Senior Defined Contribution Plan Consultant (Onsite, Totowa, NJ)

VFG TPA Services

Senior ERISA Defined Contribution (401(k)) Plan Consultant – TPA

Totowa, NJ
$80,000 – $90,000

VFG Advisory is building a dedicated Third-Party Administration (TPA) retirement plan services team from the ground up. This is an opportunity to join early, shape operational standards, and grow into a leadership role as the practice expands.

We are seeking a hands-on, technically strong Defined Contribution Plan Administrator with deep experience in ERISA compliance, 401(k) plan administration, and government reporting. This is not a general accounting or HR role — it is a specialized retirement plan compliance position.

What This Role Is

You will independently manage a portfolio of defined contribution retirement plans, ensuring accurate administration, compliance testing, and regulatory reporting. You will act as a technical subject matter expert in ERISA qualified plans, working directly with clients, advisors, and internal staff.

Core Responsibilities

Defined Contribution Plan Consultant

• Fully administer 401(k), profit sharing, and other defined contribution plans for small to mid-sized employers
• Maintain plan-level records, eligibility tracking, vesting schedules, and participant data integrity
• Process participant transactions including:
• Loans and repayments
• Hardship withdrawals
• Termination distributions
• Beneficiary and QDRO-related distributions

Compliance Testing (Core Function)

• Perform and review all annual compliance testing, including:
• ADP / ACP testing
• 410(b) coverage testing
• Top-heavy testing
• IRC 415 annual additions testing
• Cross-testing / allocation testing (where applicable)
• Identify and resolve compliance failures with correction recommendations under EPCRS guidelines

Government Reporting & Filings

• Prepare and review Form 5500 filings and supporting schedules
• Prepare required participant tax forms including 1099-R and related reporting
• Coordinate with auditors during plan audits and respond to audit inquiries

Trust & Financial Reconciliation

• Reconcile trust/custodial statements to participant recordkeeping systems
• Validate contributions, forfeitures, earnings allocations, and employer funding
• Identify and resolve discrepancies between payroll feeds, trust activity, and recordkeeping systems

Client & Advisor Interaction

• Serve as a primary technical contact for plan sponsors and financial advisors
• Explain compliance results, testing outcomes, and required corrections in clear terms
• Support plan design changes, conversions, and takeover implementations
• Participate in client and advisor meetings as needed

Internal Leadership (for Senior Level)

• Review work prepared by junior administrators for accuracy and compliance
• Support training and mentoring of developing staff
• Help establish standardized procedures and scalable workflows as the TPA practice grows

Required Qualifications (Must-Have)

• 3-5+ years of hands-on Defined Contribution / 401(k) plan administration experience in a TPA, recordkeeping, or retirement plan services environment
• Direct experience performing ERISA compliance testing (ADP/ACP, 410(b), 415, top-heavy)
• Experience preparing Form 5500 filings
• Strong understanding of ERISA and Internal Revenue Code qualified plan rules
• Experience handling participant-level transactions (loans, distributions, QDROs)
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and data-heavy plan reconciliation work
• Strong written and verbal communication skills

Preferred Qualifications

• QKA, QPA, or similar retirement plan credential
• Experience with TPA/recordkeeping systems such as:
• ASC
• FT William
• Relius
• Datair
• Experience with plan conversions or new plan installations
• Exposure to audit coordination for retirement plans

What Success Looks Like

• Accurate, timely completion of annual compliance testing cycles
• Clean Form 5500 filings with minimal corrections
• Strong client trust due to clear, confident communication of complex rules
• Ability to independently manage a full book of plans with minimal oversight
• Contribution to building scalable TPA processes from the ground up

Pay: $80,000.00 - $90,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person