Benefits and ACA Compliance Project Lead in St. Petersburg, Florida at Bankers Financial Corp

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Summary/Objective

The Benefits and ACA Compliance Project Lead serves as the organization’s subject matter authority on employee benefits compliance, owning the design, execution, and continuous improvement of the benefits compliance program across all assigned client groups. This role exercises independent judgment and discretionary authority on complex regulatory matters — including the Affordable Care Act (ACA), ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, FMLA, and Section 125 — and is the final internal resource for compliance determinations that carry significant organizational and client risk.

This is a senior-level, exempt individual contributor role with broad functional ownership. The Benefits and ACA Compliance Lead operates with a high degree of autonomy, leads cross-functional compliance initiatives, and provides authoritative guidance to internal teams, clients, and leadership. The ideal candidate combines deep regulatory expertise with the ability to translate complex legal requirements into actionable strategies for employers across diverse industries.

Essential Functions

• ACA Compliance Program Ownership
  • Own and direct the full ACA compliance program for a portfolio of client accounts, including FTE tracking, measurement period management, affordability analysis, and employer mandate strategy.
  • Establish and maintain internal policies, procedures, and controls for ACA compliance; continuously evaluate and improve program effectiveness.
  • Serve as the final authority on ACA compliance determinations, including common law employee classifications, safe harbor elections, and penalty risk assessments.
  • Lead the preparation and filing of IRS Forms 1094-C and 1095-C on behalf of clients; direct relationships with outside vendors as needed and manage associated projects to deadline.
  • Develop and implement ACA compliance strategies that reduce client exposure to IRS penalties and regulatory risk.
  • Maintain audit-ready documentation and records for all client accounts; represent the organization in the event of IRS inquiries or client audits.

• Benefits Compliance Leadership & Advisory Authority

  • Exercise independent discretion and authoritative judgment on complex benefits compliance matters involving ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, FMLA, Section 125, and state continuation requirements.
  • Function as the definitive internal compliance resource for the benefits team, operations, and client-facing staff; resolve escalated issues that require expert-level interpretation.
  • Monitor federal and state legislative developments; independently assess impact on client obligations and proactively lead communications and remediation efforts.
  • Develop and maintain compliance frameworks, toolkits, and reference materials for internal use and client distribution.
  • Direct coordination with client vendors, legal counsel, and regulatory contacts to resolve complex compliance matters.

• Strategic Client Engagement & Risk Management

  • Lead periodic compliance audits and risk reviews for client accounts; make independent determinations on corrective action strategies and implementation priorities.
  • Advise clients at a consultative level on their regulatory obligations, translating complex requirements into clear, actionable guidance tailored to their business context.
  • Identify systemic compliance risks across the client portfolio and develop scalable solutions to address them at a program level.
  • Serve as primary compliance point of contact for clients, providing timely, authoritative, and solution-oriented guidance that reinforces DecisionHR’s value as a strategic partner.

• Cross-Functional Leadership & Process Development

  • Lead cross-departmental compliance initiatives and projects, coordinating with benefits, HR, legal, and operations teams without direct supervisory authority.
  • Establish and enforce compliance standards and best practices across the benefits function; drive consistency in how compliance obligations are managed across client accounts.
  • Develop and deliver training and education to internal staff and clients on benefits compliance requirements and regulatory updates.
  • Track and report on compliance program metrics, surfacing risks and trends to leadership; recommend and implement process improvements based on data and outcomes.
  • Document all compliance activities, client interactions, and deliverables in CRM and case management systems with a high standard of accuracy and completeness.
  • Follow company policies and procedures required to comply with applicable data privacy and confidentiality requirements, including but not limited to SOC controls and HIPAA Privacy and Security regulations.
  • Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear in order to communicate with clients and coworkers. The employee is also required to see in order to inspect documents/spreadsheets for accuracy. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, utilize hands to handle or feel, and reach with hands and arms in order to operate a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a calculator, copy machine, and computer printer.

Required Education and Experience

• 5–7 years of progressive experience in benefits compliance, with deep expertise in ACA and federal employee benefits law.
• Demonstrated track record of independently managing complex compliance matters and making authoritative regulatory determinations.
• Extensive experience preparing and filing IRS Forms 1094-C and 1095-C, including management of outside vendors and multi-client projects.
• Advanced knowledge of ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, FMLA, Section 125, and state continuation requirements.
• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Health Policy, or a related field required.
• Exceptional communication skills; proven ability to translate complex regulatory requirements for non-technical audiences and senior stakeholders.
• Strong project leadership skills with the ability to drive outcomes across functions without direct authority over others.
• Proficiency in Excel and working knowledge of HRIS and ACA compliance platforms.

Preferred Education and Experience

• Previous experience in a Professional Employer Organization (PEO) environment strongly preferred.
• Experience with benefits administration or ACA compliance vendors such as ADP, Equifax, PrismHR, or Worklio.
• Relevant professional certifications (e.g., ACA Compliance Specialist, CEBS, PHR/SPHR) highly valued.
• Experience with Salesforce or similar CRM/case management platforms.
• Demonstrated experience developing compliance policies, procedures, or training programs.

Work Authorization/Security Clearance

Must be authorized to work in the United States. DecisionHR is an E-Verify employer.