Retiree Services Speciliast ll 2025-02632

Retiree Services Specialist II

Salary : $27.13 - $30.14 Hourly

Location : Cheyenne, WY

Job Type : Permanent Full-time

Job Number : 2025-02632

Department : Wyoming Retirement

Division : Wyoming Retirement

FLSA : Non-Exempt

Hiring will be contingent upon the successful passage of a background check.

Description and Functions :

The Retiree Services Specialist II works primarily with retired Wyoming Retirement System (WRS) pension members on a variety of services related to the administration of their monthly pension annuity benefit. This position is part of the Retiree Services Team which is responsible for processing, administering and balancing the monthly retiree payroll for over 34,000 retirees of the WRS pension fund(s) and reports directly to the Retiree Services Supervisor. This position works directly with payroll related vendors, State of Wyoming agencies, contracted custodian bank contacts, retired members and surviving beneficiaries. The Retiree Services Specialist II ensures compliance with WRS's governing state statutes, rules and policies as well as applicable guidance as defined by the Internal Revenue Code (IRC). Serving as the technical expert and workflow coordinator, the Specialist II handles the most complex service administration tasks and provides crucial work direction, training, and quality assurance for other Specialists. This position ensures team compliance with all governing regulations and acts as the primary back-up for the Retiree Services Supervisor.

Essential Functions :

This position supports the department's mission of administering the monthly retiree payroll for WRS.

Learn and be proficient in navigating and completing workflow in the RAIN system to administer member account changes, upload supporting documentation via OnBase, and use the workflow process in the OnBase / RAIN systems.

Educates, communicates and assists members with specific account and plans questions, transactions, and changes.

Learn and be proficient in communicating and understanding WRS governing state statutes, rules, all WRS pension plans, guiding IRC and policies, as well as financial and accounting industry standards and practices.

Specific duties include but are not limited to assigned workflow management; answering incoming calls / voicemails / emails; inputting / processing various changes (bank changes, address changes, deduction changes, beneficiary information, death reporting, tax changes and summary of benefit verification requests) for retired pension members; communicate with annuity deduction vendors; coordinate with WRS operations teams to complete pension benefit annuities, death benefits, stop benefits for retired members returning to work or death, and print monthly / annual statements; reconciliation and upload of financial data to custodian bank; able to research member account financial transactions and research account specific information via RAIN and the custodian bank system; and reconcile annuity deduction statements.

Death Benefits and Reporting - This position works directly with members' families and next of kin to help navigate the death reporting process for deceased retired members.

Works to communicate the process and obtain / process the required documents for transferring a surviving death benefit or stopping benefit after a member's death.

This position also helps to contact and coordinate under and overpayments of deceased retired member annuity benefits paid incorrectly.

Quality Assurance and Fraud Prevention - Reviews incoming documents, calls, emails, and transactions to monitor for fraudulent transactions and inquiries.

Works with retired members who are unsuccessful with logging into the participant portal account to help retired members access their accounts and teach them how to use self-serve options for award letters, year-end tax forms, etc.

Committed to learning and helping the department with fraud prevention practices.

Help with custom program testing for the department as new technology innovations are introduced to the team's workflow and tasks.

This position serves as the primary backup and advisor for the Retiree Services Supervisor. Performing duties typically assigned to the Retiree Services Supervisor during their absence, including processing bank exports and authorizing retirements and refunds.

Identify training needs for the department and provide feedback for the supervisor

Qualifications :

Preferences : Knowledge of the retirement process, accounting, or benefits eligibility.

Knowledge : Ability to learn and provide general retirement plan information to retired participants, beneficiaries, and deduction vendors regarding the retirement annuity benefit process; Knowledge and understanding of retirement plan compliance as it relates to governing WRS state statutes, administrative rules, policies and procedures; Knowledge and skill to review for validity of all incoming documents, qualify participant transactions, and process a wide variety of retirement benefits annuity-related transactions; Mathematical skills to review final calculations related to final retirement benefit annuities, allowable limits, and account balances, and provides guidance to correct errors and research account discrepancies; Knowledge and understanding of all the WRS Pension Plans, the 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan, and the Internal Revenue Codes (IRC) that govern these plans; Knowledge and understanding of State and Federal existing and new legislation as it applied to retirement plans; Excellent customer service with the ability to actively listen and build rapport with others and demonstrates expertise in resolving retired members' inquiries with a positive attitude; Excellent skills in oral / written communication and professionalism with the ability to effectively communicate retirement information with internal WRS agency personnel and external agency contacts at all levels; Working knowledge of software programs such as Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Google G-Suite. Ability to embrace new technologies

Minimum Qualifications : Education : Bachelor's Degree (typically in Finance); Experience : 0-2 years of progressive work experience (typically in Finance) OR Education & Experience Substitution : 3-5 years of progressive work experience (typically in Finance) with acquired knowledge at the level of an Accountant; Certificates, Licenses, Registrations : None

Necessary Special Requirements : FLSA : Non-exempt

Supplemental Information : The State of Wyoming is an Equal Opportunity Employer and actively supports the ADA and reasonably accommodates qualified applicants with disabilities. Class Specifications are subject to change, please refer to the A & I HRD Website to ensure that you have the most recent version.

Working for the State of Wyoming means more than a job - it's a stable, rewarding career that lets you make a difference while enjoying a great quality of life. Employees enjoy :

Comprehensive health coverage- medical, dental, and vision plans for you and your family

Voluntary Benefits- including life insurance for you and family members, ambulance, pet insurance, short / long-term disability, flex spending and health savings accounts

Multiple retirement options- including the Wyoming Retirement System and a 457B account, helping you plan for long-term financial security

Generous paid leave and flexible schedules- vacation, sick leave, paid FMLA and 11 paid holidays each year

Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibility- for those with qualifying student loans

Training and professional development- to support your career growth and advancement

Employee Assistance Program - Includes paid short-term counseling, legal, financial and work-life benefits and select employee discounts

Wellness Program - Earn paid time off and incentives by focusing on your personal health

WORKING FOR THE GREATEST STATE IN THE NATION - Wyoming offers a lifestyle you can't find anywhere else - wide-open spaces, clean air, friendly communities, year-round recreation, and no state income tax.