U.S. Pension Payroll Paymaster and Compliance Director

Job description

TELUS Health is empowering every person to live their healthiest life. Guided by our vision, we are leveraging the power of our leading edge technology and focusing on the uniqueness of each individual to create the future of health. As a global-leading health and well-being provider – encompassing physical, mental and financial health – TELUS Health is improving health outcomes for consumers, patients, healthcare professionals, employers and employees. Join our team and what we’ll accomplish together TELUS Health Retirement and Benefit Solutions (RBS) administer pension and benefits plans for a wide range of client organizations across Canada and the United States. There are approximately nine million members in the plans we manage. We have been developing and providing fully automated administration services for nearly 30 years since our Ariel administration platform was first introduced to the market. Our primary mission is to support our clients in every aspect of the design and delivery of the compensation, benefits, pension, and health management programs they maintain. We serve a wide range of clients, including corporations, businesses, government organizations, and multi-employer entities. Our Global Operations and Delivery teams are dedicated to leveraging broad expertise and Operations discipline to deliver administration services that meet or exceed client expectations, while optimizing resources and minimizing risk. We are seeking an experienced Health and Welfare benefits compliance specialist to join our U.S. Benefits Administration Compliance team. The Regulatory Compliance Specialist plays a critical role in ensuring that TELUS Health's administration of client’s health and welfare plans, voluntary benefits, and retiree medical programs remain fully compliant with federal and state regulatory requirements. We are seeking an experienced Pension Paymaster to join our Third-party Administrator (TPA) team. In this role, you will manage end-to-end pension payroll administration across multiple client defined benefit (DB) plans, ensuring accurate, timely, and fully compliant benefit disbursements. You will serve as a trusted partner to plan sponsors while maintaining rigorous internal controls and audit readiness in a fiduciary-sensitive environment. Key Responsibilities Multi-Client Pension Payroll Administration Administer and process pension payroll for multiple DB plans with varying provisions and payment schedules Execute recurring and non-recurring payments, including monthly annuities, lump sums, death benefits, and retroactive adjustments Validate benefit calculations and payment outputs in accordance with plan documents and client-specific requirements Coordinate funding and disbursement timing with trustees, custodians, and client finance teams Manage payroll calendars, cutoffs, and service-level agreements (SLAs) across all assigned clients Client Service & Relationship Management Serve as a primary contact for plan sponsors on pension payroll matters Communicate proactively regarding payroll cycles, issues, and regulatory updates Support client audits, reporting requests, and operational reviews Partner effectively with client stakeholders, actuaries, and internal administration teams Compliance & Regulatory Oversight Ensure full compliance with ERISA, IRS regulations, and plan provisions across all assigned clients Oversee accurate Form 1099-R processing, tax reporting, and withholding (federal and multi-state) Administer Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) and other regulatory-driven payments Support Form 5500 preparation and annual pension audit processes Audit, Controls & Risk Management Execute and maintain SOC 1 control activities related to pension payroll processing Support internal and external audits, including control testing and comprehensive documentation Perform detailed reconciliations between participant data, payroll outputs, and trust/custodial accounts Identify, escalate, and remediate processing errors, overpayments, and control gaps Ensure strict adherence to TPA policies, procedures, and client-specific control requirements Exception Handling & Complex Cases Manage complex transactions, including QDROs, beneficiary payments, and death processing Research and resolve discrepancies across systems, plan provisions, and historical data Coordinate corrections and reprocessing in compliance with IRS and plan guidelines Systems & Process Improvement Utilize pension administration and payroll systems to support multi-client processing Document and enhance standard operating procedures (SOPs) and controls Identify opportunities for automation, scalability, and process efficiency in a high-volume environment Required Qualifications 5–10+ years of experience in pension administration, payroll, or retirement operations Direct, hands-on experience with defined benefit pension payroll and disbursements Experience in a TPA or multi-client environment (strongly preferred) Strong knowledge of ERISA, IRS regulations, and pension compliance requirements Demonstrated experience with 1099-R reporting, tax withholding, and audit support Proven ability to manage multiple clients, competing deadlines, and priorities simultaneously Preferred Qualifications Experience supporting SOC 1 audits and control environments Familiarity with pension administration platforms (e.g., PeopleSoft Pension, proprietary TPA systems) Professional certifications such as CPP (Certified Payroll Professional), CEBS, or equivalent Experience collaborating with trust/custodial partners and plan actuaries Core Competencies Exceptional client-facing communication and relationship management skills Meticulous attention to detail and commitment to accuracy in a multi-plan environment Advanced reconciliation and analytical capabilities Strong ability to manage risk, prioritize workload, and meet tight deadlines Process-oriented mindset with a focus on scalability, controls, and continuous improvement Salary Range: $120,000 - $135,000 USD Annual Actual total compensation will be determined based on factors such as knowledge, skills, performance and experience. We encourage all qualified candidates to apply, even if the posted salary range doesn't match your expectations. We're open to discussing competitive compensation packages tailored to your experience level and expertise. TELUS offers rewarding benefits, which may vary per job function, such as: ⦁ Comprehensive total rewards package highlighting competitive salary and bonus structures, minimum 3 weeks of vacation, and flexible benefits plan to meet the needs of you and your family ⦁ Flexibility to work in-office, virtually or a combination of both ⦁ Generous company matched pension ⦁ Opportunity to give back to communities in which we work, live and serve ⦁ Career growth and learning & development opportunities to develop your skills ⦁ And much more… Job Type: This is for a current vacancy A bit about us We’re a people-focused, customer-first, purpose-driven team who works together every day to innovate and do good. We improve lives through our technology solutions and foster a culture of innovation that empowers team members to solve complex problems and create remarkable human outcomes in a digital world. TELUS Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer that aims to foster an inclusive culture that embraces diversity. It is our policy to hire without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship status, sex, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation or veteran status.We offer accommodation for applicants with disabilities, as required, during the recruitment process. By applying to this role, you understand and agree that your information will be shared with the TELUS Group of Companies’ Talent Acquisition team(s) and/or any leader(s) who will be part of the selection process.