator
A plan administrator's duties depend on their line of work or place of employment. Still, they typically include understanding the client or the project's needs, developing plans, performing research and analysis, liaising with internal and external parties, setting goals, establishing guidelines and timelines, and developing strategies to optimize procedures. They must also respond to issues and concerns, resolving them efficiently. Moreover, as a plan administrator, it is essential to monitor the daily operations and manage staff, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a benefits analyst is likely to be skilled in "customer service," "hipaa," "claims processing," and "health insurance," while a typical plan administrator is skilled in "database," "sox," "financial reports," and "recordkeeping."
Plan administrators earn the best pay in the manufacturing industry, where they command an average salary of $81,211. Benefits analysts earn the highest pay from the professional industry, with an average salary of $61,196.plan administrators typically earn similar educational levels compared to benefits analysts. Specifically, they're 0.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Benefits analyst vs. Compensation specialist
A compensation specialist is responsible for evaluating the organization's benefits package for the employees, following the state regulations and legislation procedures. Compensation specialists identify the staff needs and develop opportunities that would maximize productivity and increase efficiency. They also analyze the market performance to adjust compensation rates according to roles as needed with the coordination of the finance department. A compensation specialist facilitates orientations for new programs and informs the employees about any changes in the payment system.
Types of benefits analyst
Updated January 8, 2025