Senior Retirement Benefits Specialist *RevisedPrint ( Retirement Benefits Specialist *RevisedSalary$66,106.08 - $80,346.24 AnnuallyLocationSacramento, CAJob TypePermanent Full-TimeJob Number29490-BDepartmentRetirementOpening Date05/29/2024Closing Date11/8/2024 5:00 PM PacificDescriptionBenefitsQuestionsThe PositionThis is a continuous filing exam. Next filing cut-offs are at 5:00 pm on:8/7/2024, 9/11/2024, 10/9/2024, 11/8/2024 (Final)Under general supervision, the Senior Retirement Benefits Specialist leads, plans, schedules and oversees the work of Retirement Benefits Specialists while performing the same and/or more difficult duties as those being led; ensures completion of tasks in accordance with established policies and procedures; communicates policies, procedures and job expectations; and provides training to staff.Examples of Knowledge and AbilitiesKnowledge ofPrinciples and practices of leadership, mentoring, and trainingApplicable federal, state, and local laws, codes and regulations, including 1937 Act Retirement LawOperational characteristics, services, and activities of assigned programs and functionsOffice procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and other specialized applications related to area of assignmentEnglish usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuationAdvanced customer service principles and practicesInformation gathering and interviewing techniquesResearch methodsAccounting principles including mathematical calculationsAbility toLead and train Retirement Benefit Specialist staffPlan, coordinate, assign, and review the work of staffProvide work direction and instructionResearch and evaluate work problems, and recommend solutionsDevelop, maintain, and promote cooperative, effective working relationships with othersCommunicate clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writingInterpret and apply applicable federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulationsApply customer service skills, including the identification of customer needs and follow up to ensure customer commitments have been metEffectively audit and indentify discrepancies in retirement benefit calculations, data, and informationListen and communicate effectively to identify and address member needsWork independently and in a team-oriented environmentIndependently draft correspondenceUnderstand, interpret, analyze and apply 1937 Act rules and regulationsPrepare complex calculations with speed and accuracyOrganize and prioritize work and meet deadlinesEmployment QualificationsMinimum QualificationsThree years of full-time paid experience which included: 1) describing rules, regulations, policies and procedures to customers and/or the public, and 2) processing benefits and services in a pension, retirement, financial services, benefits administration, or accounting field.Note: If the word “experience” is referenced in the minimum qualifications, it means full-time paid experience unless the minimum qualification states that volunteer experience is acceptable. Part-time paid experience may be accumulated and pro-rated to meet the total experience requirements.GENERAL QUALIFICATIONSCriminal History and Background Check:The County may access criminal history information on candidates who have accepted a conditional offer of appointment for this class consistent with the provisions of Board of Supervisors Resolution No. 82-602, Personnel Policies, and applicable federal and state laws. The County shall not consider for employment any candidate who has been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor that relates to or impacts the candidate's ability to perform the job duties of this class unless it is determined that mitigating circumstances exist. For purposes of accessing criminal history information, the candidate will be fingerprinted. A subsequent arrest notification may be obtained.The County may also conduct a background check on the candidate prior to appointment to a position within this class. The background check may include personal and professional reference checks, credit history checks, Social Security Number verification, professional license/registration verification, military service information and driving history. Information obtained in the course of this background check will be considered by the appointing authority in the selection process. In obtaining such information, the County will comply with applicable consent and disclosure practices in the Fair Credit Reporting Act and the California Investigative Consumer Reporting Agencies Act.License Requirement:A valid California Driver License, Class C or higher, may be required at the time of appointment. Failure to obtain or maintain the appropriate California Driver License may constitute cause for personnel action in accordance with Civil Service Rules or applicable bargaining agreement. Individuals who do not meet this requirement due to disability will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.Probationary PeriodThe probationary period for this classification is six (6) months.Application and Testing InformationAPPLICATIONQualified applicants are encouraged to apply immediately. All applicants must complete and submit an online County of Sacramento employment application by 5:00 PM on the posted cut-off date. Click here ( to apply.County of SacramentoDepartment of Personnel