Nicholas B. Harris
Dallas,Texas
Summary
Employee Benefits Manager with a proven track record of delivering results at Dallas Independent School District, excelling in benefits strategy and administration. Expert in vendor management and conflict resolution, I developed innovative solutions that processed 98% of benefit appeals promptly, enhancing employee satisfaction and engagement. Proficient in HRIS functionality and advanced Microsoft Office skills.
Overview
4
4
years of professional experience
Work History
Employee Benefits Manager
Dallas Independent School District, DISD
Dallas, Texas
12.2024 - Current
- Administered employee benefit programs and ensured compliance with regulations.
- Coordinated open enrollment processes and communicated benefits information to employees.
- Managed vendor relationships for health insurance and retirement plans.
- Evaluated employee feedback to enhance benefits offerings and employee satisfaction.
- Developed training materials for staff on benefits policies and procedures.
- Oversaw claims processing and resolved issues related to employee benefits.
- Analyzed market trends to recommend improvements in benefits packages.
- Monitored the effectiveness of existing health care, disability, retirement, life insurance, tuition reimbursement, vacation and leave policies and other related programs.
- Assisted in the development of annual budgets for all benefit programs; tracked expenses against budget throughout year.
Benefits Senior Analyst II
Dallas Independent School District
Dallas, TX
11.2024 - 12.2024
- Manage end-to-end premium deduction functions, including monthly and bi-weekly Premium deduction runs.
- Ensure compliance with federal and state regulations, reconcile Premium deduction discrepancies, and promptly address employee Premium deduction inquiries.
- Troubleshoot system errors leading to Premium deduction issues.
- Establish proficient processes for improvement, such as the Benefits Appeals/QLE Tracker and the Reverse Termination Report, leading to the following results: Processed 98% of all submitted Benefit Appeals promptly, reducing access to care issues.
- Developed Reverse Termination reporting that reduced processing issues.
- Managed the file integration alignment between the district's HRIS system, the Third-Party Administrators, and TRS systems to reduce the potential for errors and maximize efficiencies.
- Manage and conduct regular audits to ensure data accuracy.
- Develop and oversee presentations to educate employees on benefit options.
- Analyze appeals data precisely, identifying trends and patterns, reducing escalations, and resolving employee access to care and deduction issues quicker.
- Develop innovative solutions (Benefits Applications, Digital Forms, & Digital Overview Guides) to address benefits-related issues.
- Managed comprehensive benefits programs for all district employees, including health, dental, vision, and retirement plans.
- Coordinate with benefits providers to resolve discrepancies and ensure accurate employee enrollments.
- Manage the monthly reconciliation of ESCROW and other benefits-related accounts.
- Validate, audit, and transfer benefit deduction batches for premium deductions.
Analyst
Dallas Independent School District, DISD
Dallas, Texas
09.2023 - 11.2024
- Benefits Administration & Reconciliation: Managed the monthly reconciliation of benefits-related general ledger accounts, ensuring accuracy and timely submission to Accounting; coordinated with vendors to resolve discrepancies in deductions and premiums.
- Payroll Integration & Auditing: Validated and transferred benefit deduction batches to payroll, audited output reports, and ensured accurate processing in line with payroll schedules; resolved programming errors in payroll deduction interfaces in collaboration with IT and third-party vendors.
- Vendor Coordination & Employee Support: Assisted employees with benefits deduction issues by coordinating with outsourcing vendors, validating coverage and effective dates, and managing retrospective adjustments; oversaw the resolution of vendor billing discrepancies.
- Utilized HRIS platforms (Oracle, CMS, TMS, Electronic Ticketing Systems, Employee Databases) to maintain and update employee records, generate detailed reports, and streamline payroll processes.
- Conducted regular audits to ensure data accuracy and integrity.
- Spearheaded presentations to educate employees on benefit options, resulting in improved understanding.
- Analyzed appeals data precisely, identifying trends and patterns, reducing escalations, and leading to quicker resolutions and fewer escalations of employee issues.
- Developed innovative solutions (Benefits Applications, Digital Forms, & Digital Overview Guides) to address benefits-related issues and tracked employee engagement to increase enrollment.
- Administered comprehensive benefits programs for all district employees, including health, dental, vision, and retirement plans. Coordinated with benefits providers to resolve discrepancies and ensure accurate employee enrollments
Assistant Coordinator
Dallas Independent School District, DISD
Dallas, Texas
03.2022 - 09.2023
- Spearheaded presentations to educate employees on benefit options, resulting in improved understanding.
- Analyzed appeals data with precision, identifying trends and patterns, leading to a reduction in escalations and quicker resolutions.
- Developed innovative solutions to address benefits-related issues and increase employee engagement.
- Proactively identified opportunities for process improvement and implemented best practices in accordance with district policies.
- Conducted thorough research on emerging benefits and industry standards to allow for a more informed and comprehensive interaction with employees.
Assistant Manager
Spirit Halloween
Nacogdoches, TX
06.2021 - 11.2021
- Managed a team of 25 plus employees, including full-time, part-time, and seasonal.
- Managed end-of-day deposits and bank transactions, exhibiting fiscal responsibility and ensuring secure financial operations.
- Managed meticulous inventory by tracking department data, minimizing discrepancies, and optimizing resource allocation.
Education
Master of Science - MANAGEMENT, Corporate Strategy, Organizational Behavior, Financial Management
TEXAS A&M COMMERCE
Commerce, TX01-2026
Bachelor of Arts - Communication Studies
STEPHEN F. AUSTIN STATE UNIVERSITY
Nacogdoches, TXSkills
- Benefits Org 735 Budget
- Leadership Response and Accountability
- Human Resource Processing
- Microsoft Office Suites - Advanced
- Benefits Strategy and Administration
- Vendor Management
- Conflict Resolution
- Benefits Functionality within HRIS
- Premium Deduction Auditing
- Performance Appraisal
- Project management
- Training and development
- Presentation skills
- HIPAA compliance
Activities Awards
- Omega Delta Phi Fraternity Inc., Alumni Liaison, 01/01/18, 12/31/20, President, 01/01/16, 12/31/17, Social Chair, 01/01/16, 12/31/16, Historian, 01/01/15, 12/31/15
- Community Service Leader Award, 2016, 2019
- Knight of the Year, 2017
Timeline
Employee Benefits Manager
Dallas Independent School District, DISD
12.2024 - Current
Benefits Senior Analyst II
Dallas Independent School District
11.2024 - 12.2024
Analyst
Dallas Independent School District, DISD
09.2023 - 11.2024
Assistant Coordinator
Dallas Independent School District, DISD
03.2022 - 09.2023
Assistant Manager
Spirit Halloween
06.2021 - 11.2021
Master of Science - MANAGEMENT, Corporate Strategy, Organizational Behavior, Financial Management
TEXAS A&M COMMERCE
Bachelor of Arts - Communication Studies
STEPHEN F. AUSTIN STATE UNIVERSITY
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