Human Capital Global Services Benefits Specialist

Purpose of the Job

The Benefits Specialist is responsible for the administration, governance, and continuous improvement of employee benefit programmes across the organisation, with a primary focus on South African retirement funds, medical aid schemes and risk benefits. The role acts as the key liaison between employees, Human Capital teams, payroll, finance, and external benefit providers, ensuring accurate administration, legislative compliance, excellent employee experience, and effective vendor management. In addition, the incumbent provides oversight and support for benefit structures across global operations, driving standardisation, governance, reporting, and benefit insights across the Group.

Roles and Responsibilities

Retirement Schemes

Historic Funds

• Provide assistance to actuaries and trustees on wrapping up process where relevant
• Liaise with Liquidator and auditors on outstanding details
• Investigate and source information on pensioner queries, missing beneficiaries, payments
• Submit SARS returns on old funds until liquidation finalised.
• Assist with tracing of unclaimed benefits

Retirement Fund Administration (Pension & Provident Funds)

• Act as the primary liaison with retirement fund administrators, trustees, consultants, and insurers.
• Manage onboarding, transfers, withdrawals, retirements, death claims, disability claims, and benefit settlements.
• Coordinate member communications and annual benefit statements.
• Ensure accurate retirement fund deductions and reconciliations with payroll.
• Support annual contribution changes and fund restructures.
• Monitor compliance with Pension Funds Act requirements and fund rules.
• Coordinate retirement planning and member education initiatives.
• Provide support and guidance to employees and management on fund options, queries and performance
• Liaise with insurance providers on payment, beneficiary trust creation and guardian details
• Trace unclaimed benefits and beneficiaries.
• Serve as Monitoring person

Group Life Benefit

ECM

• Liaise with insurance provider around claims and pending claims
• Assist with submission of death claims both with insurer, HBCPs, and line.
• Escalate cases and matters with Key Account Manager
• Follow up on approved claims and liaise with Beneficiary Trust provider
• Assist with tracing members and claimant on outstanding, old cases

Funeral Scheme

• Liaise with insurance provider around claims and pending claims
• Assist with submission of funeral claims both with insurer, HBCPs, and line.
• Escalate cases and matters with Key Account Manager

Disability Benefit

DPX, E88

• Liaise with insurance provider around claims and pending claims
• Assist with submission of claims both with insurer, HBCPs, and line.
• Escalate cases and matters with Key Account Manager
• Follow up on approved claims and liaise with HCBPs and HCSS on close out of cases
• Assist with approved claims which do not require
• Train HCBPS on process and escalate outstanding matters with Line
• Ensure central filing with up to date and accurate

Medical Aid

• Liaise with Principal Officer and Manco around communication campaigns and changes
• Perform annual assessment of medical aid threshold and proposed change in threshold
• Direct member queries to relevant Medscheme contacts
• Serve as alternate Employer Trustee when required
• Provide training and up skilling to HCBPS
• Communicate to employees and roll out benefit communication
• Source through RPF process international medical insurance providers who will offer a similar benefit to all international operations
• Manage the relationship and SLA with these providers
• Provide training and up skilling to HCBPS
• Communicate to employees and roll out benefit communication

Global Benefits Coordination

• Maintain an inventory of employee benefits across all operating countries.
• Build and maintain relationships with local HC representatives and benefit providers globally.
• Support the review of country-specific benefit structures.
• Identify opportunities for standardisation and best practice sharing.
• Benchmark benefits against market practices where applicable.
• Provide guidance on benefit governance and administration frameworks.
• Support benefit harmonisation projects following acquisitions, restructures, or organisational changes

Communication

• Develop, oversee and manage communication and education around benefits including but not exclusive to:
  • Retirement Funds, Medical Insurance, Social Insurance, Death and Disability
• Liaise with HCBPs and Stakeholders on communication needs, engagements and providers
• Review and develop annual communication campaign
• Conduct regular service reviews with providers.
• Monitor SLAs and service performance.
• Escalate service delivery concerns where necessary.
• Employee Education and Support
• Manage relationships with:
  • Retirement fund administrators
  • Medical aid providers
  • Brokers and consultants
  • Insurers
  • HCGS Team
  • Finance team
  • Human Capital Business Partners

Qualifications and Experience

• Diploma/ or Degree in HR
• SARA GRP
• 5+ years’ experience in benefits administration and management
• HC Shared Services
• Global organisation
• Benefits Governance

Key Competencies

A: Skills

• Data accuracy
• High numeracy
• Data Processing
• Process Improvement

B: Knowledge

• Benefit Scheme administration and systems
• Legislation affecting benefits
• SAP SuccessFactors
• Benefit Processing

C: Behaviours (Attributes)

• Attention to detail
• Customer focus
• Collaboration
• Confidentiality & Integrity
• Planning & organising

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