ADMINISTRATIVE SPECIALIST III

The Maryland State Retirement Agency is the administrator of the Maryland State Retirement and Pension System. The System is a multi-employer, public employees' defined benefit retirement system composed of twelve (12) separate retirement and pension systems with additional plan components, covering approximately 200,000 active members and more than 150,000 retirees and beneficiaries.

The Agency is recruiting for an Administrative Specialist III position within its Benefits Processing Unit. 

12  

120 East Baltimore Street

Baltimore, Maryland 21202

This administrative professional position is assigned to the Death Benefits and Refunds Processing Section of the Benefits Processing Unit and reports to the Section Supervisor. The Death Benefits and Refunds Processing Section processes more than 3,600 lump-sum death payments and nearly 700 survivor annuity payments each year in addition to handling roughly 5,600 refund requests.

The main purpose of this position is to ensure complete and accurate processing of payments to the beneficiary/ies of deceased retirees or active members of the State Retirement and Pension System. Upon notification of the death of a retiree or member of any one of the several systems, the position is responsible for the timely creation of deceased retiree/member folder to include information from the retiree/member's account. After determining the correct beneficiary/ies, the position determines death benefit eligibility according to retirement laws and regulations and after a review of the active member's account or retiree's account and option selection at retirement. The position then prepares and mails a benefit claims packet to the surviving beneficiary/ies outlining eligible benefits and steps to claim them. When a completed claims packet is received, this position calculates the payment and uses it to verify what the automated system generated. The calculations performed by this position include monthly benefit amount or lump sum amount, cost-of-living adjustments if required, and federal and state taxes to be withheld. This position also prepares transactions to be processed in MPAS to update the member/retiree's account and create the beneficiary's payment account.

This position is responsible for working with all state agencies and participating employers in the System when determining active death benefits. Lastly, the position is responsible for updating and maintaining an Access databases to track the death benefits payments and processing.

Education: Completion of 60 credit hours at an accredited college or university.

Experience: Two years of experience in administrative or professional work.

Notes:

1. Candidates may substitute experience as defined above at the rate of one year experience for 30 credit hours of education for up to 60 credit hours of the required education.

2. Candidates may substitute a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university for the required education and experience.

3. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a non-commissioned officer involving staff work requiring regular use of independent judgment and analysis in applying and interpreting rules and regulations in accordance with agency laws and policies on a year-for-year basis for the required education and experience.

Strong preference will be given to applicants that possess the following:

• One year of experience preparing legal documents, processing credit applications, processing retirement benefits, preparing financial records, processing insurance claims, reviewing loan applications, or reviewing claims within the healthcare industry.
• One year of experience preparing financial worksheets, or entering data into computer based spreadsheets/database.
• One year of experience preparing correspondence to request supplemental information or to provide notice of changes with benefits.
• One year of experience processing a high volume of claims, applications, or financial records.

Please make sure that you provide sufficient information on your application to show that you meet the qualifications for this recruitment. You must meet the qualifications (and selective qualifications if applicable) to be considered. 

For education obtained outside the U.S., you will be required to provide proof of the equivalent American education as determined by a foreign credential evaluation service. Your application must include this evaluation. You must submit all information concerning your qualifications by the closing date. We will not consider information submitted after this date. 

Best Qualified, Better Qualified, or Qualified are the rankings used for successful candidates. These candidates remain on the employment (eligible) list for at least one year. The hiring Agency will use this list to select employees.

The examination will consist of a rating of your education, training, and experience as presented on your application and as they relate to the requirements of the position.  You may be asked to complete a supplemental questionnaire.  The supplemental questionnaire may be used as part of the rating process.  Therefore, it is important that you provide complete and accurate information on your application.  

 STATE OF MARYLAND BENEFITS

Due to the confidential nature of the work, selected candidates must undergo and pass a background check.

The online application process is STRONGLY preferred. If online access is not available, you may submit a paper application and supplemental questionnaire (if applicable) to: Department of Budget and Management, Recruitment and Examination Division, 301 West Preston Street, Room 608, ATTN: Ms. Middleton, Baltimore, Maryland 21201.  The paper application must be received by the closing date.

Resumes will NOT be accepted in lieu of completing the application.       

If you have any questions concerning the recruitment process for this position, please call 410-767-4854.

TTY Users: call via Maryland Relay.

As an equal opportunity employer, Maryland is committed to recruiting, retaining and promoting employees who are reflective of the State's diversity.