Pension Administration Specialist | Retirement Benefits Analyst

We're Hiring: Pension Administration Specialist | Retirement Benefits Analyst

Employment Type: Full-Time

Level: Mid-Level to Senior

We are seeking a detail-oriented and analytical Pension Administration Specialist | Retirement Benefits Analyst to manage pension administration activities, analyze retirement benefit calculations, maintain accurate member records, and support the effective delivery of retirement programs. This role combines pension operations, retirement benefit analysis, member account administration, regulatory compliance, and benefits reporting to ensure accurate processing, reliable records, and high-quality service for employees, retirees, and other plan members.

The successful candidate will collaborate with Human Resources, Finance, payroll teams, pension trustees, investment administrators, external service providers, and plan members to process benefit requests, reconcile pension data, review eligibility, and resolve administrative issues. The ideal candidate has strong numerical skills, excellent attention to detail, and a sound understanding of pension plan procedures, retirement benefit structures, and confidential information management.

Key Responsibilities

• Administer daily pension operations and retirement benefit processes in accordance with plan rules and established procedures.
• Maintain accurate pension member records, employment histories, contribution details, beneficiary information, and retirement status.
• Process pension enrollment, member updates, contribution adjustments, retirement applications, and other plan-related transactions.
• Review pension eligibility requirements, qualifying service periods, retirement dates, and applicable benefit provisions.
• Calculate or validate retirement benefits, pension entitlements, contribution refunds, and other plan payments in accordance with approved rules.
• Review pension benefit estimates and provide supporting calculations for members approaching retirement.
• Coordinate with payroll teams to verify pensionable earnings, employee contributions, employer contributions, and relevant payroll adjustments.
• Reconcile pension contribution records against payroll reports, member accounts, and administrator statements.
• Investigate discrepancies in member data, contribution amounts, service histories, and benefit calculations.
• Process retirement, early retirement, deferred pension, survivor benefit, and other applicable benefit requests.
• Coordinate beneficiary updates, death benefit documentation, and survivor benefit administration in accordance with plan requirements.
• Prepare retirement benefit statements, pension estimates, member correspondence, and supporting administrative documentation.
• Respond to inquiries from active employees, retirees, beneficiaries, HR representatives, and other authorized stakeholders.
• Explain pension procedures, contribution requirements, retirement options, and administrative timelines in clear, accessible language.
• Monitor retirement application progress and coordinate the collection of required documentation.
• Maintain accurate records of benefit approvals, calculations, payment instructions, member communications, and case resolutions.
• Support pension payment administration by verifying approved amounts, payment schedules, and relevant member information.
• Coordinate with external pension administrators, insurers, trustees, and service providers to resolve processing issues.
• Monitor pension plan deadlines, reporting requirements, contribution schedules, and member communication milestones.
• Assist with periodic pension data audits to verify record accuracy, completeness, and consistency.
• Prepare pension administration reports, membership summaries, contribution reports, and retirement trend analyses.
• Analyze retirement benefit data to identify patterns in retirement timing, membership changes, benefit utilization, and administrative workload.
• Support pension forecasting and retirement liability analysis by providing accurate member and benefit information to qualified specialists.
• Assist with the preparation of pension plan documentation, member notices, policy updates, and operational procedures.
• Monitor changes in applicable pension regulations, employment legislation, tax requirements, and retirement benefit administration standards.
• Support compliance reviews and respond to information requests from internal auditors, regulators, trustees, and authorized reviewers.
• Maintain confidentiality and appropriate access controls for personal, financial, employment, and retirement information.
• Identify opportunities to improve pension processing accuracy, administrative efficiency, and member service delivery.
• Assist with pension system updates, data migration, user acceptance testing, and improvements to benefits administration platforms.
• Develop and maintain standard operating procedures, calculation templates, and quality control checklists.
• Collaborate with HR and Finance teams to ensure pension administration aligns with organizational policies and employee benefit practices.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Human Resources, Business Administration, Actuarial Science, Economics, or a related discipline.
• Relevant experience in pension administration, retirement benefits, employee benefits, payroll, insurance operations, or financial administration.
• Understanding of pension plan structures, retirement eligibility, contribution requirements, and benefit administration procedures.
• Experience maintaining member records, processing benefit requests, and validating pension-related information.
• Strong numerical reasoning and the ability to review benefit calculations accurately.
• Knowledge of pensionable earnings, employer and employee contributions, qualifying service, and retirement benefit provisions.
• Familiarity with pension regulations, retirement benefit policies, tax considerations, and relevant compliance requirements in the applicable jurisdiction.
• Experience reconciling contribution records, payroll data, member accounts, and administrative reports.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including formulas, lookup functions, pivot tables, and data validation.
• Familiarity with pension administration software, HRIS platforms, payroll systems, or benefits management tools is advantageous.
• Ability to prepare clear benefit statements, calculation summaries, member correspondence, and management reports.
• Strong attention to detail when processing confidential member information and reviewing financial records.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, particularly when investigating discrepancies or resolving complex cases.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for dealing with employees, retirees, beneficiaries, and internal stakeholders.
• Ability to explain administrative procedures and benefit information clearly without making unauthorized financial or legal assurances.
• Understanding of data protection, confidentiality, record retention, and secure information handling.
• Ability to manage multiple benefit cases, administrative deadlines, and reporting requirements.
• Experience working with pension trustees, external administrators, insurers, or retirement benefit service providers is preferred.
• Familiarity with defined benefit and defined contribution pension arrangements is advantageous.
• Knowledge of actuarial concepts, retirement projections, or pension liability reporting is beneficial.
• Experience supporting pension audits, compliance reviews, or process improvement projects is an advantage.
• Ability to maintain accurate documentation and follow established approval and authorization procedures.
• Strong organizational skills and a commitment to service quality, accuracy, and professional integrity.
• Relevant pension, employee benefits, payroll, accounting, or financial services certifications are advantageous.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary and comprehensive employee benefits.
• Opportunities to develop expertise in pension administration and retirement benefit operations.
• Professional development in employee benefits, pension compliance, and financial administration.
• Exposure to pension systems, retirement plan documentation, and member service processes.
• Opportunities to collaborate with HR, Finance, payroll teams, trustees, and external administrators.
• Access to relevant benefits administration platforms and professional learning resources.
• A structured working environment that values accuracy, confidentiality, and regulatory compliance.
• Opportunities to contribute to pension process improvements and member service initiatives.
• Support for relevant pension, payroll, accounting, and employee benefits certifications.
• Opportunities to strengthen analytical, reporting, and retirement benefit administration skills.
• Career advancement toward Senior Pension Administrator, Retirement Benefits Manager, Pension Operations Manager, Employee Benefits Specialist, or Retirement Plan Administration Lead.