City Of Philadelphia Office Of Human Resources

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2H42

PENSION COUNSELING SUPERVISOR

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General Definition

• This is supervisory work planning, assigning and reviewing the work of a staff of pension counselors and clerical support staff engaged in advising and instructing individuals on the provision, ordinances, laws, and application of the City's pension program as well as the computing of pensions. The employee in this class reviews and approves benefits computations and implements adjustments necessary to the maintenance of an effective City pension program. Conferring with departmental representatives on pension matters is of major significance to the work. Work is performed under the direction of an administrative superior.

Allocating Factors:

(The following conditions must be met for a position to be allocated to this class.)

• The position must be responsible for supervising, planning, assigning, and reviewing, the work of a staff of pension counselors and clerical support staff.
• The position must be located in the Board of Pensions and Retirement.

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Typical Examples Of Work (Illustrative Only)

• Receives and reviews work assignments and directs work flows to avoid peak loads for the personnel; resolves the most complex problems involving pension cases; assigns and reviews the work of the clerical personnel in processing and maintaining pension cases; reviews the completed work of pension counseling personnel.
• Instructs and trains pension counselors and trainees on the provisions of the pension program and on the methods and procedures employed in computing pensions, adjustments, and other benefits; advises staff members on changes affecting the pension program.
• Reviews personnel history folders to verify employees' employment and pension contribution histories and to check data used for computations.
• Reviews and approves applications for pension; benefits and completed and contested pension cases before submitting to superiors for final disposition; investigates and secures facts necessary to process pension survivors' applications; conducts investigations to ascertain the validity of information in pension in folders; prepares reports relative to each case prior to its submission to superiors.
• Analyzes current procedures concerning the maintenance of the various pension plans of the Board and other departments; recommends revisions and implements approved plans; prepares necessary literature explaining all revisions.
• Prepares directives informing employees of changes in the provision of the retirement and survivorship program; confers with top management and other managers for planning and strategy for the implementation of new and revised pension ordinances.
• Prepares correspondence requesting and in reply to requests for information for such matters as payment of death claims, repayments, leaves of absence, and changes in pension options; corresponds with employees, pensioners, survivors, beneficiaries and their representatives in obtaining and their representatives in obtaining and verifying information necessary to maintain the pension program.
• Responsible for establishing Pension Guidelines for Domestic Relations orders under the Internal Revenue Services Retirement Equity Act for segregating pension benefits.
• Contacts and corresponds with doctors who provide consultative services.
• Prepares monthly reports on pension adjustments and deaths.
• Testifies as an expert witness in court proceedings related to the City's pension program.
• Performs related work as required.

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Required Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

Knowledge Of:

• the principles and practices of pensions programs
• the methods and techniques employed in maintaining a comprehensive pension program
• the Internal Revenue Service's tax laws and regulations as they pertain to the City's pension program
• the principles and provisions of the City's pension program
• administrative principles and practices
• the application of benefits under the acts pertaining to old age and survivors insurance
• computer software as it relates to the pension program

Ability To:

• use the City's existing computer systems as they relate to the processing of the pension payroll
• supervise the work of employees engaged in counseling individuals on the provisions and applications of pension programs and computing pensions
• apply the provisions of the City's pension program
• analyze the procedures of the various pension plans and to make and implement revisions consistent with pension program policies
• prepare and maintain reports and records
• compute quickly and accurately pension payments, repayments, survivors' benefits and payment adjustments
• research medical terminology and interpret into a layman's understanding
• learn and interpret changing pension; ordinances and Federal, State laws and apply them to the City's pension plan
• train staff members on the provisions of the City's pension program
• express ideas effectively, both orally and in writing
• establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates, employees, pensioners, beneficiaries, survivors, their representatives, and other departmental officials

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Minimum Acceptable Training And Experience

(The following statement represents the minimum training and experience standards which will be used to admit or reject applicants for test. Applications submitted by candidates for this class will be reviewed based on training and experience requirements as approved on 10/11.)

Education

• Completion of a bachelor’s degree at an accredited college or university. AND

General Experience

• Three years of experience interviewing or counseling individuals or groups on the provisions of the City's pension program. AND

Specific Experience

• Two years pension counseling experience at the full performance level.

OR

• Any equivalent combination of education and experience determined to be acceptable by the Office of Human Resources that has included a bachelor’s degree as an educational minimum.

Physical And Medical Requirements

1. Ability to physically perform the duties and to work in the environmental conditions required of a position in this class.

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PAY RANGE:

EP19

• Class Established:

  • 5/67

• Latest Spec. Revision:

  • CSC: 9/11, Ad Board: 10/11

PF/jl

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End Of Job Class Specification - 2H42