Senior Counsel – Workplace Solutions, Defined Benefit Plans

Our vision for the future is based on the idea that transforming financial lives starts by giving our people the freedom to transform their own. We have a flexible work environment, and fluid career paths. We not only encourage but celebrate internal mobility. We also recognize the importance of purpose, well-being, and work-life balance. Within Empower and our communities, we work hard to create a welcoming and inclusive environment, and our associates dedicate thousands of hours to volunteering for causes that matter most to them.

Chart your own path and grow your career while helping more customers achieve financial freedom. Empower Yourself.

As a Senior Counsel, you will provide legal expertise and advice to Empower and its affiliated companies with respect to a broad range of complex legal matters. You’ll advise on matters related to our retirement plan recordkeeping business with a focus on defined benefit plans, tax, ERISA and other regulatory matters.

What you will do:

• Advise on recordkeeping, trust/custody and administrative support services and investment products offered to employee benefit plans and participants, including analysis of ERISA, tax and regulatory compliance issues. This position has an emphasis on defined benefit plan legal support
• Advise on plan administration issues, including operational and fiduciary error correction under IRS and DOL voluntary compliance programs
• Partner with Empower business groups and leaders to identify and address legal issues, including product development, sales, operations, client service, plan documents, call center, marketing and education teams
• Support the negotiation of Empower contractual arrangements with plan sponsor clients and engage with plan sponsor counsel to resolve audit and complaint matters
• Interact with IRS and DOL examiners and assist with the responses to regulatory inquiries

What you will bring:

• 5-7+ years of relevant legal experience
• Law Degree from an accredited university and a current license to practice law
• Experience with defined benefit plans
• Ability to efficiently identify and analyze the legal aspects of a business problem and provide practical, actionable legal advice
• Ability to communicate complex legal concepts clearly and efficiently verbally and in writing to non-lawyers and provide risk-based compliance approaches
• Ability to work as a team member, both within the Empower Workplace Solutions legal team and with other legal department colleagues, including mentoring and providing guidance to less experienced counsel
• Ability to work independently to manage multiple, competing priorities and attain results by exercising appropriate judgment to manage matters through ambiguity and to completion

What will set you apart:

• In-house experience at an accounting company, insurance company, trust company, asset manager, recordkeeper or other financial services company with experience in advising on retirement plan recordkeeping operations administration, investment products and management services preferred
• Experience with all qualified plan types, including 401(a), 401(k), 403(b) and 457(b) and expertise in defined benefit plans

***Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time, including CPT/OPT.***

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What we offer you

We offer an array of diverse and inclusive benefits regardless of where you are in your career. We believe that providing our employees with the means to lead healthy balanced lives results in the best possible work performance.

• Medical, dental, vision and life insurance
• Retirement savings – 401(k) plan with generous company matching contributions (up to 6%), financial advisory services, potential company discretionary contribution, and a broad investment lineup
• Tuition reimbursement up to $5,250/year
• Business-casual environment that includes the option to wear jeans
• Generous paid time off upon hire – including a paid time off program plus ten paid company holidays and three floating holidays each calendar year
• Paid volunteer time — 16 hours per calendar year
• Leave of absence programs – including paid parental leave, paid short- and long-term disability, and Family and Medical Leave (FMLA)
• Business Resource Groups (BRGs) - internal networks that rally around common interest, experiences and identities such as race, ethnicity, gender, ability, military status and sexual orientation. BRGs play a vital role in educating and engaging our people and advancing our business priorities.

Base Salary Range

The salary range above shows the typical minimum to maximum base salary range for this position in the location listed. Non-sales positions have the opportunity to participate in a bonus program. Sales positions are eligible for sales incentives, and in some instances a bonus plan, whereby total compensation may far exceed base salary depending on individual performance. Actual compensation offered may vary from posted hiring range based upon geographic location, work experience, education, licensure requirements and/or skill level and will be finalized at the time of offer.

Equal opportunity employer •  Drug-free workplace

We are an equal opportunity employer with a commitment to diversity.  All individuals, regardless of personal characteristics, are encouraged to apply.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age (40 and over), race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, pregnancy, religion, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable state or local law. 

***For remote and hybrid positions you will be required to provide reliable high-speed internet with a wired connection as well as a place in your home to work with limited disruption. You must have reliable connectivity from an internet service provider that is fiber, cable or DSL internet. Other necessary computer equipment, will be provided. You may be required to work in the office if you do not have an adequate home work environment and the required internet connection.***

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