Sr. Specialist, Pension Accounting - Operations (12-month contract)

Why you’ll love working here:

• high-performance, people-focused culture

• our commitment that equity, diversity, and inclusion are fundamental to our work environment and business success, which helps employees feel valued and empowered to be their authentic selves

• learning and development initiatives, including workshops, Speaker Series events and access to LinkedIn Learning, that support employees’ career growth

• membership in HOOPP’s world class defined benefit pension plan, which can serve as an important part of your retirement security

• competitive, 100% company-paid extended health and dental benefits for permanent employees, including coverage supporting our team's diversity and mental health (e.g., gender affirmation, fertility and drug treatment, psychological support benefits of $2,500 per year, parental leave top-up, and a health spending account).

• optional post-retirement health and dental benefits subsidized at 50%

• yoga classes, meditation workshops, nutritional consultations, and wellness seminars

• the opportunity to make a difference and help take care of those who care for us, by providing a financially secure retirement for Ontario healthcare workers

Job Summary:

Reporting to the Manager, Pension Accounting, the Senior Specialist, Pension Accounting Operations is primarily responsible for the execution/processing of:

1. Daily banking transactions such as incoming employer/member contributions, recovered benefit overpayments, and updating benefit payments status in the pension administration system;

2. Pension benefit payments and associated taxes; and

3. Refunds to members/employers.

What you will do:

Pension Accounting Operations

• Process incoming payments which include contributions from employers and members and recovered benefit overpayments and ensure these are recorded accurately, completely and in a timely manner in all financial systems.

• Process all pension benefit payments (monthly pension payroll, terminations, transfers, etc.) and associated taxes and ensure these are recorded appropriately in all sub-ledger systems and the general ledger.

• Update member benefit payment records for any payment status changes (returned/missing/ cleared cheque payments) in the pension administration system.

• Process contribution refunds to employers or members and ensure these are processed accurately, completely, and timely manner as per approved instructions from Plan Operations.

• Work with various stakeholders within and outside of HOOPP to ensure that pension transaction related issues are identified, investigated, escalated as needed, and resolved in a timely manner.

• Collaborate with the Plan Operations team to ensure service level agreements are understood, maintained and adhered to that would ensure positive employer/member experience.

• Provide support to other team members in addressing/resolving operational issues and member inquiries or concerns. Document and maintain business procedures relevant to the job function.

• Participate in team initiatives or special projects when required.

Governance, Risk and Controls:

• Recommend ways to improve the efficiency of operational processes while ensuring strong internal controls remain and assist in the implementation upon approval by the Manager.

• Update pension process narratives and participate in the quarterly ICFR attestation on core pension processes in support of the ICFR program, as delegated

• Assist the divisional audit contact for Pension Accounting in responding to questions and providing information relating to pension accounting processes requested by internal and external auditors, as delegated

• Assist in the department business continuity program on assigned processes, as appropriate, and participate in the plan readiness as required.

What you bring:

• University degree in Finance or Business.

• 2-3 years’ finance industry experience.

• Proficiency in Microsoft office products (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Planner, Outlook).

• Experience in large ERP with good understanding of sub-ledger to GL process flow an asset

• Experience in an automated Pension environment an asset

• Detail-oriented, organized, and thorough in managing deliverables.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills (verbal and written) with the ability to build relationship with team members and stakeholders.

• Self-motivated, highly focused, ability to deliver with little to no direction.

• Strong ability to effectively collaborate in a remote environment.

• Ability to manage routine and high-volume work while meeting tight deadlines

• Eager to learn and willing to assume expanded responsibilities as required.