Retirement Specialist Senior

RETIREMENT SPECIALIST SENIOR

Address:  3010 E. Camelback Rd. Suite #200
Phoenix, AZ  85016

This position may offer the ability to work remotely, within Arizona, based upon the department's business needs and continual meeting of expected performance measures.

http://www.psprs.com/

Salary: $36,779 - $55,000 

Grade: 19

Closing Date: September 30, 2026

The mission of Public Safety Personnel Retirement System is to deliver unparalleled service in providing retirement benefits to Arizona’s community of police officers, firefighters, corrections officers, judicial and elected officials. PSPRS serves approximately 60,000 active and retired public employees and is nationally recognized for its administrative and pension management excellence. We offer competitive pay and excellent benefits to those eager to serve our membership and mission. Interested applicants can visit www.psprs.com to learn more about our agency.

JOB SUMMARY:

The Arizona Public Safety Personnel Retirement System (PSPRS) is currently seeking qualified candidates for the position of Retirement Specialist Senior. Under the supervision of the Retired Members Supervisor, this position is responsible for the timely processing and operations of health insurance premiums, insurance subsidy and retirement benefits as it relates to pension payroll. In addition, this position is responsible for the verification and processing of all cancer claims as it relates to the Cancer Insurance Plan that is administered by the System.

This position may offer the ability to work remotely, within Arizona, based upon the department's business needs and continual meeting of expected performance measures.

• Enter and process new retirement applications for pension payroll to include normal, disability, surviving spouse, guardian/child, Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP) and Reverse DROP, lump sum death benefits, and deferred annuity for all three retirement plans.
• Reconcile and verify pension benefit calculations as provided by local pension boards and as assigned by Team Leaders.
• Analyze and reconcile application discrepancies.
• Enter and process monthly and annual open enrollment medical and dental insurance applications and premium subsidy.
• Reconcile and verify pension benefit calculations as provided by local pension boards and as assigned by Team Leaders.
• Coordinate, verify, and enter cancer insurance claims for payment.
• Analyze, compute and process monthly pension payroll adjustments for all three retirement plans to include, recalculations, complex split benefits with ex-spouses, IRS levy orders, child support orders, medical and dental insurance changes, benefit increases and also process federal and state tax withholdings.
• Review complex calculations and update member accounts with Domestic Relations Orders.
• Enter and process retiree data changes submitted in paper form and by on-line applications to include direct deposit, name, address and beneficiary designation changes.
• Perform weekly reconciliation and verification of co-worker's monthly pension payroll data entry changes to include health insurance, federal and state tax withholdings, direct deposit, name and address, and beneficiary changes.
• May serve as primary coordinator or assist with the following tasks and special projects as needed:
  • Verify Deferred Retirement Option Program (DROP) calculations.
  • Administer and process the monthly child benefit eligibility letters and adjustment to benefits.
  • Monitor and process the daily ADOA electronic add/change/term forms.
  • Administer and process the monthly Medicare eligibility letters.
  • Review, calculate and process the monthly contribution clean-up for retired members.
  • Edit retirement forms and spreadsheets due to legislation updates and test the intricate calculations within the spreadsheets.
  • Draft and edit written procedures.
  • Review Local Board minutes.
  • Annually evaluate and update retiree and ex-spouse benefit amounts that qualify under the excess benefit arrangement program (QEBA).
• Perform administrative functions as needed to include the following, but not limited to:
  • Perform Accounts Receivable duties by processing incoming revenue for member/employer contributions; service purchase/transfer, court fees, and personal overpayment checks.
  • Process ACH returns, stop payments, and check reissues.
  • Prepare monthly pension mailing.
  • Run monthly retirement and insurance reports and electronically distribute to local boards and employers.
  • Prepare documents and files for scanning.
  • Scan documents and files for disaster recovery and retention.
  • Enter local board meeting minutes date in applicable retirement records.
  • Test new IT processes and programs.
  • Assist auditors.
• Effectively research and explain policies, procedures, laws, and regulations to members, local boards, employers, internal staff, outside entities, and other state agencies in regards to retirement options to include health and cancer insurance benefits.
• Counsel, educate, and explain complex statutes, policies, and procedures as it relates to disability benefits, return to work rules, annual benefit increases.
• Respond to retirement, health, and cancer insurance related questions via phone, email, fax and in-person.
• Provide assistance with Members Only on-line applications for active and retired members.

Knowledge of:

• State and Federal statutes as they relate to the retirement and insurance benefits.
• Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act privacy regulations.
• Policies and Procedures related to the operations of the Member Services Division.
• Accounting and auditing principles in the administration of the pension payment system and cancer claims processing.
• Rules of English grammar and composition to prepare, review, and edit documents.
• Records management systems (automated and manual files).

Skill in:

• Participating in teams and work groups for formulating a team approach to problem solving and plan development.
• Composing, editing, and proofreading a variety of correspondence, reports and forms.
• The use of computer software programs.
• The application of problem-solving techniques.
• Providing high level customer service.
• Effectively explaining complex system and policies and procedures to others.

Ability to:

• Exercise sound judgement in safeguarding confidential or sensitive information.
• Apply laws, rules and regulations applicable to the retirement system.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of position's area of responsibility.
• Effectively communicate orally and in writing with all levels.
• Organize, prioritize and perform multiple tasks.
• Learn quickly and work within stringent deadlines to complete projects and assignments.
• Read, comprehend and interpret complex materials.

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in business management, accounting or other closely related field.
• One (1) year of experience in customer service and one (1) year of experience in processing claims.
• Or any combination of professional work experience, including one (1) year of customer service, one (1) year of processing claims, and education to total four (4) years.

Employment is contingent on the selected applicant passing a background investigation to include credit and criminal history.

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements.

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

At PSPRS, we promote the importance of work/life balance by offering workplace flexibility, a learning environment and a team oriented culture. Among the many benefits of a career with PSPRS, are:

• Sick leave.
• Vacation with 10 paid holidays per year.
• Health and dental insurance.
• Retirement plan.
• Life insurance and long-term disability insurance.
• Optional employee benefits include short-term disability insurance, deferred compensation plans, and supplemental life insurance.
• Optional participation in a 457 deferred compensation program, and employer matching on employee deferrals in the 457 plan (limited to a matching of 6% of salary on a per pay period basis).

By providing the option of a full-time or part-time remote work schedule, employees enjoy improved work/life balance, report higher job satisfaction, and are more productive. Remote work is a management option and not an employee entitlement or right. An agency may terminate a remote work agreement at its discretion.

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

Positions in this classification participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS). Please note that enrollment eligibility becomes effective after 27 weeks of employment.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact Andrew Goodwin at [email protected] or 602-296-3738 for assistance.

The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer.

All newly hired employees will be subject to E-Verify Employment Eligibility Verification.