Senior Analyst, Calculations Job

The Sr. Calculations Analyst (“Sr. Analyst”) is primarily responsible for ensuring that quality is inherent in all HOOPP processes by supporting the mandate of the Operations Support and Actuarial Services area.  The position requires technical expertise to perform an in-house review of all technical questions regarding calculations by applying the use of the Plan Text and internal policies from the Plan Operations business.  This role also requires the preparation and/or review of all off-system calculations not performed on the administration system, assistance with certain individual member benefit costings, analysis and summary of certain demographic populations with known calculation defects (including summarizing resulting calculation details and preparation of presentation material), assistance in modelling individual member calculations in support of the proposed Plan changes and Plan design.

From time to time the role will require coordination with other areas of Operations Support (such as Data, Policy, and Operational Controls), Client Services, and PSG Pension Solutions Group (specifically QA/UAT). 

What you will do:

Support the Actuarial Solutions team with the following:

• All off-system calculations by either reviewing or preparing for reviewing the calculation details and any corresponding information required to be managed through the business process

• Recommending enhancements to calculation standards and procedures for all off-system tools and the preparation of internally-produced actuarial materials for internal meetings

• Being a resource to other areas of Plan Operations for ongoing operations and for special projects when they arise from time to time

• Working with the internal HOOPP audit group as required

Support the Member Services Team with the following:

• Conduct during processing reviews of cases including review of calculation methodologies, to ensure overall accuracy and quality of member files

• Conduct production validation of QAMs for off-system processing

• Analyze data to identify quality issues

• Prepare statistics reports summarizing and analysing findings

• Provide recommendations for corrections (in accordance with applicable corrections policies), where applicable

• Recommend improvements to methodologies as applicable

• Liaise with Client Services as applicable

Support the Cyclical Processes, Payroll and Data team with the following:

• Accountable for calculation support and audit for cyclical processes (Salary Indexing, COLA, Annual Calculations, Annual Statements, COLA Statements)

• Available to support data quality, actuarial and pre/post audit as required

• Perform data validations to ensure correctly imported to Ariel DB and can be used for calculation purposes

• Be a resource when information is needed on how data is stored in Insight/Ariel DB/Ariel Payroll

Accountable for business specifications and coordination relating to special projects including but not limited to benefit improvement, mergers, data health assessments, demographic studies, etc.  

Product Support - Analyse complex production problems related to system implementations and releases, troubleshoot for system limitations, report and escalate issues through appropriate channels

Maintain a standard of information sharing

• Ensure other team members are up to date on any issues/workarounds/process flow changes, etc. regarding event processing

• Maintain contact with the Client Services Team, Training Team, Data Integration Team and other Operational Support teams as required

Maintain actuarial tools and documentation and processes for purposes of on and off-system calculations.  Update iKNOW with information related to calculation procedures and actuarial pages

Collaborate with other divisions of the organization, including middle to senior management, to provide direction, advice, training and recommendations for improvements/resolution on Plan provisions, administrative policy, legislative and issues that fall outside set policies and procedures, and difficult, unusual or precedent-setting cases

Proactively provide feedback and escalate issues, as appropriate, to the Manager

• Participate in weekly project status reports

• Provide ongoing training and mentoring of team members

• Prepare and provide monthly and quarterly statistics for the Manager

What you bring:

• University degree in actuarial science, math or statistics or a combination of equivalent training, education and experience

• Five years of progressive experience in the pension industry with at least four years at a pension benefits specialist/analyst level

• Solid knowledge and exposure to pension plan administration and governing legislation and regulations, Pension Benefits Act, Income Tax Act, Family Law Act, Employment Standards Act and other general pension principles

• Sound understanding of systems and Microsoft applications (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and relevant HOOPP or external administration software applications

• Ability to transfer knowledge to other members of the calculation team

• The ability to build, maintain and update spreadsheet calculations/tools is imperative for this role

• Excellent mathematical skills, analytical and problem-solving skills

• Team player with good interpersonal, oral and written communication skills

• Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills and a high degree of independence and initiative

• Strong analytical and technical data mining skills

• Effective verbal and report writing communication skills

• Ability to work effectively with multiple stakeholders and influence without direct authority