City of Tampa

This is responsible administrative and supervisory work relating to the General Employees’ Pension Office.

The employee in this class performs duties of considerable difficulty in supervising the General Employees’ (GE) Pension office for the Department of Revenue and Finance. The work requires a seasoned understanding of retirement and pension laws, rules and regulations; actuarial principles; investment analysis; general accounting and payroll principles and practices; data management; and other professional services associated with pension administration. The employee is responsible, under the direction of the Accounting Operations Manager and the Chief Accountant, for: implementing rules, regulations and orders of the Board of Trustees; implementing processes to ensure that participants receive the benefits to which they are entitled; and, administering contracts and processes to protect the assets of the Plan and safeguard the records of the GE Pension Office. Under general direction, the employee exercises considerable initiative and independent judgment to assist and provide support to the Trustees, the Accounting Operations Manager and the Chief Accountant, to interpret plan provisions and advise participants of their rights under the Plan, and to work with contractual professionals such as actuaries, investment managers and legal professionals. Work is reviewed through observation, conferences, reports, and timely and effective performance of required duties.

Administers the City’s General Employees’ Pension Plan and associated professional service contracts and supervises the functional activities of the Pension Office; administers the implementation of pension plan provisions and modifications.

Plans and directs pension-related programs, functions and services to include pension records, reports, audits, and correspondence; monitors public pension plan laws and statutes on the Federal, State and local level and, together with legal professionals, directs reporting procedures and changes which may be required.

Assists in the preparation of Requests-for-Proposals for professional service contracts; assists in negotiation of contracts with professional investment managers, actuaries, etc.; handles follow-up matters relating to final contracts, etc.; recommends and participates in the drafting of pension-related legislation.

Reviews financial status of plans through analysis of investment manager reports.

Coordinates Pension Board functions such as setting up and advertising regular and special meetings, preparing Board Agendas and back-up materials, participates in meetings as a non-voting member; schedules meetings with bankers, investment managers, actuaries, attorneys, and others as necessary at the direction of the Board of Trustees and pursuant to the Plan.

Writes procedures as directed for administration of plan provisions; coordinates the preparation of such documents as annual statements for plan participants; provides ongoing training to plan participants; provides interpretation of plan provisions based on knowledge of the plan and makes recommendations to the Board.

Schedules independent medical examinations [IME’s] for plan participants seeking a disability pension; reviews IME’s to prepare for Board discussion.

Interprets plan provisions for participants and advises participants of their rights under the Plan; prepares, or supervises the preparation of, the calculation of participant benefits; supervises the preparation of appropriate tax related documents [e.g. 1099 statements].

Coordinates elections for members of the Plan who are elected by plan participants and provides informational/educational materials to new members [elected and appointed].

Assigns, schedules, supervises, and trains subordinate personnel; completes employee performance evaluations; recommends hiring, promotions, training, and discipline as needed; participates in the grievance procedure when required.

Performs related work as required.

Considerable knowledge of: modern management principles and practices; office management procedures and practices; financial and investment processes, analysis techniques and records.

Working knowledge of: retirement and pension laws, rules and regulations; actuarial principles and practices; principles and practices of accounting; management information system processes.

Ability to: understand pension plan provisions and with state and federal law relating to pension plan administration; plan, formulate and execute pension and administrative policies and programs; plan, assign, monitor, review, and evaluate the work of assigned subordinates; establish and maintain effective working relationships with pension Board of Trustees, city officials, city employees, retirees, and independent professionals providing services to the pension Board of Trustees; network and coordinate with Fire and Police Pension Office regarding common issues and concerns; analyze, understand and interpret fiscal, financial, investment, and actuarial reports; establish a working relationship with the Human Resources Department and with the Technology & Innovation Department regarding programming needs and support relating to the payment of retirees; read and interpret contract documents, pension plan provisions, and IRS tax requirements relating to pension issues; express oneself clearly and concisely and write complex documents and procedures in a clear and precise manner; develop computer-based spreadsheets, databases, graphs, and reports.

Skill in: research and analysis techniques.

Mostly sedentary, indoors, requires extended use of computer, typing and viewing monitor.

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, accounting, banking, finance, economics or a related field and five (5) years of progressively responsible experience involving financial investment transactions relating to pension funds (preferably public) and one (1) year of supervisory experience.

Possession of Certified Public Pension Trustee issued by the Florida Public Pension Trustees Association or the ability to obtain the certification within three (3) years of employment in the position. Possession of a valid drivers license may be required.

Evaluation of education and experience. Drug testing is included in all pre-employment processing.

During periods when the Mayor issues an emergency declaration for the City of Tampa, all employees may be required to work in preparation, response or recovery activities related to the stated emergency.