ERISA Compliance Specialist

Newport, an Ascensus company, helps employers offer their associates a more secure financial future through retirement plans, insurance and consulting services. Newport offers comprehensive plan solutions and consulting expertise to plan sponsors and the advisors who serve them. As a provider and partner, Newport is independent, experienced, and responsive.

Section 1: Position Summary

Job Summary

The ERISA Compliance Specialist works with various team members to provide comprehensive governance to qualified plan sponsors. In this client-facing role, you will work as a subject matter expert in ERISA, utilizing your expertise to develop and deliver qualified plan and governance analytics, author custom reports, and present findings to clients. As a subject matter expert in ERISA, you will advise clients on compliance, plan design, and administration, presenting complex legal and regulatory information to both technical and non-technical audiences. You will be responsible for the preparation of client reports, managing projects, and providing ongoing support for corporate qualified plans, coordinating with analysts and consultants on assigned plans. Your role includes managing projects and reports, staying current with changes in ERISA and related legislation, and ensuring fiduciary best practices. Your expert guidance will help clients navigate legislative and regulatory changes, optimize retirement plan administration, and maintain compliance with plan documents and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

Section 2: Job Functions, Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Essential Functions Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

• Works with key individuals at various defined contribution recordkeeping and administration service organizations to obtain plan related data.
• Reviews and analyzes data as required for preparation of client deliverables.
• Plan data acquisition, review, analysis, and observations.
• Provides ongoing support for corporate qualified plans.
• Coordinates with analysts and consultants on assigned plans to complete client reports and projects.
• Act as a trusted advisor to clients by providing expert guidance on ERISA compliance, ensuring their employee benefit plans meet all regulatory requirements.
• Continuously monitor and interpret changes in ERISA legislation to help clients adapt and maintain plan level compliance.
• Interpret plan documents.
• Self-manages process from start to completion of assigned client deliverables and workflow with key contacts from record-keeper and administrative services providers.
• Meticulousness required for quarterly deliverables to provide custom comprehensive written analysis with plan observations and recommendations.
• Compiling, proofing, and formatting various governance and fiduciary materials.
• Daily duties and quarterly reporting authorship requires checking data for numerical and contextual sensibility, compliance, notation on year-over-year changes, and producing written analysis with plan observations and recommendations.
• Works with internal consultant team to develop and finalize client meeting deliverables in written report format.
• Works on multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced demanding work environment.
• Regular, reliable, and punctual attendance.
• Responsible for protecting, securing, and proper handling of all confidential data held by Ascensus to ensure against unauthorized access, improper transmission, and/or unapproved disclosure of information that could result in harm to Ascensus or our clients.
• Our Core Values of People Matter, Quality First and Integrity Always® should be visible in your actions on a day to day basis showing your support of our organizational culture.
• Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

TRAVEL: Up to 10%.

Supervision  

• N/A

Section 3:  Experience, Skills, Knowledge Requirements

Required Education, Experience and Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, math, business, or related field.
• 3+ years of ERISA and defined contribution qualified plan experience with emphasis on 401(k) plan administration, compliance, consulting, or legal issues.
• Computer proficiency, particularly working knowledge of Word, MS-Excel, and Power Point.

Preferred Education & Skills

• Experience with various major 401(k) recordkeeping service front provider organizations.
• Licenses (FINRA Series 6 or 7, 66)
• QKA designation
• Project and time management skills required
• Attention to detail, accuracy, analysis, and self-revision required

Technical and Core Requirements

For all virtual remote positions, in order to ensure associates can effectively perform their job duties with no distractions, we require an uninterrupted virtual workspace and there is also an expectation of family care being in place during business hours. Additionally, there is an internet work speed requirement of 25 Mbps or better for individual use. If more than one person is utilizing the same internet connection in the same household or building, then a stronger connection is required. If you are unsure of your internet speed, please check with your service provider. Note: For call center roles specifically, it is a requirement to either hardwire your equipment directly to the internet router or ensure your workstation is in close proximity to the router. Please ensure that you are able to meet these expectations before applying

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer

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