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Manager, Total Rewards

Company
Alvarez & Marsal (A&M)
Location
New York, NY
Work type
Full Time
Posted
2026-09-23

Job description

The Team

As Manager, Total Rewards, you will lead retirement and financial benefit programs that support employees across the U.S. and Canada, including 401(k), cash balance, registered retirement savings, and financial wellness programs. In this role, you will guide a team responsible for day-to-day administration, employee support, compliance coordination, vendor relationships, issue resolution, and stakeholder partnership, while helping improve processes and create a more seamless employee experience. This role is a strong fit for someone with retirement plan expertise, including hands-on experience with cash balance plans and registered retirement savings plan (RRSP) administration, who enjoys solving complex problems, building trusted relationships, and making technical benefits topics clear and practical.

How you will contribute

Lead the administration of retirement and financial benefit programs across the U.S. and Canada, including 401(k), cash balance, registered retirement saving plan (RRSP), and financial wellness programs.
Lead, coach, and support a team responsible for program administration, employee questions, issue resolution, and operational execution.
Act as a trusted resource on retirement plan administration, including cash balance plan and registered retirement savings plan provisions, participant questions, stakeholder guidance, and employee communications.
Help manage cash balance plan operations, including the review of annual interest credits and pay credits, participant data reviews, benefit calculations, and eligibility questions.
Support cash balance plan governance and compliance by assisting with plan document reviews, required notices, annual funding and census requests, audit support, nondiscrimination testing coordination, and clear participant-facing explanations of plan features and account balance changes.
Partner with Payroll, Finance, Legal, Compliance, HRIS, People Business Partners, and external vendors to deliver programs accurately, compliantly, and on time.
Build strong vendor partnerships, manage escalations, support reporting needs, and identify process improvements that make the employee experience smoother and more consistent.
Create clear employee communications, FAQs, presentations, and educational materials that make retirement and financial benefit programs easy to understand.
Support Benefits strategy by analyzing benefits data (including but not limited to program effectiveness, market competitiveness, employee experience and cost trends) to support decision-making, reporting and program recommendations.
Lead or support projects such as RFPs, annual enrollment, plan changes, vendor transitions, service model enhancements, policy updates, and employee education campaigns.
Stay current on U.S. and Canadian retirement, financial benefit, and compliance requirements, and share relevant updates and recommendations with key stakeholders.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field
6+ years of progressive Total Rewards/Benefits experience, ideally with a strong focus on retirement plan administration, including 401(k), cash balance plans and registered retirement savings plans.
Experience working with recordkeepers, actuaries, auditors, legal counsel, payroll, finance, and HR partners to support accurate and compliant retirement plan administration.
Working knowledge of retirement plan compliance, including ERISA, plan documentation, audits, nondiscrimination testing, participant notices, and related governance activities.
Ability to explain complex retirement plan provisions, cash balance plan concepts, and compliance requirements in a clear, practical, and approachable way.
Advanced analytical skills with expertise in data analysis, financial modeling, and benefits cost projections
Proven experience with HRIS (Workday) and benefits administration platforms
Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to handle complex, multi-faceted benefits issues
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and interact effectively with senior executives and employees at all levels
Demonstrated project management skills and ability to lead cross-functional teams
Ability to manage confidential information with the highest level of discretion

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