Sr. Benefits Specialist

Job Description

Who we are:
Over ten years ago, we launched AppFolio (NASDAQ: APPF) to revolutionize the way small and medium-sized businesses grow and compete. Today our software solutions serve the property management and legal industries. At the heart of our products and services is a talented and agile team that understands the importance of a 100% customer focus.
With offices in Santa Barbara, Dallas, and San Diego, our business is built for long term success fueled by happy, loyal customers and a team of AppFolians who contribute to our great culture every day.
To learn more about AppFolio and our company values check out our profile on The Muse!
Why AppFolio?

• Competitive Compensation
• Medical, Dental, Vision, and a 401k Match
• Amazing company culture: focus on a complete lifestyle
• Recharge: 20 Days PTO + 9 Paid Holidays
• Built to last: Grow your career in an innovative, public company
  Make an impact: your work plays a key role in transforming our customers’ businesses
• Love your team members: co-workers are often friends too
  Offices stocked with healthy snacks, games, and goodies
  A commitment to health/wellness including onsite fitness classes
• Give back to your team and your community

YOU KNOW YOU’RE THE RIGHT FIT IF:

• You’ve can effortlessly balance conflicting priorities and move quickly to address time-sensitive requests. You shift seamlessly between nailing the day to day basics and driving new programs and ideas forward.
• You view all of the people you interact with as customers and have a desire to deliver the best “products” and service to them. You approach your work first and foremost as a service provider.
• You have the ability to translate Benefits concepts into a story that hits home and resonates with people who aren’t experts in this area. Simplifying messages around these topics is one of your strengths.
• You’ve built a strong foundation of knowledge in the Benefits arena, but are able to translate and apply your approach based on the situation and need. You never lose sight of the bigger picture.
• You’re comfortable working in the spaces above and below your role, and dive in to get your hands dirty to get a project across the finish line.
• You’re driven to learn by doing. You tackle problems large and small, and take ownership of them. You identify issues as they happen, or even before, and proactively seek and lead solutions.
• You love data, and can use it to tell stories, glean insights and propose changes. You have a strong eye for detail, and are diligent and meticulous in your approach.

WHAT YOU’LL DO ALL DAY:

The Sr. Benefits Specialist will make big contributions to the development and administration of AppFolio’s Rewards programs. Reporting to the Director, Total Rewards, this position will develop and administer compelling benefits programs.

• Administer all Company-sponsored retirement and health & welfare plans including life, health, dental, and disability insurances, retirement plans, and leaves of absence. Ensure records are accurate, current and compliant.
• Develop benefit communications to increase the understanding and ease of use of our benefits programs.
• Manage leaves of absence. Be the subject matter expert who guides our employees through the process to ensure they are well-informed and their experience is consistent with our expectations.
• Develop the company’s wellness approach and deliver wellness events.
• Acts as point of contact for employees, HR team, and plan participants for benefits questions and guidance. Escalates complex situations to appropriate partner.
• Works with team to plan and execute Open Enrollment for all benefit programs.
• Build audit process for our benefits spend, including analyzing data and determining trends.
• Working hand in hand with our HRBP and Talent Acquisition teams, act as a valued and trusted partner in providing benefits information and resources, and assist with any benefits issues that come up.
• Act as the primary contact to our Finance and Accounting teams, including Payroll. Partner to continuously improve our processes, programs and systems and tackle cross-functional issues as they arise. Provide input to the budgeting process.
• Contribute to the design, implementation and communication of other Total Rewards programs. Assist with with the development of benefits and systems strategies, including roadmaps to get us there.
• Act as a point of contact for vendors and service providers. Manage relationships as needed.
• Contribute to the planning and execution of our Request For Proposals (RFP) to scan the market, inform decisions and ensure all our needs are met.

WE’D LIKE TO SEE:

• Minimum of 3 years experience working in corporate benefits administration and communication. Tech industry and/or international experience preferred.
• Experience with annual benefits cycles, providing guidance on the design, development and administration of programs, communications, tools / systems to support them and measuring their effectiveness.
• Experience working within a generalist / specialist or center of excellence (COE) environment, including delivering products and support to HR Business Partners and Talent Acquisition.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communications skills,. Able to effectively communicate what we are doing and why we are are doing it to a variety of audiences.
• Advanced understanding of Rewards regulations, market trends, and program design, as well as legislation that may affect policies/practices, including ACA, ERISA, COBRA and other applicable Department of Labor (DOL) and/or tax laws. Experience with SOX is a plus.
• Project management and organizational skills with a demonstrated ability to navigate in a fast-paced & performance-oriented environment, and a proven track record leading successful benefits initiatives and projects.
• Ability to collect and analyze information, problem-solve, and make recommendations or decisions.
• Working knowledge of the Finance & Accounting functions, and have worked to develop budget projections/inputs, feed and maintenance of HR data to their systems (such as benefit deductions and taxation to Payroll), and building organizational hierarchies in an HRIS.
• Must be proficient in Human Resource Information Systems. Experience with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) is a plus. Working knowledge of Payroll and/or Finance systems desired.
• Advanced Excel user and proficiency in using the G-Suite and MS suite of products, such as Google Docs and Presentations
• Ability to exercise discretion, judgment, tact and poise in handling highly sensitive and confidential information.
• Demonstrated ability to work autonomously and manage a wide variety of projects simultaneously and under tight deadlines.
• Bachelor’s degree required. Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS) designation preferred.