What Does an Employee Benefit Consultant Do?

Employers can hire an employee benefit consultant to help them find the best benefits packages for their business. These consultants determine the goals and budget of the employer before identifying the best program matches. They also provide additional or ongoing benefit education, customer service, technical support, and employer-benefit company communication. Employee benefit consultants can work for a human resources or consulting firm, for a company in-house, or as a freelancer.

An employee benefit consultant must perform a variety of tasks. Some days are spent looking into new legislation to see how it might affect specific plans. On other days, you might be tasked with creating new groups of plans to present to an employer. A consultant may also travel to various company locations to explain the various benefit packages to employees. They respond to customer questions and make sure the enrollment process runs smoothly.

A strong interpersonal skillset is a must for an employee benefit consultant. The consultant interacts with not only the company’s administrative staff, but also with individuals throughout the organization. He or she must be able to explain each plan’s formalities and make recommendations based on the needs. Good math skills and the ability to think quickly are also required of a consultant. These abilities come in handy when creating pension plans and ensuring that they don’t go over budget.

Some benefit consultants are in charge of keeping track of claims and updating the company’s database on a regular basis. The typical workday varies depending on whether the person is an internal or external consultant. On top of benefit consulting, in-house consultants typically work for large corporations and have additional human-resources responsibilities. External benefit consultants, on the other hand, work with small and midsize businesses, assisting them in developing and implementing plans during open enrollment. External consultants may be tasked with locating and signing on new accounts for the company.

An individual does not need a specific degree to work as an employee benefit consultant. Benefit consultants are not typically entry-level jobs, despite the fact that a bachelor’s degree is usually one of the requirements. A master’s degree in human resources is preferred some employers, while years of experience is required others.