ServicesEmployment Services Division700 H Street, Room 4667Sacramento, CA 95814Phone (916) 874-5593; 7-1-1 California Relay ServiceEmail Mail Code: 09-4667 applications and all documentation requested in this announcement must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on the cut-off date.Employment Services is not responsible for any issues or delays caused by an applicant's computer or web browser. Applicants will be automatically logged out if they have not submitted their applications and all documentation prior to 5:00 p.m. on the cut-off date.Your application should highlight all relevant education, training, and experience, and clearly indicate how you meet the minimum qualifications for the position as of the cut-off date.Application information must be current, concise and related to the requirements in this job announcement. You may only apply for this recruitment once. Duplicate and incomplete applications will be disqualified.A resume may be included with your application, however it will not substitute for the information requested on the application.SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIREApplicants are required to provide a full and complete response to each supplemental question. The Supplemental Questionnaire is located in the tab marked "Supplemental Questions". Please be descriptive in your response.Note: Responses of "See Resume" or "See Application", or copy and paste of work experience are not qualifying responses and will not be considered.Supplemental Questionnaires must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on the cut-off date. Employment Services is not responsible for any issues or delays caused by an applicant's computer or web browser. Applicants will be automatically logged out if they have not submitted their applications and all documentation prior to 5:00 p.m. on the cut-off date.The supplemental questions are designed to elicit specific information regarding a candidate's experience, education, and training. Responses should be consistent with the information on your application and are subject to verification.Please provide place of employment, pertinent dates, and concise, descriptive and detailed information for each question.If a job included responsibilities applicable to several questions, separate the different functions of the job to answer all the questions completely.Resumes or referral to the application or other questionnaire responses will not be accepted in lieu of completing each question.If you have no experience, write "no experience" for the appropriate question.For many individuals, it is more efficient to develop responses to the supplemental questions in a word processing document and then paste them into the final document to be submitted. Changes or corrections to your Supplemental Questionnaire cannot be made once your application packet has been submitted.If the Supplemental Questionnaire is used in the Formula Rate exam, failure to complete all of the questions or incomplete responses will result in a lower score. While scoring the Supplemental Questionnaire, the candidate's application and/or attachments will not be reviewed, therefore, a candidate's responses to the questions should be accurate, thorough, detailed, and complete.FORMULA RATE EXAMINATION (Weighted 100%)All candidates meeting the minimum qualifications by the cut-off date will have their Supplemental Questionnaire scored in the Formula Rate Examination.This examination will evaluate the relevance, level, recency, progression and quality of candidate's education, training and experience. The candidate's application or other materials will not be included in this examination. Therefore, the candidate's responses to the supplemental questionnaire should be thorough, detailed and complete. The score from the Formula Rate Examination will determine the ranking on the eligible/employment list for this job.All candidates competing in the testing process will receive written notice of their examination results by email. Notices can also be accessed in their governmentjobs.com inbox. Applicants achieving a passing score will be placed on the eligible list in rank order. The rank is determined by the test score attained from the examination.FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONSClick here ( for Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)For information regarding County jobs: County is about enriching communities to thrive. We strive to create inclusive workplaces that reflect the communities we serve. We value and celebrate the unique perspectives, backgrounds, abilities, and diverse dimensions of our employees and residents. Through transparency, courage, innovation, and trust we are committed to advance equity and transformational change.We are a proud equal opportunity employer. