Benefits Specialist

At Community Financial System, Inc. (CFSI), we are dedicated to providing our customers with friendly, personalized, high-quality financial services and products. Our retail division, Community Bank, N.A., operates more than 200 customer facilities across Upstate New York, Northeastern Pennsylvania, Vermont and Western Massachusetts. Beyond retail banking, we also offer commercial banking, wealth management, investment management, insurance and risk management, and benefit plan administration.

Just as our employees are committed to helping our customers manage their finances, we're committed to our employees. After all, they make it happen for our customers every day.

To ensure our people can enjoy long and successful careers here at CFSI, we offer competitive compensation, great benefits, and professional development and advancement opportunities. As an equal-opportunity workplace and affirmative-action employer, we celebrate and support a diverse workplace for the benefit of all: our employees, customers and communities.

Administers and supports the organization's health, welfare, retirement, and wellness programs to ensure accurate delivery, regulatory compliance, and a positive employee experience. Serves as a key resource for employees, vendors, and HR partners while supporting effective benefits operations, program governance, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Essential Duties

• Administer employee benefit programs including health, welfare, retirement, and ancillary plans.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for employees regarding benefit inquiries and issue resolution.
• Coordinate with vendors and third-party administrators to ensure accurate data exchange, billing, and service delivery.
• Maintain accurate benefits records, HRIS data, and support payroll, audits, and reporting.
• Monitor compliance with applicable benefits-related laws including ERISA and COBRA.
• Prepare and deliver employee communications and support annual open enrollment.
• Support wellbeing initiatives and M&A-related benefit transitions.
• Identify and recommend process improvements related to benefits administration

Skills

• Strong customer service orientation and interpersonal skills
• Ability to communicate complex benefits information clearly and effectively
• Attention to detail and accuracy in managing sensitive data
• Organizational and prioritization skills in a multitask environment
• Sound judgment and discretion when handling confidential information
• Problemsolving capability and ability to resolve employee and vendor issues
• Adaptability and continuous learning mindset
• Demonstrates Company values of integrity, teamwork, excellence, and humility
• Maintain proficient knowledge of, and demonstrate ongoing compliance with all laws and regulations applicable to this position, ensure ongoing adherence to policies, procedures, and internal controls, and meet all training requirements in a timely manner

Education/Training:

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources or related field or equivalent experience; professional certifications preferred. Specialized human resources management education and training; professional designation such as CEBS, CBP, PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP preferred.
• Five or more years of employee benefits administration experience required; multi-state experience preferred.
• All applicants must be 18 years of age or older.

Compensation: Commensurate with experience plus potential for annual merit increase. In addition to your competitive salary, you will be rewarded benefits including: 11 paid holidays, paid vacation, Medical, Vision & Dental insurance, 401K with generous match, Pension, Tuition Reimbursement, Banking discounts and the list goes on!

Physical Requirements:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be required to stand, walk or sit. Use hands and fingers, handle or feel, reach with hands or arms, and speak and hear. The employee may occasionally be required to lift and or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and the ability to focus.

The Company is an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation and gender identity), national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local law.

The Company will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with a disability. If you have a physical or mental impairment and would like to request an accommodation with respect to the application process, please contact the Human Resources Department.