State of Connecticut Executive Branch

In the Office of the State Comptroller this class is accountable for assisting in the direction of the programs and activities of a major division with statewide impact.

This class is used in the following divisions with statewide impact:

• Healthcare Policy and Benefit Services Division
• Retirement Services Division

Receives administrative direction from a State Comptroller Division Director.

Assists in direction of staff of division.

• Assists in directing staff and operations of a major division with statewide impact; 
• Assists in coordinating, planning, and managing program functions within a division; 
• Assists in formulating program goals and objectives; 
• Assists in developing related policy; 
• Assists in implementation of new procedures and procedural revisions; 
• Assists in interpreting and administering pertinent laws; 
• Evaluates staff; 
• Assists in preparing division budgets; 
• Maintains contacts with individuals within and outside of division who might impact program activities; 
• Participates in the recruitment and hiring of staff, including outreach, interview and selection;
• May coordinate subpoena responses and Freedom of Information requests; 
• May assist in directing retirement benefits functions; may assist in directing employee benefits functions; 
• May assist in directing timely processing of all state payrolls and related documents; 
• May assist in directing auditing, validation, and payment of all claims against the State; 
• May assist in directing maintenance of official accounting records of the State; 
• May develop and maintain guidelines for pension division orders (QDROs) for those retirement systems administered by the Retirement Services Division; 
• May interpret state and federal laws and regulations pertaining to retirement or employee benefits; 
• May provide counsel to state agency staff with respect to retirement benefits in connection with resolution of labor disputes; 
• May prepare contracts for services required by SERC and the State Comptroller to administer employee or retiree benefits; 
• May assist in coordination of various pension or health care delivery systems including health promotion and wellness initiatives; 
• May act as the Retirement Services Division liaison to the Office of the Attorney General; 
• Performs other related duties as required.

• Considerable knowledge of
  • relevant state and federal laws, statutes, and regulations;
  • defined benefit, defined contribution retirement plans, health insurance and other employee benefit programs; 
  • legal and administrative issues concerning employee pension and benefits plans; 
• Knowledge of
  • and ability to apply management principles and practices;
  • health care delivery systems; 
  • collective bargaining, legislative and retirement administrative appeal processes; 
• Considerable
  • interpersonal skills; 
  • oral and written communication skills; 
• Considerable ability in analysis and preparation of complex and comprehensive financial statements and reports.

Nine (9) years of experience in the administration of employee pension plans or employee health care or other employee benefits programs or legal experience in the area of benefits administration.

Two (2) years of the General Experience must have been in a supervisory capacity.

NOTE:

• Supervisory capacity is defined as scheduling, assigning, overseeing work, establishing performance standards for employees and taking corrective measures to implement those standards.
• For state employees, supervisory capacity is interpreted at the level of a Retirement and Benefit System Coordinator.

• College training in accounting or business administration may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one-half year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.
• A Master's degree in accounting or a closely related field may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.
• Certification in any of the following may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience: Certified Public Accountant or Certified Internal Auditor.
• A law degree from an accredited school of law may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.

Incumbents in this class may be required to be admitted to practice law in the State of Connecticut.

This replaces the existing specification for the class of State Comptroller Assistant Division Director (Retirement and Healthcare) in Salary Group MP 68 approved effective November 5, 2021. (Revised to add Acknowledgement section and modify content) Final 23-001