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability for any phase of the hiring process, please contact our Disability Compliance Office at or 916-874-7642, CA Relay 711EMPLOYEE BENEFITSAs an employee of the County of Sacramento, there will be a variety of benefits available to you. These benefits currently include: health, dental and life insurance; flexible spending account options for dependent care and unreimbursed dental and/or medical cost; and an employee assistance program (EAP).GENERAL BENEFITS:Most employee benefits are similar to the following for all County employees. However, some benefits differ, depending on the employee representation unit to which the employee's job classification is assigned. Information about the exact benefits applicable to a particular job classification may be obtained from the Sacramento County Department of Benefits or by visiting POSITIONS:Most benefits do not apply to temporary positions. The explanations of benefits applies to employees in regular positions.SALARY STEP INCREASES:The beginning salary and the top of the salary range are usually shown on the job announcement. Upon satisfactory service, salary increases of approximately 5% are given annually until the top of the salary range has been attained.PAY:All employees are paid bi-weekly via direct deposit into the employee's bank account. The pay period covers fourteen (14) calendar days, starting on a Sunday and ending on the second Saturday thereafter. Salaries are generally paid on the Friday following the end of the pay period. Employees can set up their direct deposit and access their pay information via Employee Self Service in MySacCounty.VACATION:Generally, vacation with pay begins at 10 days annually. With increase over a period of years, the maximum annual vacation with pay is 25 days.HOLIDAYS:14.5 holidays per year as recognized.SICK LEAVE:Equivalent to 15 days annually, unlimited accumulation. Upon retirement, unused sick leave is converted to retirement service credit.PARENTAL LEAVE:Entitles a regular County employee, with at least one year of continuous employment, to schedule a paid parental leave of up to 160 hours upon the birth or during the process of an adoption of a minor child. Parental leave shall be approved by the employee's appointing authority, except where the granting of the parental leave request would unduly interfere with or cause severe hardship upon department operations.TUITION REIMBURSEMENT:Dependent upon union agreements, regular County employees may be eligible to receive Tuition Reimbursement. The costs for course tuition/registration fees and required books/supplies are eligible for reimbursement. Tuition reimbursement amounts may vary depending upon union agreement.RETIREMENT:Social Security and Sacramento County Employees' Retirement System coverage.HEALTH INSURANCE:The County offers a variety of health plan design options to fit individual needs.DENTAL INSURANCE:The County provides a comprehensive dental benefit program for regular full-time and part-time employees and their eligible dependents. This plan pays on a set fee schedule that varies by procedure. Any amount over the fee schedule is the employee's responsibility. The yearly maximum is $2,000 per person, not including orthodontia. The orthodontic benefit is 50% of covered charges with a lifetime maximum of $1,000 per person.LIFE INSURANCE:The County of Sacramento provides a basic life insurance benefit of $15,000 to all eligible employees at no cost. Additional coverage may be purchased through payroll deduction.DEFERRED COMPENSATION:The County offers a Deferred Compensation Program which enables employees to save in a systematic way without paying income tax on either the payroll deduction or the earned interest, prior to withdrawal.EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM:The County of Sacramento provides an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for employees and their eligible dependents. The EAP offers confidential, professional counseling services in areas such as:Legal Advice/Difficult DecisionsMarriage or Family RelationshipsFinancial or Credit Worries/Elder CareAlcohol and Drug AbuseWELLNESS INCENTIVE PROGRAM:The County will recognize and award time off to eligible employees who maintain an excellent attendance record.FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNT:The County offers regular employees two separate Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA's). These accounts allow employees to set money aside, on a pre-tax basis via payroll deduction, to pay for medical, dental or dependent care expenses.DEPENDENT CARE REIMBURSEMENT ACCOUNT:Employees may set aside pre-tax dollars to pay for qualified childcare or dependent care expenses that are necessary for the employee and/or spouse to continue working.MEDICAL REIMBURSEMENT ACCOUNT:The Medical Reimbursement Account allows pre-tax dollars to be set aside to pay for out-of-pocket expenses that are not paid by insurance or reimbursed by any other benefit plan.WORKERS' COMPENSATION:In case of injury while on the job, each employee is protected under the Workers' Compensation laws of California.SACRAMENTO CREDIT UNION:The credit union offers loan facilities and systematic saving plans through payroll deduction.SELECTION AND PLACEMENTSacramento County encourages applications from all persons regardless of race, color, ancestry, religious creed, national origin, gender, disability, political affiliation, or age.Certain age limits may be required by law, ordinance, or Civil Service direction for specific classifications such as those identified with hazardous occupations.MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:Please read carefully the "Minimum Qualifications" section of your announcement. You must meet those qualifications by the application deadline date unless otherwise specified. Your application must clearly show you meet the minimum qualifications