The Transaction Advisory Practice provides consultative property & casualty insurance and employee benefits due diligence advisory services to the private equity community and Lockton’s existing client base. This team of experienced professionals provides a comprehensive assessment of the financial impact of insurance and employee benefits on a potential acquisition from both a purchase price and ongoing operational perspective.
As an Employee Benefits Transaction Advisor, you will analyze and evaluate data gathered from the target company to assess potential deal issues and cost impacts to your client, the buyer. You will have co-ownership, with your property & casualty insurance counterpart, of a written report summarizing your findings, identifying risks, and providing recommendations and opportunities for the post-transaction entity related to their employee benefit plans.
Role Responsibilities
Responsible for leading employee benefits due diligence projects for our private equity and corporate clients, including :
Coordinating with other third-party due diligence work streams and their respective advisors, including legal, financial, and business strategy, as the primary Lockton deal contact person; and
Prepare a written analysis of the employee benefit plans in place and how they will be impacted by the contemplated transaction. Formulate findings to include a coverage analysis, financial analysis and projections; identification of program deficiencies, compliance concerns, and transition issues; as well as purchase and transitional service agreement recommendations, where applicable.
Responsible for delivering and communicating transactional deal issues as they arise, and final written findings to the client — the private equity buyer or operating company C-suite executives.
Responsible for liaising with Lockton service teams and the client on the transition of new business to Lockton.
May supervise and / or provide cross-training to other advisors or analysts to enhance understanding and application of processes, projects and procedures.
Proactively applies judgement and creativity and makes work plan alterations based on data and resource availability and time constraints to meet time sensitive deadlines.
Performs other responsibilities and duties as needed.
Required Education and Experience
Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Business, Accounting or equivalent education and / or work experience.
Minimum of eight years of experience working with U.S. based health & welfare and / or retirement plans, with a minimum of five years advising clients and / or management regarding benefit strategies.
Minimum of five years of experience advising buyer clients and / or management on employee benefit matters related to mergers and acquisitions, preferably private equity financial buyers.
Experience analyzing U.S. based employee benefit programs from a compliance perspective, evaluating financial statements and applying insight to program recommendations; and creating written reports, is desirable.
Related professional designations and certifications are desirable.
Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Knowledge of the M&A process, buyer and transaction types, role of advisors, and the due diligence process, with an emphasis on the employee benefit workstream.
Knowledge of the variety of the group healthcare products and funding mechanisms, group ancillary products, and retirement plan types available to small business and larger employers.
Strong analytical and reasoning skill set, including data analysis, research, critical thinking, creativity and communication skills with an attention to detail, demonstrating the ability to collect and examine large volumes of data to spot trends, draw inferences or conclusions in data observed / gaps, and make decisions, recommendations and / or projections based on findings. Ability to collect information and research topics for further understanding and / or recommendations and ability to explain findings and patterns observed.
Strong written and verbal communication skills to articulate thoughts clearly and succinctly. Demonstrated ability to communicate complex technical information and offer clear suggestions to non-benefit professionals either one-on-one or while speaking to a group.
Advanced organizational, planning, and time management skill set, demonstrating understanding of project workflow and keeping an eye on overall project while maintaining focus on details. Ability to anticipate resources needed, assemble resources, and alter plan based on resource availability and time constraints. Demonstrated ability to manage and prioritize tasks, time and workload are needed to meet time-sensitive deadlines.
Solid understanding of financial statements in relation to employee benefit concepts.
Advanced proficiency of MS Excel, including ability to analyze data using pivot tables, and MS Word.
Ability to operate comfortably in a dynamic, changing, and fast-paced environment.
Knowledge of group health plan underwriting, advanced understanding of U.S. federal laws and regulations to which employee benefit plans are subject (e.g. ERISA, COBRA, PPACA, and Internal Revenue Code), related controlled group provisions, state regulations applicable to insured group benefit products, and local ordinances impacting employer-sponsored programs, as well as familiarity with non-U.S. employee benefit programs, individual life and disability insurance products, and total reward strategies desirable.