Pension Law Specialist Series, 0958

Individual Occupational Requirements

Education

Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study in one or a combination of the following fields -- finance, banking, business administration, economics, mathematics, accounting or auditing, pension plan administration, law, industrial relations, public administration, or other related fields.

OR

Experience

General Experience (for GS-5 positions): Experience in the analysis, interpretation, or application of Federal laws, regulations, or policies; or work that provided a knowledge of the functions of the position to be filled. Such experience must have demonstrated the ability to:

• Analyze written and numerical data, draw conclusions, and make recommendations;
• Apply legal provisions, regulations, and general principles to specific situations; and
• Prepare clear and concise written reports, and communicate effectively orally.

Specialized Experience (for positions above GS-5): Progressively responsible experience that demonstrated the ability to perform work in the field of pension and welfare plans. Such experience may have been gained in (1) management, administration, development, analysis, audit, financial management, or tterminationof such plans or their funds; or (2) in closely related work such as taxation, securities, and investments.

Specialized experience may have been gained in government, a welfare and pension plan administration or consulting firm, law firm, actuarial or accounting firm, labor union, welfare and pension association or research service, banking trust department, or investment firm. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include:

• Analysis and application of fiduciary, reporting and disclosure, bonding, funding, vesting, administration, and termination provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) and related laws, regulations, court decisions, and precedent rulings.
• Development of proposals for new or revised pension or welfare plans, petitions for exemptions, or requests for rulings under governing law.
• Legal work, a substantial portion of which required interpretation of Federal laws and legal requirements concerning welfare and pension plans, or in such related fields as taxation, securities, real estate, corporations, trusts, bankruptcy, and investments.
• Auditing or accounting work that involved determining compliance with Federal and State laws governing welfare and pension plans, securities, banking, insurance, or corporations.
• Analysis of Federal laws or regulations, development of policy, and drafting of proposed changes in an employee welfare and benefit plan or a related function.