by the application deadline date, or it will not be accepted. All statements are subject to verification."Experience" means full-time paid experience unless the announcement states that volunteer experience is acceptable. Part-time paid experience may be accumulated and pro-rated to meet the total experience requirements.PROMOTIONAL EXAMINATIONS:If the announcement indicates the examination is given on a promotional basis, candidates must hold permanent status in Sacramento County Civil Service by the application deadline date and must meet the minimum qualifications.OPEN EXAMINATIONS:Any person who meets the minimum qualifications may apply.CONTINUOUS FILING EXAMINATIONS:Applicants are eligible to reapply to and retake a continuous filing exam after 6 months from the date the previous exam results was received.ELIGIBLE LISTS:Names of qualified persons who made a passing score on an examination are entered, in order of their final grades, on an eligible list. To fill each vacancy, the hiring department will make a selection from among the top three ranks on the employment lists.EXAMINATION RATINGS:Unless otherwise stated on the announcement: To be successful, candidates must obtain a rating of at least 70% on each part of the examination. This may be an adjusted score or an arithmetic 70% of the total possible score as determined by the Director.APPEAL PROCESS:Persons who believe their applications have been improperly rejected may request the Employment Services Division to review its decision to reject the application. If the applicant desires to submit additional proof of qualifications, such proof must be received by Personnel Services not less than two (2) calendar days prior to the scheduled date for the examination.Persons who are disqualified in any phase of the examination may appeal such adverse action, in writing, to the Civil Service Commission, 700 H Street, Room 2640, Sacramento, CA 95814, telephone: (916) 874-5586. Such appeals must be filed within thirty (30) calendar days after notice of the adverse action was mailed to the candidate.FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT OUR FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs): INFORMATIONVETERAN'S PREFERENCE:Military veterans who have served during wartime shall be given preference in initial appointment to County service. Such preference shall apply, provided the veteran has first achieved a minimum passing score in the examination. The passing score of a veteran shall be annotated to indicate the veteran's score shall be regarded as 5 points or higher, OR 10 points higher for disabled veterans, only for the purpose of determining the three ranks along with which the veteran's name shall be certified. No score shall actually be changed and no new rank shall be created as a result of application of veteran's preference for certification purposes."Disabled Veteran" means any veteran who has served during wartime and, who, as of the final filing date for an examination is declared by the United States Veterans Administration or military service department to be 10% or more disabled as a result of his/her military service. Persons claiming eligibility for disabled veteran's preference must submit to the employment office, on or before the application deadline date, a certification from the United States Veterans Administration or a military service department, dated within 1 year, which certifies the present existence of a service related disability of 10% or more, or other acceptable proof of such disability as a result of his/her military service.Persons claiming eligibility for veterans preference must submit a copy of Form DD 214 or other acceptable proof of veteran's status on or before the final filing date for the examination. For purpose of this rule "reserve" status does not constitute active duty.CITIZENSHIP OR AUTHORIZED ALIEN REQUIREMENT:As required by the Immigration Reform and Control Act, all County employees must be United States citizens or aliens lawfully authorized to work in the United States. Proof of citizenship or authorized status will be required prior to appointment.CONFLICT OF INTEREST CODE:Some County Civil Service positions are covered by financial disclosure requirements intended to identify potential conflicts of interest.CONCURRENT EMPLOYMENT:No employee may concurrently occupy more than one County position.SPECIAL SKILL QUALIFICATIONS (WHEN SPECIFIED ON THE APPLICATION):Persons who have special skills required by some (but not all) positions in a class may be certified ahead of others provided that:Such special skills are based on the duties and requirements of the positions and are in conformance with merit system and equal opportunity principles, andThe certification of eligibles who possess special skills have been approved by the Civil Service Commission.PRE-EMPLOYMENT MEDICAL EXAMINATION & DRUG TESTING:The County of Sacramento is committed to maintaining a drug and alcohol free workplace. All persons selected for appointment to positions must pass a medical examination and a drug test, administered by the County at no cost to the applicant.DRIVER LICENSE:Possession of a valid California Driver License may be required for some positions.PROBATIONARY PERIOD:Regular positions are subject to a probationary period which is an extension of the selection process. Unless otherwise indicated on the