This position reports to:Manager, Retirement
ABB is searching for a talented Retirement Benefits professional to join a business and strategy focused team!The Retirement Benefits Expert serves as a subject matter expert for retirement plan operations and works closely with ABB's Retirement Benefits Manager, Head of Benefits Operations, Payroll, Finance, Legal, HRIS, external recordkeepers, actuaries, trustees, and third-party administrators.
This position is responsible for the administration, analysis, compliance, and operational support of the organization's retirement programs, including Defined Contribution (401(k)), Defined Benefit Pension, and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation (NQDC) plans. This role supports retirement plan governance, participant experience, regulatory compliance, funding activities, vendor management, and retirement communications while ensuring accurate plan administration and operational excellence.
Candidates for this position must be able to work a hybrid schedule out of our Cary, NC office location. #LI-Hybrid
You will be mainly accountable for:- Eligibility Administration: Administer retirement plan eligibility and participation requirements. Audit eligibility data and resolve discrepancies.
- Contribution Management: Monitor employee deferral elections and employer matching contributions. Validate contribution files and payroll interfaces. Perform and confirm payroll-to-recordkeeper reconciliations. Research errors, determine error resolution, and coordinate with payroll. Administer executive deferred compensation elections and tracking.
- Compliance & Governance: Support ERISA compliance reviews, nondiscrimination testing, Form 5500 preparation, participant notices, and Section 409A compliance. Serve as subject matter expert for retirement plan documents and SPDs, including detailed understanding of plan language, maintenance of plan documents and amendments, and maintaining historical files for plan notices, SARs, etc. Maintain compliance calendars and support audits. Perform system testing for updated configuration required for plan changes and compliance (e.g., SECURE 2.0).
- Defined Benefit Funding & Pension Administration: Monitor frequency and outcomes of death audits and address audit findings. Maintain understanding of historical pension files and research requests from former employees and retirees. Coordinate actuarial census data submissions. Support annual actuarial valuations and pension funding activities. Assist with pension liability reporting and trust administration.
- Retirement Communications: Coordinate 401(k) retirement communications and campaigns with the recordkeeper and promote through internal communication channels. Coordinate the annual nonqualified deferred compensation enrollment period. Coordinate quarterly maintenance of retirement content on ABB's internal benefits portal. Create participant education content and financial wellness messaging. Create and update presentations for onboarding newly acquired companies. Track communication effectiveness and engagement metrics.
Qualifications for the role:- Bachelor's degree in HR, Finance, Accounting, Business, or related field.
- 8+ years of retirement benefits administration experience.
- In-depth knowledge of retirement plans (defined contribution, defined benefit, and nonqualified plans); DC plans and NQDC plans required; DB plans preferred.
- Understanding of benefit laws and regulations: ERISA, SPD, filing, testing, reporting, and notice requirements.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Excel and other MS Office applications.
- Experience with Workday preferred.
- Critical thinking skills to investigate and resolve issues.
- Results oriented with the ability to handle multiple tasks, shifting priorities, and meet tight deadlines.
- Ability to work independently and in a collaborative team environment.
- Ability to lead projects and collaborate with internal and external partners to meet deadlines.
- Demonstrated presentation skills.
- Prior experience with a Human Resources Information System required.
- Must maintain confidential information discreetly and protect employee privacy.
- Highly ethical, flexible, inquisitive, and logical.
- Strong customer focus.
- Candidates must already possess authorization to work for ABB in the US.
What's in it for you:We empower you to take the lead, share bold ideas, and shape real outcomes. You'll grow through hands-on experience, mentorship, and learning that fits your goals. Here, your work doesn't just matter, it moves things forward
ABB Benefit Summary for eligible US employees[excludes ABB E-mobility, Athens union, Puerto Rico]
Go to MyBenefitsABB.com and click on "Candidate/Guest" to learn more
Health, Life & Disability- Choice between two medical plan options: A PPO plan called the Copay Plan OR a High Deductible Health Plan (with a Health Savings Account) called the High Deductible Plan.
- Choice between two dental plan options: Core and Core Plus
- Company paid life insurance (2X base pay)
- Company paid AD&D (1X base pay)
- Voluntary life and AD&D - 100% employee paid up to maximums
- Short Term Disability - up to 26 weeks - Company paid
- Long Term Disability - 60% of pay - Company paid. Ability to "buy-up" to 66 2/3% of pay.
- Supplemental benefits - 100% employee paid (Accident insurance, hospital indemnity, critical illness, pet insurance
- Employee Assistance Program
- Health Advocate support resources for mental/behavioral health, general health navigation and virtual health, and infertility/adoption
- Employee discount program
Retirement- 401k Savings Plan with Company Contributions
- Employee Stock Acquisition Plan (ESAP)
Time offABB provides 11 paid holidays. Salaried exempt positions are provided vacation under a permissive time away policy.
