COMPLIANCE AUDITOR

Job Summary

Under the supervision of the Employer Services Supervisor or Manager, the Compliance Auditor I performs a variety of audit functions for TRS to ensure salary and service credit information reported by TRS-covered employers comply with the Illinois Pension Code and the related administrative rules. 

With over 140,000 eligible members and almost 1,000 covered employees, the Compliance Auditor I plays a pivotal role in the back-office operations of auditing contributions. The incumbent must possess organizational skills and the ability to communicate effectively with coworkers, employers and members both verbally and through written correspondence.  Advanced knowledge and understanding of defined benefit contributions and the regulations that govern them are required. This position is primarily responsible for auditing Annual Reports and assisting employers with pay-period reporting. In addition, this position is responsible for the completion of Supplementary Reports, Sick Leave Certifications, and Employer’s Report of Adjustments to Earnings. The employer training and audits of Annual Reports, Supplementary Reports, Employer’s Report of Adjustments to Earnings, Sick Leave Certifications, Gemini Reports, and review of collective bargaining agreements are conducted in accordance with organizational policies and sound audit practices. 

This position requires extensive collaboration, sound decision making skills, the ability to properly structure activities in a manner that allows for the timely completion of assignments, tasks, and goals. The greatest challenge for this position is to quickly and efficiently complete large volumes of work without sacrificing quality. Overnight travel may be required. 

Essential Functions (Continued)

• Maintain an understanding of statutory requirements, board rules, policies and procedures that determine creditable earnings and service credit
• Address and resolve issues pertaining to incorrect reporting with employers, via verbal as well as written communications. This requires collaboration and detailed documentation of the resolution.
• Review and process post Adjustments to Earnings (ATEs) transactions to correct member service credit, salary rates, or creditable earnings; sources include employer inquiries, and annual report reviews.
• Conduct thorough audits of supplementary reports, member sick leave records, and district collective bargaining agreements to ensure accuracy and compliance with the Illinois Pension Code, board rules, policies and procedures.

• • Review and verify district documentation supporting the number of sick leave days reported as service credit for TRS members.
  • Conduct thorough audits of supplementary reports submitted by reporting districts to expedite the retirement process for TRS members. 
  • Review and verify all supplementary report documentation submitted by districts for reporting accuracy and compliance, including employment type, service credit and creditable earnings.

Essential Functions (Continued)

• Conduct timely and comprehensive audits of annual reports to ensure accuracy, completeness, and compliance with regulatory requirements.
  • • Collaborate with finance, accounting, and reporting districts to gather necessary documentation and explanations to finalize earnings and service credit information submitted for reporting members. 
    • Identify and investigate discrepancies, inconsistencies, and areas of concern in retirement contributions submitted by reporting districts. 
    • Analyze the root cause of reporting errors by districts in the Gemini payroll reporting system and implement corrective actions to resolve the error. Gather all needed documentation from the employer.
    • Collaborate with various departments to gather the information and documentation required to prevent the recurrence of the identified issue.

Essential Functions (Continued)

• Provide assistance to employers, members, and annuitants, offering guidance on reporting requirements encompassing automated reporting, managing excess salary increases, granted sick leave days, and navigating through current service and post-retirement employment limitations, ensuring clarity and compliance with rules and regulations.
• Assist employers with plan questions, including but not limited to meeting one on one with employers to walk them through the employer reporting process in Gemini or performing outreach to employers regarding erroneous information provided and assisting these employers with reporting in Gemini. 

• Research members employed at multiple school districts to verify the accuracy of the combined annual salary rate and combined service credit calculated by the system.
• Assist other departments in answering inquiries and resolving employer related issues, via verbal as well as written communications. 

• Participate in training and educational opportunities to support ongoing professional development.
• Respond to incoming calls in a timely and professional manner while maintaining productivity in other assigned tasks.
• Perform other duties as needed or assigned.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Ability to analyze and interpret data
• Articulate and responsive to both employees and customers
• Ability to manage conflicting priorities and work within tight timeframes to meet deadlines
• Demonstrates a high commitment to quality
• Possesses flexibility to work in a fast paced, dynamic environment

Minimum Requirements

• Requires completion of a bachelor’s degree in accounting, math, economics, or related field OR five years of experience in accounting or auditing position is required in lieu of a degree
• Strong analytical and organizational skills, with the ability to communicate effectively—both verbally and in writing—with coworkers and the public in a clear and professional manner
• Effectively and efficiently prioritize all assignments, tasks, and miscellaneous request
• Maintain a high standard of work quality by ensuring that no more than 20% of submitted work is returned with review notes