announcement, the probationary period is six (6) months.AGENCY SHOP/FAIR SHARE FEE:Some positions require, as a condition of continued employment, that the person either:Become a union member;Pay a fair share fee to the union; or,Meet specific requirements under which an equivalent amount must be paid to a charity.FINGERPRINTING AND CRIMINAL RECORD CHECKS:Fingerprinting and criminal record checks are required for some positions.01The following Supplemental Questionnaire is the Civil Service Exam for this position and will be used to determine your exam score.Note: The Supplemental Questionnaire and the Application are administered as two separate documents. The Application is used only to determine if the minimum qualifications are met; and the Supplemental Questionnaire will be used only to determine your exam score.In order to receive every consideration in the selection process, you must complete all questions with concise but detailed answers and provide all requested information. Each answer will be scored separately. References such as 'See Resume' as a response will not be scored.By continuing in the exam process, you are certifying that all information provided in the Supplemental Questionnaire is true to the best of your knowledge.I have read and understood the above instructions.02The Minimum Qualifications for the Senior Retirement Benefits Specialist position are below:Three years of full-time paid experience which included: 1) describing rules, regulations, policies and procedures to customers and/or the public, and 2) processing benefits and services in a pension, retirement, financial services, benefits administration, or accounting field.Select the one box that best describes how your experience meets the minimum qualifications stated on the job announcement.I meet the minimum qualifications.I do not meet the minimum qualifications.03Select the one box that best describes your educational background from an accredited college or university.None.Less than 60 semester units or quarter unit equivalent.Associate's Degree or 60 or more semester units or quarter unit equivalent.Upper division units leading toward a Bachelor's Degree.Bachelor's Degree.Master's Degree or higher.04Is your education in business administration, finance, economics, human resources/personnel administration, accounting, public administration or closely related field?YesNo05List your education from an accredited college or university, as well as the institution(s) attended. Also include any relevant trainings, courses, certifications and/or continuing education you have completed. Please describe in detail how each item you list directly relates to the duties of the position.If you have no applicable education, courses, certifications, or trainings, please type "None."06Select the one box that best describes your experience reviewing, researching, interpreting, and explaining policies, procedures and/or laws.NoneLocating applicable information as needed for the job.Reviewing laws, rules, policies and procedures on a regular basis to explain processes to affected parties.Researching and interpreting laws, rules, and policies and procedures on a regular basis to ensure compliance AND effectively explaining processes to affected parties.07Select all the boxes that best describe the tasks you perform on a regular basis.None.Researching and responding to customer inquiries in person, over the telephone, and through written requests.Meeting with customers to explain plan benefits, policies and procedures.Researching, reviewing, and verifying service data, payroll information, and/or member contribution rates and to identify and resolve discrepancies.Mathematically calculating estimates, final benefit amounts, and/or purchase of service credit.Maintaining and updating payroll information including medical and dental benefit changes.Providing benefit verification to outside organizations as requested.Maintaining a variety of detailed records regarding correspondence and interaction with customers.Coordinating reciprocal benefits with other agencies.Conducting orientation sessions, explaining plan benefits, policies and procedures.Using a variety of specialized databases to maintain accurate customer information.Auditing and identifying discrepancies in retirement benefit calculations.Generating reports.08Select the one box that best describes your experience dealing with difficult, confrontational, or emotional people in a professional setting.NoneMinimal experience interacting with difficult, confrontational, or emotional people.Moderate experience interacting with difficult, confrontational, or emotional people.Frequent or extensive experience interacting with difficult, confrontational, or emotional people.Coached and/or trained others on how to interact with difficult, confrontational, or emotional people.09Select the one box that best describes your experience and level of responsibility composing email correspondence.Note: Your selection should reflect an on-going responsibility and not just a one-time occurrence.None.Sending and responding to emails using standard responses.Responding to customer/employee inquiries that require additional customization beyond a standard response.Responding to customer/employee inquiries that require additional research and interpretation to provide applicable references and information from policies