Commissions Partner Services Specialist

Our vision for the future is based on the idea that transforming financial lives starts by giving our people the freedom to transform their own. We have a flexible work environment, and fluid career paths. We not only encourage but celebrate internal mobility. We also recognize the importance of purpose, well-being, and work-life balance. Within Empower and our communities, we work hard to create a welcoming and inclusive environment, and our associates dedicate thousands of hours to volunteering for causes that matter most to them.

Chart your own path and grow your career while helping more customers achieve financial freedom. Empower Yourself.

The Commissions Specialist is responsible for understanding, set up and execution of commission packages and commission structures for all lines of retirement business. Responsibilities include reviewing contracts, fee schedules and Broker Dealer/Broker of Record (BD/BOR) request forms; verifying FINRA registration and state licensing credentials, setting up commissions for new plans, updating BD/BOR, making commission adjustments if necessary; providing data and direction to internal partners for commissions set up; responding to inquiries from both internal partners and external customers; answering phone calls received in the Partner Services call center and answering questions related to commissions and third party payments. This is a client facing position with all activities having direct client and financial impact as well as regulatory and participant/plan reporting.
  What you will do

• Triage, Process and QC commissions set up and change requests by interpreting contracts, fee schedules and BD/BOR request forms ensuring the request is in good order before processing across all segments and plan types in the Empower Recordkeeping System.
• Questions set up inconsistencies, e.g. contract/fee schedule does not support the commission payment and non-standard requests.
• Answer phone calls received in the Partner Services AWS call center, related to commissions and third party payments.
• Ensure a consistent high level of service and quality is achieved by intervening as needed to ensure our internal partners and external customers are getting their needs met.
• Manage the Partner Services Alias, ensuring SRs are opened and answering all compensation-related questions.
• Inquires or questions can be received via telephone, during internal and external customer meetings, Service Request or via email. Responding timely and accurately to these inquires is paramount and requires preparing non-routing written correspondence to communicate research and the resolution of issues.
• Takes ownership and drives outstanding items to resolution by following up with applicable teams, contacts or by effectively utilizing systems to research payment issues at the plan and/or participant level.
• Collaborates and consults with multiple internal partners across the organization, including Relationship Management, Client Service, Fees & Billing, Implementation, Deconversions, Plan Change, Fund and Fee Change Set Up Teams, Technology and Senior Leadership; as well as our external customers, including Brokers, Broker Dealers, Registered Investment Advisors, Advisory Firms, and Plan Sponsors.
• Research and resolves all open items in SAP related to outstanding payables.
• Technical
• Able to create formulas and utilize other functions in Excel to calculate special manual payments or adjustments; QC large volumes of work and determine differences as needed for issue resolution.
• Analyzes and interprets legal agreements, fee schedules, plan directives, BD/BOR request forms to ensure payments can be supported as requested prior to set up.
• Consults with the sales and implementation teams and external customers on set up scenarios that support plan pricing.
• Utilizes multiple systems including EASY, SAP, WEBI, CONTENT NAVIGATOR, FINRA, OnBase, CIRRUS, PSC, AWS and Microsoft Office
• Project Management/Process Improvements
• May participate in projects internally and with other departments to implement enhancements and/or changes impacting the team or department.

What you will bring

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Business, Finance, related field, or equivalent work experience.
• 3+ years' experience in mutual fund, broker dealer back office or accounts payable/accounting experience.
• Results oriented with ability to effectively manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously with a sense of urgency meeting all expected deadlines.
• Intermediate Excel and Word skills preferred
• Excellent communication and customer service skills and the ability to communicate with a diverse audience
• EASY, CIRRUS, AWS and SAP experience preferred
• Problem Solver, attention to details and independent thinker

This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications of the job.  The employer has the right to revise this job description at any time.   You will be evaluated in part based on your performance of the responsibilities and/or tasks listed in this job description.   You may be required perform other duties that are not included on this job description.  The job description is not a contract for employment, and either you or the employer may terminate employment at any time, for any reason.

We are an equal opportunity employer with a commitment to diversity.  All individuals, regardless of personal characteristics, are encouraged to apply.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, pregnancy, religion, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable state or local law. 

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