Professional Resume Template for

Benefits Manager

Audrey M. Sterling

Chicago, IL

(312) 555-0164

audrey.sterling@email.com

linkedin.com/in/audrey-sterling | audreysterling.com

Professional Summary

Pragmatic Benefits Manager with 6 years of experience directing employee benefits administration, health and welfare plan design, and retirement plan oversight within mid-sized corporate environments. Expert in ERISA compliance, ACA reporting, vendor management, and benefits cost containment. Successfully reduced annual health insurance renewal costs by 12% ($180,000) while maintaining coverage levels, and migrated 850 employees to a new self-insured medical plan. Adept at leveraging modern HRIS tools like Workday, ADP Enterprise HR, and Excel modeling to optimize benefit offerings.

Work Experience

Benefits Manager — Innova Retail Group

Chicago, IL | March 2023 – Present

  • Administered comprehensive health, retirement, and wellness benefits for 950 active employees, maintaining compliance with ERISA, COBRA, and ACA standards.
  • Negotiated health insurance renewals with 3 major carriers, reducing overall premium costs by 12% ($180,000 annually) while preserving existing coverage levels.
  • Managed annual open enrollment processes for 2 concurrent years, achieving a 98.5% employee participation rate and resolving 100% of enrollment exceptions in 10 days.
  • Led the implementation of a new Workday benefits module, automating enrollment feeds to 4 third-party administrators and reducing manual data entry errors by 40%.

Benefits Specialist — Vanguard Logistics Services

Chicago, IL | July 2020 – February 2023

  • Coordinated daily administration of 401(k) retirement plans for 750 participants, processing weekly contribution uploads and auditing employer matching matches.
  • Conducted monthly benefits billing audits across 6 insurance carriers, recovering $32,000 in premium overpayments and correcting 24 billing discrepancies.
  • Facilitated monthly onboarding and benefits presentation sessions for 15-25 new hires, improving benefits satisfaction feedback scores from 82% to 96%.
  • Prepared annual 5500 filings and non-discrimination testing documentation for retirement plans, completing submissions 15 days ahead of statutory deadlines.

Education

Bachelor of Science in Human Resources Management

Oakridge University · Chicago, IL · 2020

Skills

Benefits administration, Health and welfare plans, Retirement plan administration, ERISA compliance, ACA reporting, FMLA administration, COBRA administration, Vendor management, Wellness program design, Open enrollment management, 401(k) auditing, HRIS administration, Workday, ADP Enterprise HR, Microsoft Excel (VLOOKUP, PivotTables)

Projects

Workday Benefits Module Integration

Role: Lead Benefits Specialist

Tools: Workday HRIS, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Teams

Spearheaded the integration of a new benefits administration platform, migrating 850 employee profiles, automating carrier connections, and reducing weekly processing time by 15 hours.

Benefits Plan Design Realignment

Role: Benefits Manager

Tools: ADP Enterprise HR, Microsoft Excel

Analyzed employee benefit usage patterns and negotiated plan designs with carriers, introducing a self-insured model that saved $180,000 in premium costs while maintaining 100% of employee coverage levels.

Certifications

  • Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS) (2023)
  • SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) (2021)

Additional information

  • Languages: English (Native), Spanish (Conversational)
  • Volunteer Work: Benefits advisor for local non-profit community health center (2022-present)
  • Availability: 2 weeks notice

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Job Market Insights

Market data and opportunities for

Benefits Manager

Job Market Insights

$88,000

-

$118,000

Avg:

$102,000

Growth Outlook:

The demand for Benefits Managers in the United States is projected to remain steady over the next decade according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with approximately 1,500 annual job openings. Evolving healthcare regulations, complex employee benefits structures, and an increased corporate emphasis on wellness programs and talent retention will drive the need for specialized oversight. Professional credentials like the Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS) or SHRM-CP significantly enhance job prospects.

1% growth over 10 years

Key Skills Required

Focus on these skills when customizing your resume for recruiter screenings.

Hands-on experience administering health, welfare, and retirement plans under ERISA, ACA, and COBRA guidelines || Proficiency with HRIS platforms such as Workday or ADP Enterprise HR, and advanced Excel modeling || Strong working knowledge of vendor negotiation, annual open enrollment facilitation, and benefits reconciliation

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FAQ

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Benefits Manager

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What is the typical career path for a Benefits Manager?
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