and procedures.10Select the one box that best describes the length of full time paid experience you have processing benefits and services in a pension, retirement, financial services, benefits administration, or accounting field.None or less than three (3) years of experience.Three (3) years but less than four (4) years of experience.Four (4) years but less than five (5) years of experience.Five (5) years but less than six (6) years of experience.Six (6) years but less than seven (7) years of experience.Seven (7) years or more of experience.11Select all of the boxes that best describe the lead duties you have experience performing on a regular basis.None.Scheduling, distributing, and assigning work to staff.Monitoring work for progress and quality and ensuring work is completed in a timely and efficient manner.Reviewing the work of staff.Providing training and mentoring to staff in accordance with established policies and procedures.Assisting, guiding, and instructing group members in the performance of their dutiesProviding technical direction and problem solving in response to staff work questions and problemsRecommending improvements and modifications to work processes and adapting work procedures to meet changing needs.Resolving informal employee complaints, providing input to supervisor on employee performance and informing supervisor of conduct problems.Responding to and coordinating with supervisors to resolve routine customer inquiries and complaints.12Select the one box that best identifies your proficiency using Microsoft Word or equivalent software. You may be required to demonstrate your proficiency using Word during the interview process.None.Basic: Opening, creating, and saving simple documents; creating and editing headers and footers; inserting page numbers; adjusting page margins and orientation; controlling text flow around a graphic; inserting graphics and clip art; etc.Intermediate: Creating and modifying styles; formatting multiple sections; entering a formula in a table; drawing and editing shapes; inserting and modifying objects; using templates; inserting and navigating with hyperlinks; etc.Advanced: Inserting a linked object from a file; setting up user permissions; recording, running, and deleting macros; inserting subdocuments into a master document; creating an index; creating footnotes; creating bookmarks and cross-references; etc.13Select the one box that identifies your proficiency using Microsoft Excel or equivalent software. You may be required to demonstrate your proficiency using Excel during the interview process.None.Basic: Data entry; inputting data to create simple reports; using and creating simple formulas; etc.Intermediate: Using complex formulas; using macros; creating spreadsheets/worksheets; etc.Advanced: Creating macros; creating complex spreadsheets; extracting data from multiple sources and worksheets; creating charts and graphs; etc.14Select the one box that best describes your experience and level of responsibility working with enterprise resource planning system(s) and/or pension administration systems (SAP, PeopleSoft, Oracle, etc.) and processes that affect retirement services.None.Accessing the system to view information as needed.Processing new employees, employee terminations, leaves of absence, and other personnel actions, using appropriate forms and computer applications.Reviewing, verifying, and processing personnel and payroll transactions in the enterprise resource planning system and/or pension administration system; running reports to check for accuracy, completeness, affected dates and compliance with established procedures.15Describe your experience that qualifies you for the position of Senior Retirement Benefits Specialist and where you gained that experience. Please include in your response specific duties and responsibilities to support and further clarify the experience selected in response to all prior supplemental questions.If you have no experience, type "None."16The County of Sacramento is committed to maintaining a drug and alcohol free workplace. All persons selected for appointment must pass a drug test administered by the County and at no cost to the applicant.I understand, if offered conditional employment, I will be subject to a drug test administered by the County as described in Sacramento County Personnel Ordinance Section 2.78.030.Yes.No.17I have read the General Qualifications as stated on the job announcement.Yes.18Select the one box that best describes whether you have attended a career fair and/or job event where you have interacted with representatives from Sacramento County.Attended in the last one (1) – three (3) months.Attended in the last four (4) – six (6) months.Attended in the last seven (7) months – one (1) year.Attended an event more than one (1) year ago.Have attended a career fair and/or job event but did not interact with Sacramento County representatives.Have not attended a career fair and/or job event.19List the following for the career fair and/or job event you attended: • Name of event • Location of event • Month and year of event If you have not attended an event where you interacted with representatives from Sacramento County, please type "None".Required QuestionAgencyCounty of SacramentoAddress700 H Street, Room 4667 Sacramento, California, 95814Phone(916) 874-5593Website verify your email address Verify Email