Benefits/HR Specialist
Approach to Benefits Administration
The heart behind my work
I’m passionate about benefits because it is the intersection of humanity and livelihood. Benefits administration requires a balance of detailed, technical work and knowledge with empathy and compassion for the lived human experience. If I can help one person in my day navigate the complex world of benefits, I’m doing my job correctly. My goal for every participant is to help them fully utilize their benefits package in a way that best supports their specific living situation. This isn’t new territory for me; I understand what’s ahead and I’m prepared. I worked in pretax benefits administration for 6 years across two companies, each with their own interpretation of regulations and compliance. This experience taught me to be flexible, thorough, and curious.
My Benefits Philosophy in Practice
Compliance is non-negotiable. But compliance doesn’t mean complexity (at least not for the participant). I work to bridge the gap between intricate regulations (IRS, HIPAA, EBIA, and more) and clear, accessible benefit experiences. Whether it’s explaining a denied claim, auditing eligibility, or navigating enrollment errors, I bring precision to the backend and clarity to the front end.
I’ve worked hands-on with pretax plans including FSA (healthcare, dependent care), HRA, HSA, and commuter benefits. I understand how plan rules interact with real lives and how clean data, clear communication, and thoughtful workflows can make all the difference.
Areas of Expertise in Pretax Benefits
Compliance & Eligibility
In-depth knowledge of the following regulatory resources:
IRS Sections 125 (FSA’s), 105 (HRA’s), 132 (parking/transit), 213(d) (Healthcare FSA eligible expenses)
HIPAA, including Minimum Necessary Rule
Thomson Reuters (EBIA) subscriptions
Publications 502 (Healthcare FSA), 503 (Day Care FSA), 969 (Health Savings Account)
Eligibility audits & documentation standards
Census & Participant Data
Excel (advanced use + macros/add-ons)
AbleBits for change tracking
Participant record reconciliation
Data validation & upload troubleshooting
Query building and audit reporting
Benefit Configuration & Onboarding
Platform setup (FSA, HSA, HRA, Transit)
Pre-go-live testing and rules validation
Benefit card setup, lock/unlock protocols
Employer and participant onboarding
Maintaining IRS and HIPAA compliance
Participant & Client Communication
Training document creation
Customer service & call support
Benefits education (email, chat, phone, in-person)
Escalation handling and appeals navigation
Translation of complex terms into accessible language
Real Results from My Work
Prevented online enrollment system crashes by creating a streamlined Excel process to isolate census data changes
Reduced repeat support tickets by analyzing FAQs and producing proactive education resources
Improved client satisfaction by delivering 100% of benefit setups on time, with zero compliance issues
Empowered participants by translating plan rules into real-world examples and tools
Strengthened compliance posture through rigorous auditing, documentation, and training
Looking Ahead: How I Can Help You
If you need someone who understands both the compliance-heavy world of benefits and the human experience behind it, I bring six years of direct experience, technical strength, and a participant-first mindset. Whether you’re cleaning up data, optimizing enrollment workflows, analyzing plan usage, or improving participant communications, I’m ready to help.